Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-08-15
THE EVENING STAR,
Washington News and Gossip.
GOVERNMENT RECEIPTS sTo-DAY.-Internalr rev.
enue, 1865, ,4S2. .15; customs, $50 2941SO

GOVERNMENT RECEIPTS STO-DAY.-lnternalr rev.
enue, ss6s, ,4s2.'5; customs, ss22,
RIGBTs OF SoLDIERs IN "NArIoNAL HOMES" TO
THEIR PENSION MONEY.-The Attorney General
has under advisement question of much in
terest to the inmates OF the national soldiers
there has been adopted at the homes In this
city and at Hampton, Va, rules which preScl ibe
that the pay and pension money of the inmates
of the horne shall be turned over to the custody
Of the commandant. The complaints from the
Hampton (Fa.) Home have become so frequent
since the arrearageS of pension bill passed that
the soldiers We're not given their money to
which they were entitled, that the question
has been submitted to the Attorney General as
TO the right of the cOmmandantS OF these
homes te retain such money. without the CON
sent of the beneficiary. A decision will be
reached In day or two.
TIE HARpER's FERRY LAND LOT CAsEs.-Cer-
tain lots In Harper's Ferry, the property Of the
United States, were bought at high prices
when the government sold the property at
Harpers Ferry Ia 1869, because it was expected
that Harper's Ferry would become an impOr-
tant manufacturing center. These hopes were
not realized, and the lot purchasers thereupon
appealed to the generosity OF Congress, and
during the session Of 1s17-'7s an act was passed
for their relief All the details were left to the
discretion OF the solicitor of the Treasury The
solicitor has decided to remit to those purcha-
sers who apply for abatements two-thirds OF
the original purchase price agreed to be paid
praised value from the date OF purchase from
the government, and to require those obtaining
abatementS to account for rent and profits ac-
tually received. The parties interested express
dissatisfaction with this decision, and have ap-
pealed to the attorney general for conStruc-
lion Of the law passed for their relief, and an
opinion In the premises.
TEE "OPEN1NG Up OF AFRICA" DELUsIoN.
Commodore Shufeldt, writing from on board
the T1conderoga, under date Of May 21, to
Secretary Thompson, describing the scope and
extent Of the Presbyterian Board OF Missions In
Africa, says: "Rev. 8. II. Murphy has charge OF
the mission, with headquarters at the GaboOn
river. Mr. Murphy is assisted by several ladies
and several native preachers. The mission en-
braces the schools at Batonga, Benito, Corsica
island and intermediate points partly under the
Spanish and partly under the French govern
Ment. All the several branches are described
as being In f1Our1sh1ng condition. the total
number Of native children under tuition being
four hundred, OF whom forty are females.
Writing under date OF June Sd, Commodore
Schufeldt a. announces N the arrival Of the Ticon-
Is the, first American war vessel which can
really be said to have entered the Congo, the
others others. having S9a anchored at its mouth: Com:
Africa, as 1t Is termed, mere deceit and delu-
sion, and says the natives Of the lower Congo
who have been In contact with the whites for
grated upon their innate barbarism the lowest
vices OF civilization. The appointment OF con-
suls along the coast by our government is recon-
menced as circulated to give our flag recog-
future commerce from the United States.
MOVEMENTS OF NAVAL vRssELs.-The Secre-
tary of the Navy is advised OF the movements
OF the following naval vessels: The Minnesota
passed the New York navy yard bound for
Hampton Roads at 80 q. M. yesterday The
Powhatan arrived of Pensacola navy yard yes
terday.
SANITARY REPORTS BY NAVAL OFFIcERs.-By
GERS" the senior medical officer of every vessel
and station is required to make a sanitary re-
port to the Bureau Of Medicine and Surgery on
the list OF January, or at the end of each cruise,
less than year. The attention of all medi-
cal officers Is especially called to those require
Navy, which says that "the Commanding OIL
GERS OF squadrons and stations are expected to
see that they are strictly complied with. During
the prevalence OF the yellow fever and other
contagious diseases those from ports OF the
West indies, Gulf Of Mexico, and South Aueri-
ca will be forwarded with all possible prompti-
tude. In all the last named ports the surgeons
OF neets, and OF the several vessels, are required
10 OBTAIN the most complete and reliable 1nfOr-
nation OF the actual condition OF health at such
place visited, to investigate the causes of pre-
va1ltDg diseases, and to consult with the health
O1ncers OF the ports and with consular and other
author1t1es as to endemic and epidemic dts
eases-particularly yellow fever and cholera
mentioned Section 10 Of the 'Instructions,'
medical Officers will forward the results OF
their oDservatfons upon the subjects herein In
d1cated, without delay, so that the Department
and progress OF any disease that may affect the
health Of the fleets, or may be liable to be iu-
troduced by vessels OF commerce into any of the
ports OF the United States"