Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-02-13


Baltimore at half-past three O'Clock to-day.
THE MEETING of the National democratic
committee in Washington has been postponed
from February p, to May %.
THERE IS THE BEST AUTHORITY for stating
that the report of disagreement at the Cabi-
net meeting yesterday is incorrect. The sub
ject of the returning board was Informally
talked over, and although there may have been
All objection made to national interference i'm
state matters warm discussion did not fol-
low, and no course OF action by the admins
tratiOn was decided upon
EXPEDITION TO THE NORTH PoLE.-The
Senate committee on naval affairs, at its meet
ing to-day, agreed to report favOrably Mr.
Dawes bill to authorize and equip an expedi-
ton to the Arctic seas The bill authorizes
the President of the United States to organize
and send out one or more expeditions toward
lne north pole. and to establish a temporary
point north of the slst degree of north iati-
tude, on or near the shore of Lady Franklin
bay: to detail such officers or other persons of
the public service to take part in the same as
sci that may be suitable for the purpose: the
scientific operations Of the expedition to be
the National Academy of Science; and appro.
PIRATES $4,000 to be expended under the di-
rectIOn OF the President
THE FACT WAS DEVELOPED in the investi-
CATION of Doorkeeper Polk this morning that
he was interested in the Pennsylvania avenue
paving contract, and was employed because it
was supposed he had influence with Judge
Buckner, chairman of the District committee
and that Silver, the messenger of the District
committee. was employed by Polk, because it
was Thought he had influence with Mr..
Henckle, of Md.
THE MINORITY RRPoRT submitted by Mr.
Singleton against an increase of the pay of the
printers at the Government Printing office,
takes the ground that to increase the salaries
at that workshop will be to discriminate
against every private printing establishment
In the District OF Columbia.
LIVELY TINE IN EXECUTIVE SEssIoN.-The
Senate confirmed the nomination of Wicker
sham to be postmaster at Mobile, Ala, yester-
day, after lively row in executive session.
Spencer opposed the appointment, and he re-
ceIyed warm dressing at the hands of Sena-
confirmed by vote of 40 to 4. Nearly all the
republican Senators were absent from the
chamber. and Spencer, it is said, threatened
vengeance on his political associates for leav-
ing him to fight his battles alone. MI. Conk
ling today made the aDlende honorable for
ms absence yesterday TO the Senator from
Alabama.
THE CHINESE FAMINE.-The Senate COM
mittee on foreign relations considered to-day
memorial from citizens of New York and
Boston asking for an appropriation for the
relief OF sufferers by famine in the four north
trn provinces of China. The committee agreed
to report that if an appropriation for the pur-
chase OF supplies was made, the supplies could
not reach China IN time to afford effective aid
to the sufferers. The committee also agreed,
III relation TO the request of the memOrialists,
that the unexpended balance of the Chinese
indemnity fund be applied to the relief of the
famiShed, that the relief measure could not be
made available by Congress in time to afford
the necessary succOr The committee, on
making its report was discharged by the
Senate from further consideration of the
memorial.
CoNF1RNATIoNs.-The Senate in executive
session yesterday confirmed the following
nominations: George w. F. Vernon to be sur
yey0r OF customs for the district of Baltimore,
Md: Morris ID. Wickersham to be postmaster
at Mobile, Ala. Mrs. Mary E. Leighton to be
pOStmlStress at OSkalOOSa, Iowa.
THE COLOR LINE IN THE ARMY-The bill
to remove all restrictions now existing in re-
gard to the enlistmentS of the cOlored citizens
in any arm of the United States army as re-
ported by Mr.. Burnside from the Senate mill
tary committee yesterday, is amended SO as to
read as follows: BE it enacted, &c. That sec
tiOns llOi and HOS of the revised statutes be,
and the same are hereby, repealed. See 2
That nothing in the above act shall be 50 con-
Strued that the 9Th and 10Th cavalry, 24th and
a2tn infantry are not part of the United States
cOmpanying the bill states merely that its OBJ
Ject is to do away with the obligation to fill the
above designated regiments with cOlOred men,
and to remove the restrictions to the enlist.
mellt OIL cOlOred men in the other regiments of
the service.
THE LETTER OF THE PRESIDENT to Attorney
General DeveEs in relation to the conviction
OF Gen. Anderson. is said to be somewhat in
the spirit of the telegram addressed to Gen.
Anderson by Secretary Sherman. Senator
MattheWs and Representatives Garfield, Hale
and White. The President is of the opinion
that the prosecution against Gen. Anderson is
solely political, that it is not cOuntenanced by
the best men OF Louisiana, and therefore is
contrary to their calm Judgment: that the prO-
ceedingS were in the interest of those who
strive to antagOniEe the two parties in that
state, rather than to harmonize them that so
M 6e ac W h tae h 3d the G?a
ing and patriotic men everywhere when they
become acquainted with the circumstances at
tiSnahg 1ns prosecution; & AS grave c9nStitu
general government may perhaps have the
right To interfere, the President submits the
subject to the Attorney General for his con
SlderatiOn.
SUGGESTION FOR THE KEYSTONE OF THE
p. o. D.-Eyery letter-writer is aware of the
difficulty ofttimes experienced in decyphering
the post st-markS on letters. Would it not be
well to adopt plan made use of in Great
Britain, and have the designs of the canceling
stamp differ in each state? Fac SMILES OF
Souiu CdShS Supputu lO pubic;
indeed, they would doubtless soon be used as
means OF disseminating advertisements
In an old London directory find representa-
tlenS OF canceling stamps in use i'm London and
vicinity, one for other portions of England
as well as those for Scotland, Ireland, Canada
and Australia: no doubt there may be others
now i'll use for other colonies. C..
The SOUTHERN MAIL GRIEvANCE-Yester
day afternoon MeSsrs. Abel, of the Baltimore
sun; Fulton, OF the Baltimore American:
Frank Thomson, general manager of Pennsyl-
yanla railroad; }. s. Barbour, receiver Vir-
glnla Midland railroad H. f. kenney SUPER
intendent Philadelphia, Wilmington and Balt-
more Railroad Henry Fink, receiver Allan
uc- Mississippi and Ohio railroad; the post
master at Baltimore: Mr.. Bailey, of the Post
once department, and others, had two inter-
views with the Postmaster General one at
TWO and the other at half past five O'clock i'm
reference to change in the schedule arrange
ment Of the roads, by which southwestern
mails from Baltimore and Washington may
not be delayed at Charlottesville 1T was ellie.
tied by the discussion that no general change
can be made by the roads until they meet TO
form their spring schedules. But it seems that
the difficulty may be Obviated until then by
therunning of an extra train on the Virginia
Midland road from GordOnsville to Lynchburg
Mr.. Barbour is willing to run the train IL his
road receives compensation for the additional
mail facility, since the passengers carried will
not make up for the extra expense.
Mr.. Barbour had an interview with the