Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-12-15

RETURN OFFICES FOR LETTERs.-The House
committee On post Offices and post roads have
agreed to report fayorably the bill establishing
return offices for letters. The bill, as amended,
provides that the Postmaster General shall eS-
tablish not less than three nor more than ten at
the outset, and afterward extend the system as
in his discretion may seem advisable. The
bill, If its provisions are successfully carried
into effect, will tend to abridge the functions of
the dead-letter Office, and when submitted to
the department was severely criticised, and re-
turned to the committee with recommendations
opposing its adoption; the committee, however,
thought otherwise, and, with the amendment
aforementioned, it was unanimously adopted.
GRANT GOING THROUGH WASHINGTON. - The
Louisville C0auieI-Jou,nnl says: SIT Is decided
that Grant Is to pass through Washington in
his Pullman car without stopping, when he
goes to Key West to embark for Cuba"
NAVAL ORDERs.-Lieut. Commander Henry
Glass and Lieut. 7. S. Phelps, from duty at San
Francisco, and placed on waiting orders. Lieut.
A. NJ. Thackara to ordnance duty at the Wash
fngton navy yard. Medical Inspector A. C. Cor
gas to duty at the naval academy, January I'd.
Passed Assistant Surgeon Howard Smith, to
temporary duty at Pensacola. Assistant Sur
geon Richard Ashbridge to duty on board the
iron-clads in the James river. Chief Engineer
H. B. Noues, to hold himself in readiness for sea
service. Gunner j. X. Wilson to duty at the
naval magazine, Portsmouth, n. II. Carpenter
j. q. I1lden, to the Franklin, 18th inst. Medical
Director Charles Martin, to duty at the Norfolk
navy yard. Sth OF January. Medical Director A.
[. Gihon, to duty at the Norfolk naval hospital,
Jan. 9th. Surgeon G. S. Beardsley, from the
% New York navy yard: Jan; sth, and placed on
den, from duty on board the 1rOn-clads in the
James river, and placed on waiting orders
RAILROAD EXTENSION IN NEBRAsKA.-A private
letter received in this city from Aurora, Ne
braska, encloses map showing the network
OF railroads in that state and says of the latest
extensions of the Burlington and Missouri River
road, which reaches out its arms in every direc-
tlOn IN eastern Nebraska: I" Last summer the
road was built westward from York to Aurora
and now the track Is within half mile of the
Platte river on its way from Aurora to Central
CITY, on the U. P. railroad. At the river the
track will be held three or four months for a
bridge to be built, which will be 1000 feet long.
In southern Nebraska the road is being pushed
through at rapid rate east from Red Cloud, %
miles, to Superior, and west from Naponee to
Watson"
SUICIDE OF DISMISSED LIEUTENANT. A
special dispatch from Sante Fe says: "Charles
w. Merritt, near relative OF Gen. Merritt, and
missed some three weeks ago by general court
martial, committed suicide in his room at the
Exchange Hotel, Santa Fe, by shooting himself
through the head"
REPRESENTATIVE VOoRHIs INDICTED.-It Is
stated that indictments have been found
against congressman VOorhiS. of New Jersey.
on Thursday last a court officer proceeded to
the residence of Mr.. Voorhfs. but Gid not find
MN. ana an ollicer was sent to this city to Sc
cure his arrest II here. It is supposed that Mr.
voornis VIII resist arrest under the provision of
tne CONSTITUTION forbidding the arrest of a con-
gresham while Congress Is in session. exceDt
for treason, felony or breach OF the peace"
BOARD OF TRADE AND BOARD OF HEAITH.-The
special committee appointed by the national
board of trade to confer with the executive com.
mittee OF the national board OF health has COM
pleted its work. The subject Of quarantine was
very generally reviewed. The representatives
OF the board OF trade expressed themselves as in
entire accord with the views entertained by the
board OF health on the matter, and stated that
In their opinion the Investigations proposed and
those that are already in progress should be con-
t1nned; they also mentioned during the confer
ence that they were gratifled to know that the
system OF quarantines proposed by the board Of
health would cause but slight Is any interfer-
ence with the commercial interests OF the coun-
try. The report Of the committee showing the
result OF the conference win be prepared and
submitted to the executive council of the board
Of trade for consideration at its next meeting.