The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1878-09-24
WASHINGTON.
1.-THE Cuban Claims.

The Cuban Claims.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 23.-The Spanish-Amer-
lean commission for the settlement of claims of
citizens of the United States growing out of the
late instruction in Cuba have thus far allowed
the claims OF more than million dollars, which
have been promptly paid by the Spanish gov
eminent. Col. Segur. the American arbitr ator,
is in Washington, and the Spanish arbitrator,
Mr. Potestad, is in Spain. Claims aggregatipg
at least million dollars passed upon by the
arbitrators, but involving difference of opn-
ion, await the opinion of the umpire, Baron
Blanc, the Italian minister, who will return to
Washington in November, as also will Senior
P0testad.
Eight Hours a Days Work.
Commodore Shufeldt, acting secretary Of the
navy, has issued orders to commandants of
navy yards that eight hours shall constitute a
days work, and full compensation shall be
paid therefor, the same as now paid for ten
hours. Persons electing to work tan hours
shall be paid extra therefor. Colonel Casey,
commissioner of public buildings and grounds,
has issued similar order for the govern ment
of workmen in his employ.
The German Comm issioners
The German commissioners 10 examine into
the taxation of tobacco held con sutatlOn with
Revenue Commissioner Raum and Mr., Kim
ball OF the tobacco division, who explained the
system of tobacco taxation They will remain
two or three weeks to become thoroughly ac-
quainted with the system.
Mexico Behiad Time.
The Department Of State has not received the
third instalment of claims adjudicsted in favor
of American citizens by the joint American
Mexican Commission. The treaty requires that
$500, 600 be paid every year until the entire ag-
gregate of the awards has been liquidated.
Gases Before the Supreme Court.
There are several important cases, in which
the United States is concerned, to be argued be-
fore the Supreme Court at its approaching ses-
sion. The first series of these are the we'll
known Credit Mobilier cases which are in the
Supreme Court on appeal from the decision of
Judge Hunt in the United States Court for the
district of Connecticut. These suits are brought
under the statute of 1873, to recover from the
Credit Mobllier certain moneys alleged to have
been wrOngfully obtained from the Union
Pacific railroad Company, the object of the gov
eminent being to have these funds restored to
the company in order that it may be able to
meet its liabilities to the United States The
decision of j Judge Hunt was to the effect that
the suit could not be maintained and was there
fore against the U nted States The case has
once been argued in the Supreme Court, but its
re-argument was ordered, it being understood
that there was some difference of opinion in the
court upon the question involved.
Another important Pacific railroad case is
that known as the per cent suit, the govern
ment demanding pc" cent. per annum of the
net earnings under the original law, in payment
OF the debt due the United States. This suit
involve the question of what are the net earn
iDgs of the road, and further what time the
road was legally completed. An act was
passed at the last session of Congress- 10 regard
to the net earnings, but it did not affect any of
the rights of the United States or OF the roads
existing prior to the passage of the act.
me Utah cases involving the validity of the
Territory are also to be argued.
Another Planet
The Snithsoniau inoHtut;or ronoxI,
Prof. w atson of Ann Arbor, Mich, Announces
the discovery OF planet of the 18th magnitude.
In 70 hours IA minutes right ascension, 8 de-
grees one minute south declination with daily
motion south.
The Losses of National Banks.
The Comptroller of the currency has COM
piled dividend reports of the National Banks
for six months ending March 1, 1878, from
which it appears the banks have charged off
losses during that time amounting to $1O9O3-
l45. OF this amount 81. 913757 consisted Of
premiums on the U. S. bonds held for circula-
ton which had deprecated in value in the mar
ket below the cost price to the banks. Losses
charged off by national banks during the year
ending Sept LIST, 1876. were $19,71aO26 and for
the year ending Sept ist, 1877, SIS, $685.
making totol of more than $5O,5O00OO of
losses charged off during the first q years.
The rates of earnings of National Banks to
capital and surplus for the year 1877 was 5.62
per cent, and tits estimated that the rates for
the year 1873 will not be greater than for the
precedi year.
The Comptroller has also compiled complete
dividend returns from the National Banks in
sixteen of the principal cities for the year end.
ing Sept. l, 1873, from which it appears that
S11, $40 129 of losses have been charged off by
the banks located in those cities during the
present year, of which ST. 500 96S was for depre-
citation in premiums on U. s. bonds held by |
banas as security for circulation. Total losses |
charged off by banks located in these sixteen |
cities during the three years ending Sept. LIST, |
1878, were So, 410,964. The losses charged |
off by banks IN New York city during |
the past year were $5,147, 3l9 60; Boston |
~, 400, 1917. 46; Chicago $9l5OS4 IA; Phil |
adelphia $501 676 30; Pit,sburg $4l9.O36. 81;
$368, 915 SO; New Orleans $685., 1895.
DO; Louisville 1926 ,525 ST. Cleveland S222,9OS.-
%; ST. Louis $171 1896; Detroit $1446l7Ol;
San Francisco $52 903 81; Milwaukee $74 95S-
IS; Cincinnati $50 03O 70; Washington 1888 Gill;
IS; Albany $274, 3S9,6S2.
In 1876 the amount charged off by the banks
u the cities above named was S11. 727, 477.37,
md in 1877 the amount was So. 163, 35S 50.
Cohen Quiet.
WASHINGTON, Sept %. -Cohen made no eff
ort to collect his mob in front of the City Hall
onight the city order to the public today to
prevent any further meeting having q good
feet All excitement has passed and no fur
her trouble is anticipated. Cohen informed
he superintendent of police that he would not
tempt to bold any meeting, and there would
10 no further violation of law.