Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-10-28
THE EVENING STAR.
Washington News and Gossip.

been received in this city that the stockholders
of the National Bell Telephone Company have
ratified compromise with the Western Union
Telegraph Company, which controls the Edison
patent The Western Union company. act,ng
for and on behalf OF the Gold and Stock IeIe-
graph Company, the American Speaking Teie-
phone Company, and the Harmonic Telegraph
Company. agrees to withdraw from the tele-
phone business in the United States, leaving the
field entirely clear to the company operating
under the Bell patents. The western Union
pany percentage On the telegraphic business
received through its instruments, and to CO.
/, operate to the extent of its power.
GEN. GRANT AND THE ARMY OF THE CUMBER-
LAND.-The Indianapolis Journal OF Saturday
prints double-leaded news paragraph, Of which
the following is an excerpt: 'DfSpatches received
last night by a citizens committee and by Post
master Holloway, from Hon. John c. New, VINO
is now in San Francisco. state that Gen. Grant
will visit this city on the Goth of November
This announcement will be read with interest
throughout the entire state, and we believe the
people of Indiana will gladly unite in demon
stration of respect to the distinguished soldier
and citizen. 1t is proposed to make his recep-
tion here of a similar character, and to this end
there will be meeting OF citizens and ex-sol-
dierS at the United States district courtroom
this morning at 10 O'Clock, to make arrange
ments for the event." This seems to indicate
that Gen. Grant will not be in Washington to
attend the reunion of the Army Of the Cumber-
land on the goth proximo. But possibly the
strong appeals made to him by his old comrades
to join them here on the goth Will induce him to
change his time of visiting Indianapolis and
come here instead on that date
THE SOUTHERN UTEs QU1Er-A telegram re-
ceived at the Indian bureau from Agent Page
reports that he issued the annuity goods to the
Southern UteS at his agency on the 21St inst,
and that all was quiet in that vicinity last
Wednesday.
LOTTERY MA1Ls.-Postmaster General Key has
to-day issued instructions to the postmasters at
New York city, Louisville and New orleans to
refuse hereafter to rent boxes in their offices to
lottery companies or lottery agents.
SECOND LIEUT.. JOHN PITCHER, 1st cavalry, has
been detailed as member of the board of officers
convened in this city by special orders No. 221,
october 14th, 1875 for the examination Of candi-
dates for appointment as SuperfntendentS OF
lock- 9Th infantry. relieved, to take effect when
Lieut.. Pitcher shall have reported for duty on
the board Captain Pollock will then join his
regiment.
PARDoNED BY THE PREsIDENT-Dr. Eddins,
who was convicted of ballot-box stuffing in the
western district OF Tennessee at an election
near Bartren, ten miles from Memphis, and who
was sentenced to imprisonment, was pardoned
by the President yesterday upon the solicitation
of prominent citizens of his neighbOrhood among
whom was Col VIM. NJ Randolph, the repubn-
can candidate for Congress. DR.. EddinS had
already served eleven months in prison.
THE RAILWAY MAIL SERvICE-The forthcom-
ing report of the superintendent of the railway
mail service will show that during the last fiscal
year SO lines of railway post offices have been
operated, over 1880 miles of railroad, perform
ing about 10000 miles Of daily service and nearly
$1,000, GOO miles Of service annually. The aggre,
gate number Of miles of railroad mail service of
all kinds Qncluding the transportation not only
OF postal cars but of closed pOucheS) was over
$500 600 miles during the year. The number OF
and Sfrih tod Jytl tlon
of the railway mail service on postal cars during
the twelve months was about 1,669, 100000; be-
sides which there were nearly 9SO, ,00O,0 600 news
papers, showing an increase of about 400, ,OOO, 900
pieces. Or nearly 20 per cent. in the amount 0
work as compared with the preceding year.
The total number OF errors in distribution Qnany
involved no delay was about 163, ,O0o or one error
in each $500 pieces. The railway mail service
employs 1881 travelling postal cars, 1,1eS
route agents, 247 mail messengers and 134 Local
agents.
THE PRESIDENT INVITES THE Ex-PREsIDENT-
The President has sent telegram to Gen. Grant
inviting him to be his guest when he visits
Washington. Gen. Sherman has received a dis
patch from Gen. Grant stating that he will no
bein Washington November goth, as he has an
engagement on that date to attend the army
reunion. at indianapolis.
PERsoNAL--Hugh sibald, Calcutta: Col. t. l.
Brown, Brooklyn, and Rev. R. H. Lighe, Brook
lyn, are at Wizards. 49,. Mrs. NJ. Maginnis
Montana, is at the Arlington. 80. Gen. H. B
Bernham, Z. s. A.; Hon. J. Edison sherman
Boston; B. 3. Taylor, =: S n, and Gen. Bank
bridal couples arrived at the Ebbitt House to
day, viZ.:-W. S. Carter and wife, Newark, N. j.
and H. Van Buskirk and wife, of the same city
day, arrayed in tall hat and huge fur coat
The coat was so immense, for his size, as to at
tract much notice. Hewent to the Navy depart
ment on business, and Secretary Thompson
i'm n iS frval fIr Ehnv
he did, he exclaimed, with great big, big d
"where did you get that fur coat?" ...-Speake
Randall, A. F. M: G. Tyner, Sttlson Hutchins
ington, were registered in New York last even
ing. Hon. A. H. Stephens is now at home
and In good health, resting after his travels
Ex-Governor Dennison has formally announced
his candidacy for the Senate to succeed Mr.
Thurman.
TWO GENERAL CoURTs-MARTIAL have beer
convened-one to meet at Columbus barracks
Ohio Oct. 80, 1879, for trial of such persons a:
may be brought before it, composed of Capt
KenIe Bates, 1st infantry; Capt A. A. Harbach
1st Lieut.. j. B. Guthrie, 18th infantry; 1st Lieut.
Patrick HaSSOn, 14th infantry, Judge advocate o.
the court; and one to meet at the Cavalry Depot
Jefferson barracks, Mo-, on the 31st day of Oc
tober 1879, or as soon thereafter as practicable
composed of Colonel Currie Grover, 1st cavalry
Lieut.: Col J. F. Wade, 10th cavalry; Capt. J: Fl
y,
9Th cavalry; 1st Lieut. ChaS. Morton, &c
cavalry; 1st Lieut.. c. II. Rockwell, 5th cavalry
judge advocate OF the court.
OUR SEA COAST DEFENCEs- Wright, Chic
Of Engineers of the army, has just completed
his annual report. 1t shows that during the
past fiscal year the work upon our sea coast de
fences has been limited, In accordance with the
terms of the act of March %, 1879. Gen. Wright
says: 'These works are subject more than any
other national structures, with the exception
perhaps, of lighthouses to the destructive and
deteriorating effects OF the sea; and the amount
heretofore appropriated for their protection has
proved insufficient, many necessary orders Of re-
pair and protection remaining unexecuted at the
close of the fiscal year for want Of funds.
No progress whatever has been made for several
years past in the construction of new or the
modification of our old works, built before the
inventions of modern ordnance and armore6
ships, for want of appropriations therefor, and
beg to renew the remarks and the recommenda
ttons of the last annual report from this depart
ment in relation thereto" A portion OF the last
annual report is quoted, which says: .1t would
be an act of prudence to make the beginnin
without delay. The disasters of the first thre
months of war under the present conditions
defenceS might cost the nation tenfOld the eX
pendituIe that would be needed to thorough
protect cur coast against an attack. Our grea
cities-New York, Philadelphia. Boston, Sa
Francisco, New orleans, Baltimore an
Washington-should they fall into tn
hands of an enemy, would suffer ter
SylnC tI,av,f T.,