The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1880-03-06
Our Letter from Washington.

WASHINGTON, d. O., Feb. rs, 1880.
An important decision has been rendered
by the Supreme Court of the district of Co.
lumbla to the effect that the Postmaster
General is warranted in stopping registered
letters and money orders addressed to any
man whom the Department may find to be
engaged in fraudulent lottery enterprises.
In accordance with this decision the Depart
ment will now proceed nominallY against
some of the agents of lottery companies in
New York and other cities under the statute
which makes it crime, punishable by fine
to deposit lottery circulars in the mails APP
peal has been made by the lottery company
to the Supreme Court of the U. S. but the
case cannot be reached very likely under
two or three years.
Senator Vance, Of n. c., has introduced n
measure to prevent the prosecution of Illicit
distillcrs, while Mr.. Blackburn of Kentucky,
has one which provides for the abolition
of the tax on tobacco and another which is
to reduce the tax upon distilled spirits to
so cents gallon. Hon. VIM. Hill, of Ohio,
does not approve of corners in the grain
market aud has introduced resolution to
ascertain what action, if any, can be taken
by Congress to prevent such procedures. One
of the schemes that is being advanced in
connection with the Wood Refunding bill is
to issue bonds bearing 8 per cent interest in
an amount to the aggregate sum Of the U.
S. bonds now outstanding and for the Secre-
tary Of the Treasury to issue these 3 per cent.
bonds in exchange for the present outstand-
ing loans whenever they mature. These 8
per cent. bonds are to run without Limitation
as to time, but the Secretary is to invest the
surplus revenues in them as soon as the
higher rate of fbonds have been refunded aud
cancelled. In connection with this PROPOSE
tion, it is asserted that measure will be
brought forward to establish a national saw
ing fund system upon plan similar to that
under which national banks are now organ
/ lied and conducted. In accordance with
this it will be necessary for them to deposit
with the Treasurer of the U. S. Government
bonds equal to about half Of their deposits
in order to secure the depositors. The idea
is to make the savings banks perfectly secure
which certainly is very desirable, in any
event. The railroad companies are still com
ing to the front with their petitions agains
the reduction in the rate of duty upon stee
rails. The memorials on this subject thu
far represent an aggregate length of 2O,OO
miles of railroad.
There exists considerable excitement il
Congress regarding the bill to appropriate
sufficient sum of money to supply the de
iieiency in the Star route Mail Service. Tn
amount asked for by the PostoiIice Depart
ment is $l,7O0,OOO. The bill now pendin
appropriatcs 100000 and directs a re nc
tion of service on certain routes west of tn
Mississippi River. A bill has been intro
duced IN the Senate by Mr.. Harris of Tel
nessee for the construction of a railroad !
and across the Indian Territory from Fo
Smith on the Arkansas line to Arkans.
City on the Kansas line. The capital stoC
of this road is to be $2,5OO,OOo. The Con
pany must begin work in two years an
finish in four years.
u The house committee on Public Ian,
r have agreed to report iavorably Mr.. Vale
r tines (Nebraska) bill providing that when
e pre-emption homestead or timber cultu
c claimant shall file a written rolinquishme
= of his claim in the local land office, the lal
], covered shall be held as open to settleme
u without further action on the part of t
- Land Commissioner. AUGUsT.