Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-08-16
NEWS FROM THE CAPITOL.

4Nd w ~ AVm L LIZ OAl l1VHs
Circulating Dads Doilsrs-Another Rul-
ing Adverse to Expedited Star Route
Coatractors-Steamb Accidents-Pet'-
roleum Exports.
WARRINGTON, Aug. 13.-Duripg the week
ending to-day there has been 276, ,9H standard
silver dollars put into circulation. Daring
the corresponding week of 1880 there were
214, 800 circulated.
It was ascertained at the Office of Super
vising Inspector General of Steam Vessels
Dennant to-day that during the fiscal year
268 lives we're lost Of passengers and crows In
the merchant steam vessels of the United
States. Compared with the previous year
there has been an increase in the number Of
lives lost Of thirteen persons. There has been
decrease, however, Of forty-one lives lost by
fire, thirty-six by collision and two by other
causes. Many cas,s reported as accidental
drowning are thought to have been suicides.
During the year it is estimated that upwards
of 250,O00 passengers were carried.
The value of exports of petroleum and Do
troleum products in the twelve months ended
Jtne 80, 1881, was $40,2l6,556 against $685.
216,625 in the CORES ponding period OF the pre-
vious year?
who is considering the propriety of restoring
the original schedules on number of expe.
dited mail routes. recently submitted the fol
lowing questions to Judge Freeman, assistant
attorney general for the postof1ce department
tor his opinion and advice. First Does ordi-
nary expedition on route constitute a new
contract? Ses0nd-Has the department right
to order restoration of the original schedule
on any expedited route where the cost of expe-
tion is not warranted by the revenue OF the Of
fices supplied, or when from any other cause
1t is deemed for the good Of service so to do
Thirds the department warranted In with
holding the allowance of one months extra
pay on the amount deducted from the pay OF
the contractor for such increase of running
time, and II so, under what circumstances
may such indemnity be withheld! Judge Free
man in his opinion decides that under the law
as 1t existed prior to the passage of the act Of
1880, the postmaster general was not author-
lied to increase or expedite mail contracts ex-
cept for causes appearing subsequently to ex-
ecution of the original contract; that 1t was
the duty of the postmaster general to adver-
tise all service let, and that an order
expediting or increasing service without
causes arising or being made to appear after
the advertisement and letting OF the original
service, are void; that when such orders have
been procured by fraudulent representations
or statements, and payments made thereunder,
1t is the duty of the postmaster general to
bring suit for the recovery of such payments.
Second-He further holds that under the stat
ate the postmaster general was not authorized
to expedite or increase the service beyond 100
per cent. of the original amount. The statute
provides that additional compensation shall
bear no greater proportion to the additional
stock and carriers necessarily employed than
the compensation in the original contract
bears to the stock and carriers necessarily
employed in its execution. Under this lam
guage he holds that while the attorney gen.
eral might under the circumstances already
stated, allow very large proportion Of the
original contract price, he was not authorized
to multiply the amount. Third.-That the
advertising act required the postmaster gen
eral to advertise not portion but all the scr
vice to be let, and that if after making the
contract he should discover that the public
riple the service, it would be his duty to an
null the contract and re-advertise. Fourth
That when orders for expedition have been
improperly made, he hould annul them With
out one months extra pay.
The bureau OF statistics has submitted to
the secretary Of the treasury statement OF
exports of petroleum for the month of June
and for the year ending June so, 1851. Total
exports, June. 649, ,466, ,60i gallons; value,
at $22 1856, 1913 last year. Total for the year,
397, ,66O, ,162 gallons worth ~, ,305 50, against
4as. 1854 ,6O9 gallons, worth sS6,2ls,e25 last
year. -
Thomas Taylor, mieroscopist of the depart
ment of agriculture, will leave for Cincinnati
the first Of the week to attend the annual
meeting fog the advancement of science. He
will read before the microscopic division
paper on bacteria, in relation to plant
culture. Prof. Taylor will also exhibit
and explain two freezing microtones,
invented by himself, by which freezing can be
effected in the brefest time with the aid of
ether or rhigotine. 1t is expected to be Of
mu ch value in the division of cellular tissues
for microscopic purposes, and in surgical op-.
erations Prof. Taylor has also invented and
will exhibit at the coming meeting an oleomar-
groscope, for the detection OF oleomargarine.
Under this instrument the fatty substances
assume all colors Of the rainbow, while the
genuine butter retains its national color.