Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-03-25

yesterday confirmed the nomination of L. E.
Lernaire to be supervisor Of census for the 1st
district Of Louisiana.
THE CASE OF CAPTAIN JoUETT.-The greater
part of yesterdays executive session Of the
Senate was occupied by the delivery of an ar
gument by Senator Williams In advocacy of
favorable action on the nomination of Captain
James E. .Jouett for advancement in the navy
to the grade OF commodore. No conclusion was
reached.
CHIEF ENGINEER HARMAN NEWELL, L. s. N,
died at the Norfolk, Va, navyyard, at IL o'clock
Tuesday night. The funeral took place to-day,
and was attended with the customary honors
Commandery Knights Templar and delegation
from Farragut Post of the q. A, r.
Mr.. PAUL JONES, of Tennessee, has been ap-
pointed assistant financial clerk of the Senate,
vice Mr.. James A. Newsom, of the same state.
who has resigned to accept position under the
National Board of Health.
THE PoNCA ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS T. Nor
gan interpreter for the Ponca Indians, testified
before the Senate committee yesterday that
when the Poncas signed the agreement for
their removal they distinctly understood that
they were to be removed to the Omaha re5erva-
tion, and not to the Indian territory.
ARMY ORDERs-Leave of absence for one year
on surgeons certificate is granted to Captain
Joseph Conrad, 18th infantry. The leave granted
Second Lieutenant W. b. Wheeler. 18th in
fantry, is extended five months.
NAVAL ORDERs.-Ensign Alfred Reynolds to
ordnance duty at the New York navy yard.
Cadet Mtdsbipman G. r. Clark has reported his
return home. having been detached from the
Trenton on the 24th ultimo. and is placed on
waiting orders.
! AMERICAN POTATOES IN EUROPE.-The consul
at Christianni, Norway. in his dispatch to the
/ nppartnppt
announces that the prohibition Of the importa-
/ tion of potatoes into Norway from the United
! states has been continued, to remain in effect
until the close Of the year 1855. This action is
/ taken in view OF the continued prevalence of
! the potato bug. or potato beetle, in the United
states. The prohibition is in force in other
European governments also. Belgium has an
nulled her prohibition from July / 1879.
FIVE JIcARIILA APACHE INDIANS, from Pueblo,
New Mexico, arrived in the city last evening.
They came to make arrangements with regard
to their settlement upon lands.
| TIE RESIGNATION OF COMMISSIONER PANE
| AS was Indicated in yesterdays STAR Gen. He.
| Paine, the commissioner of patents, has ten
| dered his resignation to take effect as soon as
the unfinished business of his office can be dis
posed Of. He will resume the practice Of law
with his former partners. Mr.. Paine says the
reason OF his resigning is because the position
| finished official business Will probably take
three weeks or month.
THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON PATENTS to-day
decided to report adversely on the proposed eX-
tension Of the Cook patent for sugar evapora-
| tors. The patent is owned by the Blymyer
| Manufacturing Company of Cincinnati o. The
! committees adverse action Is based upon re-
| markably large number OF protests against the
| extension, the producers of all kinds of sugar
from Minnesota to Texas having united in me-
MORALS against 1t. One OF these memorials
| from sorghum sugar producers and their friends
in the state of Missouri alone bears 5000 sigma
| lures.
! GEN. CLINGMAN's FIND.-General Clingman
informed STAR reporter to-day that the min
eral found upon his land In North Carolina is
| known as ZTcon, and it is very rare. He says
that from 1t can be extracted an oxide called
| Zirconia, which is tnfusible, and is a non-con-
| ductor OF electricity, and when heated it pos
| sesseS the highest incandeScence OF any SUBJ
| stance known. Gen. Clingman says he pro-
| poses, by mixing the mineral with certain forms
| OF carbon, which also possess great 1ncandes-
| cence. to form material which will answer for
! electric lights. Edison has not, however
| adopted this new mineral.
THE COMMISSIONERS TO NEGOTIATE CHINESE
TREATy.-The beginning of the work of the
commissioners to negotiate a new treaty with
China will depend upon Congress. The COM
missiOnerS nominated yesterday will have to be
confirmed and further, Congress will have to
make an appropriation for their expenses be-
fore they enter upon their work The two COM
misSionerS are able men. Mr.. TreScOtt has the
reputation of being one OF the best diplomats
OF the present day. That such man is needed
Mf. SeWardS experience with the willy Chinese
shows 1t is understood that the California
congressional delegation objects to the idea of
ii commission. They will hardly oppose it. how
ever. They wanted all negotiations conducted
by one man and that. man from the Pacific
coast.
SWISS AGRICULTURAL ExHIBITIoN.-Mr. Fish,
charge at Berne, Switzerland, In his dispatch
to the Department of State, dated February 26,
1880, annoinc that the society of agriculture
intends holding in 1SS1 a Swiss agricultural
exhibition, which will last ten days, and be held
at Lucerne. Foreign countries will be admitted
to the exhibition with some restrictions as to
the article. The exhibition VIII comprise all
branches OF agriculturc-horses. cattle, utensils,
machines products OF dairy seeds and manures
AS 1t will be held during the height OF the trav-
cling season. rare opportunity will be afforded
for american manufacturers to exhibit Their
machines and utensils and for others to study
the modes OF farming peculiar to the Swiss
people. A comprehensive programme" has
been published by the society, giving all need
ful information.
THE CONTEST IN PENNSYLVANIA between the
Tilden and anti-Tilden democrats is leading
political topic at the Capitol, and every new
phase it assumes is promptly reported to demo-
cratic congressman and talked over by them.
IL was reported that the antiTilden men in
tended TO contest the admission of the Tilden
delegation Just elected In Allegheny county to
the state convention on the ground that repub-
licans were allowed 10 vote In the primary cleo
. tlon. A STAR reporter made inquiries among
pennsylvania democrats on this subject to-day
but could not hear anything to confirm the re-
port The impression, even among Tilden's op-
ponents, was that there would not be any con-
test.
TRADE OF ANTwERP.-The L. s. consul at
Antwerp, in his dispatch to the Department OF
state OF March l, 1850, transmits the annual
commercial report Of that CITY, The present
condition OF trade is nattering. Importation of
wheat from the Baltic are gradually decreasing
while from the United States they have in.
creased largely. Eight American ships loaded
with wheat arrived during 1879, or which
were from San Francisco and from Philadel-
phla. The bulk OF the wheat from the United
states Is brought in foreign bottoms. The de-
inano lor American rye was greater than the
supply, causing considerable advance In the
price In American pork and lard, business is
very active, with an increasing demand. The
importatlonS OF petroleum were very Irregular
prices ruling low. The places OF export were
Philadelphia, New York, Baltimore and Rich
mond. OF the 4,24S vessels arriving at Antwerp
only 40 bore the L. S. flag. Antwerp Is one Of
the most favorable ports for American COM
merce on the continent.
SITTING BULLS INDIANS, who have arrived In
good numbers at two of the northwest agencies,
propose to surrender, give up their arms and