The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1878-11-23
WASHING TON.
The Halifax AWard

WASHINGTON, Nov 22.-Tne warrant for
the fishery award was today drawn at the Treas
ury for SIS 100000 in CON and placed to the
credit of the Secretary of State with the assis-
tant treasurer at New York.
The subscr Dtious to the per cent. loan to-
day were $1,16S,700.
The House Committee on Appropriations.
A quorum Of the House Committee on Al.
populations being in attendance today, the
work of preparing the annual appropriation
bills was formally commenced The session
was devoted to the preliminary examination of
the Department estimates with regard to their
more important items and the totals as COM
pared with the appropriations granted at the
last session. The general impression seems to
be that they canno: be very materially reduced
without detriment to the public service.
American Citizens i'm Germany.
The case of the naturalized citizen of o.
kosb, Wis, who went to Germany and was ar
rested for expressing himself too freely con-
corning the conduct of the German govern
ment having been brought to the notice of
Secretary Evarte, he has instructed our minis
ter to Germany to inquire into the case aud re-
port to the State Department with the view to
interference By our government if the result of
the Inquiry justi6es il. Under the Bancroft
treaty a uaturalized German who returns to his
native land loses his claims to protection from
this government after remaining there TWO
years. Though the German 10 question had
are other m alters to be taken idto cousidera-
ton before interference in his behalf can prop
erly b9 made
An EndiaR Agent Convicted.
Secretary Schurz today received telegram
announcing that one McCanp, a contractor for
the transportation of Indian supplies, prosecut-
ed by the department for defraudlng the gov
eminent, has been convicted and is now in Jail
atsCbeyenne. This is the first instance of coz
viction in such case by a frontier jury.
Report of Gen. Gibbon.
In his report to the War depart ment, General
Gibb0n, commanding the department. of Dakc-
ta after describing the unprovoked murder cf
Edwardl Frazier by the Indians near Berthold,
tenders his contribution to the literature Of the
Indian department. He says that the question
of holding any attempt to place the control of
Indian affairs under two departments SO radi-
cally opposed in principle as the military and
Indian departments, has resulted 10 the clash
ing of authority aad a state of affairs which
is working to the detriment of the Indians. If
the system of responsibility which prevails in
the army existed in the Indian department.
much of the now we'll founded charge of loose
ness and fraud would be avoided; but under
the total lack OF system in that department the
responsibility Is go loose ard fraud so easy that
the wonder is not that pecnlation should some
times occur. but that it does not happen in all
cases; nor does the attempt to intermipgle the
Two systems by requiring army officers to To-
sDect Indian supplies and witness the issuing of
annnities work .favorably, for the reason that
while the country at large is led to believe tn 1t
there can be no frauds now that the officers of
the army are perform ng this inspection duty,
but few ara aware OfRthe fact that from the
defective system of responsibility in the Indian
department these inspections form no check
whatever upon the operations of Indian agents
whose accounts seem to pass scrutiny in Wash
ington, just as well W tnout these ms oectioas
as with them.
Reduction in the Navy Yards
The bureau of construction and repairs of
the Navy Department issued an order TODAY
reducing the alotments Of money to be spent
at the several navy yards about 80 per cent
taking from the New York navy ward $4,000.
Portsmouth $4,000, Norfolk $4,000. League
Island, Washington, Pensacola and Mare
Island each $4,000. The reduction is
necessity, Congress having appropriated a
million and half dollars for building, repairs
and supplies for the present fiscal year to be
expended by that bureau, much Of the money
having been spent in fitting out vessels to take
the places of those soon to return from several
foreign stations.
Depredntions ON Timber Lands.
The Secretary of the Interior today trans
mitted to Attorney General Devens q COPY of
the report received from Special Agent Gaioes,
showing that extensive depredatons had been
committed upon the government timber lands
10 Western Florida. Secretary Schurz requests
that instructions be given the United States
District Attorney to confer with the Special
Agent, and If the facts sustain his statement
to institute suits Immediately for the recovery
OF the timber and for waste and damage.
sfes mbOaf Mail Service.
The Postoffice department today, in view of
the near exhaustion of the appropriation for
steamboat mail service, ordered its discontin-
nance between Fall River and Boston, by the
Fall River steamers. and also the disc lntin-
uance OF the steamship service between Morgan
City and Galveston, Texas
Angel 30 be Surrendered.
WASHINGTON, Nov. Cat Cabinet meet
ing today Secretary Eyarts announced that the
Portuguese authorities had placed Cbas. w.
Palace Co.. ia the cnsiodv of the fn Sases
consul at Lisbon, and that although no ex-
tradition treaty exists between the United
States and Portugal bis early return to this
country will confidently be expected az a
matter of courtesy on the part of the Por tu-
guese government.