The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1880-11-25
From the Capital.

From the Capital.
THE sale of 81, $50 acres of land belong
ing to the United States in southwestern
North Carolina, advertised by the solicitor
of the treasury to take place on the 25th
inst, has been indefinitely postponed.
HE president has appointed ex-Secre-
tary of the Treasury Boutwell, counsel for
the United States before the newly organ
lied Franco-American Mixed Claims Com
mission.
GEN. McCooK recommends that law be
passed by congress authorizing the enlist
ment into the army of one hundred and
fifty competent young men Zone for each
military post, to be rated as schoolmas-
tiers: with the rank and pay of commissary
sergeant.
Commissioner Raum, in his annual re-
port this year, will recommend abolition
of the stamp tax on matches, bank checks,
and probably medicines. The recei pts
from these sources amount to $4,000, 900.
In view of the enormous income from
other sources the commissioner thinks
best to recommend this slight reduction Of
taxation.
Col. A. B. MEAcHAM left Washing
ton on the 18th inst, for Denver, where
he will attend the trial of Agent Berry,
and then proceed to Los Pinos agency in
company of his colleagues of the Ute
commission, under the escort of body of
troops, for the purpose of paying the
northern Utes the money due them under
the treaty.
SECRETARY THoMpsoN's omission TO in
vite the admiral, vice admiral, and other
leading officers of the navy to the recent
naval review off Fortress Monroe has
created a great stir in army and navy
circles. Even to the civilians of Wash
ington the omission is interesting enough
to criticise. If there was to be review
@ an important branch of the regular
army service it would not have been
thought more strange if Gen. Sherman,
Lieut.. Gen. Sheridan, and other represen-
tative army men were not invited.
CAPT. C. L. HOOPER, commanding the
United States steamer Corwin, which was
sent to the Arctic regions in search of the
missing whalers, and also to learn, if pos
sible, the fate of the Jeanette, has sub
mitted his report to the secretary of the
treasury. The report covers over two
hundred and fifty pages of manuscript,
and is simply a narrative of the course,
description of the country, natives, etc.,
Capt. Hooper says Wrangel Land is not
Inhabited, and that if the Jeanette was
fortunate enough to reach that land, she
was the first vessel that ever did, and
should have credit for it,
SURGEON GENERAL BARNES, in his an
nual report, thinks an appropriation of
$780, 900 will be required for the use of the
medical department for the fiscal year
ending June 80, 1882, for the purchaseIof
medical and hospital supplies, for the ex-
penses Of purveying depots, for the pay of
employees, for the pay of private physi-
clans and nurses employed in emergencies
at posts or stations, and for other miscel-
laneous expenses of the medical depart
ment: Gen. Barnes earnestly recommends
an appropriation for a new fre-proof
building adequate for the uses of the medi-
cal museum and library. The cost of such
building he estimates at $250,00O.
THE' forthcoming report of Assistant
teresting exhibit of the operations of the
registry system: The total number of let
tiers and parcels registered throughout the
country during the fiscal year ending June
80 last was 1896, 513, of which in round
numbers, 100000 were domestic letters,
10000 domestic parcels third and fourth
class matter; 100000 letters to foreign
countries, $3.50 parcels to foreign countries
and upward of 100000 letters
and parcels of official IN after were for
warded for the government: and by law ex-
empt from payment of registry fees. The
amount of fees collected was 1886, IA, an
increase of nearly 80 per cent. over the
preceding year. The increase in the
number Of letters and parcels registered
was l SOY ,491. The actual losses of reg
istered matter during the year was Lis
letters and parcels, which is at the rate of
one in about every 600. This is pro-
portionately smaller loss than for the
previous year. The newly -authorized regis
tration of third and fourth-class matter
merchandise, etc., is reported to be still
attended with extraordinary success, and
1888 parcels were registered
during the fiscal year at New
York city postofice alone. Gen.
Hazen, in view of the fact that most of the
losses of registered matter occur on ''star
service" routes, recommends that mail
contractors on 'star" routes be held &C.
countable for losses directly traceable to
carelessness or other fault of their agents.
and suggests that in all contracts, hereaf,
ter, clause be inserted providing for such
accountability.