Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-05-19

standing to be redeemed and believed to be the
smallest reserve upon which resumption could
be pIudently commenced and successfully
maiDtained-as fully set forth In my last annual
report. This reserve arose from the sale of
S?50o0, 0cO bonds and from surplus revenues as
authorized by law, and it must, under existing
law, be maintained unimpaired for the purpose
for which it was created.
Very respectfully, JOHN SHERMAN,
Secretary
The Public Printing.
ANSWER OF MR. DEFREEs TO THE CHARGES
AGAINST THE MANAGEMENT OF THE GOVERN
MENT PRINTING OFFICE.
Mir. j. d. DefreeS, the Public Printer, to-day
filed with the House committee on printing
quite lengthy reply to meet the charge made
that the government printing Office is conduct
ed with extravaganza. Mr.. Defrees first. and
at some length sets forth the manner inlwhich
the business OF his Office is conducted. To the
charge made that the "Public Printer employs
from 1,5G0 to $500, and has carte blanche to en-
ploy Just as many men and women as he pleases,
on precisely such terms as he himself may es-
tabl1sh, subject neither to appeal or revision"
&C., Mr.. Defrees says: 81 do not think the pay
ron ever exceeded ,5oc..certainly never reached
made by Mr. Hutcbins that 1.-THE present PUB
lie Printer purchased during the last year
s4l,eoo D. worth OF nonpareii type, for which he
Iald e, &c cents per pound" Mr.: Defrees says:
"The above statement is little over One-third
true: Only s13, 1881 worth of nonparell were
purchased, instead Of $4,000 worth, as as
be 9sd IL have
various cities agree upon uniform price
list, pledglng. themselves to adhere to it,
Printing ece Is not poiitcal machine in anv
odi0us sense. do not know the politics of fifty
men In the Office. have never asked man
ABOUT his political faith. suppose that large
majority employed here are republicans, though
! understand that there are great many demo-
Gratis, especially In the bindery. Will frankly
say, however, that ii wanted to employ
were to present themselves, 1 should give the
republican the preference. During long life
democrats, with whom have always had and
now have, many personal friends, do not know
ODE OF them that would not, in my position,
reverse my action and take the democrat!"
Mr.. Defrees, in concluding, says: 81 have ar
rived at that time OF life when / cannot expect
long TO have any interest in the public print
ing, and to put on record, for whatever it may
De worth, my opinion, from an experience in
the printing business dating back to my appren-
ticesh1p, hfty-four years ago, that in no other
way can the government printing be so well, so
promptly, and so economically executed as
under the present system"
IMPROVED MAIL COMMUNICATION WITH MEX
ICo.-A bill has been introduced In Congress to
appropriate 5000 to send a commission to Mex
leo to improve postal communications with that
republic: 1t may be mentioned in this connec-
ton that as Mexico Joined the Universal Postal
tercourse between the United States and Mex.
1co is low established on the most salts
factory factory nasts both as regards postage
ence admitted to the International exchanges.
The rates OF postage chargeable on all descrlp-
lions OF correspondence exchanged with Mexico
are the same as those established with all other
countries Of the postal union, and can be
fully prepaid to destination in either direction.
Correspondence for Mexico is regularly for
United States Offices, viz: New York. san Franz
cisco, New Orleans, Brownsville, Eagle Pass.
ana FL Paso fTexas,) and Tucson, Arizona,
Postmaster General with the general most de- de-
partment of Mexico; the mails despatched
from these several United States exchanging
Offices including the correspondence for the en-.
tile territory OF Mexico.
WHAT COMMISSIONER LIZ Due SAYs-The
Washington correspondence of the N. Y Tribune
says:-Gen. lie Due, commissioner of agrtcul-
ture, seems to be getting excited over the critI-
clsms Of his administration that have lately aD-
peared and the investigation recently proposed
In the House OF Representatives. In conversa-
said:-"Suppose some chuckle-headed, beetle
proved, long cared jackasS was to set up a
fendish braying out here in the street, and l
as at as 95ang 81 fSel
brawling liars) and should getdown on all fours
ana kick with that Jackass and should whip and
would have whipL ed contemplate 1ackaSs /
have better employment and do not want
JackaSS scalp In my belt; and do not care for
the dirty work of tanning his hide unless IL be-
comes necessity. 1t would seem that people
OF common business ought to know that the cor.
rectness OF my accounts, and accounts of every
upon by the Treasury officials. have man
aged the department in such manner as /
thought most advantageous to the country in
conformity with every requirement OF the law
and in the hope OF making it OF some value etI to
the agriculturists, Whetherit pleases every body
or not"
THE HON. ASA PACKER, whose death at Phila-
delphia was announced yesterday, bore the re-
putation in pennsylvania OF having done more
than any other single Individual for the de.
velOpment OF the coal and iron interests of that
state. He possessed the most indomitable
energy and untiring industry, for which he
prise he undertook. His interest in the Lehigh
Valley railroad amounted to about Is per cent
OF the entire capital stock. The estimate of
his estate range from ten to twenty millions S
His benefactions to the Lehigh TniyerstV'
founded by him, have been munificent. lie
leaves two sons, Robert A. Packer and Harry
f. Packer, both holding important offices In the
service OF the company, and one unmarried
daughter.
FLORIDA ELECTION FRAUDs.-A telegram to
the New York Herald from Jacksonville Nav ,
10Th, says:-In the United States Circuit cOurt
today the trial OF Theodore H. Willard, sheriff
OF Madison county, charged with hindering
voters at the polls In the late Congressional
election, concluded by verdict of guilty with
recommendation to mercy. The case OF Hui
the successful Congressional candidate, has NOT
yet come up, In consequence or the absence of
important witnesses.
A STEAM YACHT DISASTER AT NEW YoRE
Al ma past four o'clock yesterday afternoon
Inc steam yacht Louisa, owned by Mr.. Charles
Stenglein, of 1926 Third avenue, New York, ran
on to the rocks In Little He'll Gate and Inset i
James Hall, aged 40, William Adams, aged 5. or
NM6orlasania and Rosie stenglein aged Is, Of 1925
erick Stengle1p, aged 20 and TO- and Mrs Adams
and her daughter, Sarah Adams, aged Is, were
METHODIST EPISCOPAL VIsITATIONs - Tho
bishops Of the Methodist Episcopal Church are
nn0iqlng mo their semlsannual meeting In Wheeling
w. va. Bishops Scott Simpson, Foster pacf
Wylie, BoWnan Merrill Haven and Andrew are