Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-01-05
THE EVENING STAR.
Washington News and Gossip.

revenue, $305. .SG9.4l customs, $il7 6SSo ~.
SENATOR BLAINE has not returned to Wash
ingtOn from the Arkansas Hot Springs. as pub
liShcd enormously, nor is he expected here
until Wednesday next.
THE LeavenwOrth (Kan.) Iader has been
following the eXamrla of the Cincinnati Ga-
zeite in violating the postal laws. This case
will probably be prosecuted.
The COMMISSION of Judge J. VI. EdmundS,
postmaster at Washington. expires on the S'h
inst. He is well backed rs his own successor
but there are several eager aSpirants for the
position. who will make lively struggle.
\ PRELIMINARY HEARING in the case of
Thomas Douglass, charged with being acces.
sorry to obtaining large sum of money from
The I. ). Treasury by means of forgery. was
commenced this afternoon before l. 5. Com
missioner ). {. Mills.
UNIFORMS FOR CUSTOM HOUSE EMPLOYEES
Secretary Sherman has directed that the EN-
ployeS of the New York custom house shall be
uniformed. If the plan proves satisfactory the
order will bC extended to apply to all the prin-
cipal custom houses in the United States.
AN ADDITIONAL MAIL between this city and
Georgetown. leaving AZ IL O'Clock, has been
established. BY this means the citizens of
Georgetown will get the western and northern
central mail several hours earlier than hereto
fore. The return mail from Georgetown will
bring local letters to this city i'll the morning.
THE TREASURY now holds SAG, 90, 80 in US.
bonds to secure bank circulation, and l3,9SS,000
to secure public deposits. L. $. bonds depOS-
tied for cancellation for week ending to-day,
$2l0,2UN: amount Withdrawn. S}30,2iO; national
bank circulation OutStanding-currencyn notes,
$500, ,4N: gold notes. $l.i32,l20.
DOORKEEPER Polk of the House of Repre-
SentativeS, is again in trouble. He has dis
charged Il confidential clerk named I1ghlm
COTIyell. who threatened To expose some
secrets of the doorkeeper'S department which
came under his observation While holding his
confidential position.
The SOUTHERN TOBACCO MANUFACTURERS
have submitted a plan to Representative
Tucker, OF Virginia, tO overcome the detri-
entail effect upon the tobacco trade, of the
.,.tatiOn of the change of the rate of lax on
that staple The plan is that all tax paid to-
baccO "n hand at the date OF the reduction OF
the tax shall be allowed Il drawback equal to
the amount Of the reduction.
SPECIAL AGENT MADGE. of the Treasury de-
paTtment, has filed report with Secretary
sherman charging violation of the law, gross
careicSSneSS, and incOmpetency upon the
officers VINO are appointed to inspect bonded
goods for shipment from the New York to in
land ports of entry. He is of the opinion that
/ nited STATES IS d"franhed annually of mil
lions OF revenue. by reason OF the careleSSneSS
Of its officers. Hon. Fernando Wood. chair
man OF the ways and means committee, will
call for the report when Congress meets.
A CLOSE ELECTION IN CIIFORNIA Con
TESTED.-RepreSentativ Springer. of Illinois,
chairman of the subcommittee on elections to
whom was referred the contested election ease
OF Nig9intOn rer$'iS PachecO. ith California
Gi- tTICt, will make Il report declaring Wiggin-
n I'd N IN
lOriiL OI five votes. PdchCcO. republican. is
The sitting member. and was given the, seat
under decision Of the supreme court Of Call
f0rmIa that lie was elected by 4 majority of
ole Vote.
GENERAL BANNING'S SWEEPING PLAN OF
ARMY REFORM.-l;cneral Banning. chairman
OF the military committee of the House has a
scheme to reduce the army. He does not con-
template reducing the bayOnetS, but thinks Il
little consolidation in order. Hence he prOpO-
SOS the consolidation OF The cOmmisSary and
GUartermaSter departments, the abolition of
the department of Justice, and the reduction
ii number OF regiments using the SurpluSage
Of men to recruit the decimated regiments :np
To the fuil enlistment quota, and turning the
surplus officers out 10 grass.
THE FAST MAIL TO HAvANA.-The Post OF
flee department. i'll pursuance of the intention
to establish 4 fast mail between New York
and Havana. has arranged for the tranSporta-
ton OF the mail between Cedar Keys and Ha-
vana. The mail will go by rail from Sayan-
nah to Cedar Keys 10y way of Baldwin, if sat
ISfactOry arrangements can be made with the
railroad officials. 1t is expected that the time
between New York and Havana will be re-
dUced TO eighty-eight and half hours The
line goes into operation February lst.
PROPOSED REORGANIZATION OF THE P.O.D
4 committee from the chief clerks of the Post
Office department has been engaged i'm draw
ing up bill obe presented to Congress for
its action. 1t will provide for the increase OF
the salary of the Postmaster General from
5000 TO $1,000: of the Assistant Postmaster
General from $500 to 5000 each: and of the
other officials IN about the same proportion
The proposed Increase in salaries will REQUIRE
an additional Appropriation of more than
$4,000 for the Post Office department and will
place its otnclaIS i'll the matter OF remunera-
uOn nearly on Il level with their brethren OF
the Treasury department. A reorganization
OF Ofthedepartment is also proposed bywhch a Su-
perlnttndent OF mail Classification, and a chief
custodian of archives and librarian. with an
assistant, shall be added aS new officers To rhp
official corps. The bill will De drawn lIp and
presented 10 the Postmaster General for his
Inspection some time within the present
month.
Tie reorganization and increase OF salaries
i'll the Post Office department is made neces-
Sary by the vast growth OF its operations since
It's iaSt organization III 1896. If the bill is sue
CeSSful, the increased compensation of the
Postmaster General will suggest the increase
Of the salaries of the other Cabinet officers
anu tiiC di HAY Llltll DS applied
in the case OF the Cabinet that brought about
The doubling OF the Presidents salary.
A HANDSOME TESTIMONIAL FROM BALTI
MORE KNIGHTS TEMPLAR.-LaSt evening will
he long remembered by the Sir knights Of Co
'Gmbia COmmandery, No. ,, Knights Templar
Maryland CGmmandery. No. |. of Baltimore
(JEe oldest Templar organization in this cOun-
n.y. of Il testimonial OF their knightly respec,
and esteem 10 this cOmmandery. whose guests
they were on the occasion OF a pilgrimage to
Mount Vernon in October of last year The
presentation was made 10y Z. c. {, G. ISaacS
and Sir Robert Ball &C. Columbia Command
cry, responded eiUpuently. The testimonial is
in the shape of an elaborate and beautifully
constructed shield of silver and FURNISHED
gUld. ciclCSedFin a deep frame of black wal
nut, with facing OF rich velvet, highly polished
oval on the surface. and bearing two bead
lin' O1 enamel. 1t IS SurmOunted by a hand
SUmely engraved and co!0red cross and crown
sncirclim% crossed Templars' swords. full size
all OF the same material In the deep recess of
this elaborate casing is The testimonial itself
the background OF gold. three feet i'm height bv
two feet sin inches in breadth. with apprOpri-
ate inscriptions. In scroll at the loot of the
cross are the names of the committee making
the presentation. MeSSrS. w III. Ruby III
L. EmmOns. T.. j. OppalI, j. A. Whiting and
A. Robertson. After the presentation, all
repaired to the banquet hall, where was spread
an elegant repaSt. w. l.. Fletcher, F. c. Co
lumbia COmnIandery, presided. and speeches
were made by Major =. {. ISaacS, E. c. and
others Of the Baltimore commandery and re
SpOnScS came in happy vein from MeSSrS