Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-03-27
GEN. BELKNAP Is A WITNl

special meeting of the Senate judiciary
committee was held to-day for consideration
of the Runkle case. The point on which the
committee is trying to obtain light is whether
the order of the Secretary of War containing
the verbal instructions OF President Grant in
relation to carrying into effect that portion OF
the decision of the cOurtmartial diSmiSSng
Major Runke from the army was in accord
ance with law: All findings of courts martial
must be confirmed by the President before
they become operative. Major Runkle'S
counsel maintain that the President. to
eOdtirm 1.-THE, the finding of court martial,
either writing or signing it. President
Grant verbally instructed ex-Secretary Bel
KNAPP to carry out portion of the findings of
the c0urt-martial which dismissed Major
Runke from the service. General Belknap
was before the committee to-day. and testi-
ned that il has been the universal custom for
the secretary OF War to issue the orders in re-
gard TO combinations of cOurt-martiaS at the
dlrecilon OF the President. The committee on
JUDICIARY, has not yet considered the subject
OF report in Major Runkles case.
THE ILLNESS OF SECRETARY SCHURz.-Over-
work and the sudden cold weather. occasion
ing severe neuralgia pain about the heart,
We're the causes of Secretary SchurzS illness
NO organic affection of the heart was diScOv-
cred, and it is not believed that the pain re-
suited from angina pectOris. The Secretary
slept we'll last night and continues to improve.
1t is believed that few days rest will restore
him to his usual health.
1T WAS DECIDED at a recent Cabinet meet
ing that no original department documents
could be removed from department building.
Consequently the House committee on post
OflceS and post roads will carry on its nveSt-
CATION in the Post Office building. 1t met to-
day i'll room g, on the second floor papers
were examined, but no witnesses We're called.
THE PRESIDENT will not, as announced by
the telegraph, join Mrs. Hayes in Ohio. Mrs
Hayes IS not expected to return before the
10th OF next month.
THERE Is A LIVELY FIGHT going on in naval
circles. The time has nearly arrived when
Commodore Ammen, chief of the bureau of
navigation, is to be retired. Ammen wants his
brother-inlaW 10 be his successor but Secre-
tary Thompson is not INCLINED TO give him the
appointment. Meanwhile Capt. English, U. S.
~, who has long been in service at sea. thinks
he IS entitled to the promotion, and Senators
McD0Eald OF Indiana, Randolph and McPher-
son ol Ne" jersey, are pushing his claims.
A SAVING OF ONE MILLION.-The commit
tee on the expenditures of the P. Q. ID. has
been notified by the Second Assistant Post
master General through the Postmaster Gen
eral. that it will be safe to reduce the estimate
for inland mail transportation other than by
railway (Star Seryice) for the fiscal year 1889
by one million dollars. The difference
vice in the western section and the prices at
which the service was let under the recent
advertisement shows an apparent saving of
more than 81 100000. But as some of the ser
vice has been let at very low prices and there
may be failures on the part Of contractors
which would neceSSitate reetting at higher
prices a million is believed to be the largest
reduction that it would be perfectly safe to
make.
WEIGHING THE COIN.-Mr. +. o. Graves,
chief of the national bank redemption agency,
Treasury department. who with a force of
haS mi,
fairs OF the Sub-treaSury al New York, return
ed TO Washington this morning. The funds
on hand we've found to agree exactly with the
statement OF the Sub-treasurer. The eXamin-
er weighed $lQ1,NOGO in gold coin, 81, 400 900 in
silver coin. and $3.367 600 in gold bars and
counted s., 100000 III notes, besides very large
amount OF securities.
DIED IN CnINA.-Secretary Thompson to-
day received cable from Shanghai announc-
ing the death at Nagasaki, Japan. on the 18th
INST, OF DIR. Joseph f. Painter. acting as siSt-
ant surgeon C.S.N., a native of PENNSYLVANIA
and brother of DR.. Painter, of this city.