Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-11-07
Washington News and Gossip.

Washington News and Gossip.
GOVERNMENT RECEIPTS To-DAY.-1nternal reve-
nue., ST., ,76O.Ss; customs, s6sa. .71a91.
THE WHITE HoUsE.-The President viii not take
up his abode in the White House until sometime in
December. The repairs and Improvements will
not De finished before that time.
THE DISTRICT ATToRNEYsHIP-It is currently re-
ported that the President will appoint Mr.. Chas.
Reed, OF Chicago, attorney for the District of Co
lumbia, in place Of Col. COr1hll, If Mr.. Reed will
accept the Office. Further, that the latter has
been asked If he would accept, and holds the mat
Ter under adviSement.
FIRST ASSISTANT POSTMASTER GENERAL HATToN
returned with his family from Iowa last night
To-day Mr.. Hatton, in the absence OF Mr.. James,
Is acting Postmaster General, and will continue to
SO act until the head of the department returns
ACTING PAYMAsTER GENERAL OF THE NAVY
The chief clerk of the division Of provisions and
clothing, is acting paymaster general of the navy
At present there is no paymaster general The
nomination of WatmOugh to the place, owing to
the tight then and still In progress, was not con-
nrmed by the Senate. 1t was allowed to go over.
President Arthur has made no appointment since.
1t is question which involves legal points If the
President can reappoint Watmough before the
Senate again convenes. There are opinions both
ways 1t is likely that no solution upon which
President Arthur will act will be arrived at, and
clerk of the division Of provisions and clothing,
will continue to act as paymaster general.
NAVAL ORDERs-LieutW VIC. Strong, to the naval
signal Office, Washington, D. c. Passed Assistant
Engineer j. P. Mickey, to the League Island navy
yard. Cadet G. II. Ball. to the Powhatan. Midship-
on sick leave. Passed Assistant Surgeon j. A.
Tanner from duty under the national board of
health, and placed on waiting orders. Lieutenant
commander j. X. Wfnn to temporary duty as in
spector of the seventh lighthouse district. Lieu
tenant S. II. May to the League Island navy yard
Lieutenant G E. Vreeland to duty In the .Nautical
Almanac" Office. Lieutenant j. d. Keeler to the
Saratoga, November 10TH Master G. w. Mentz
and Ensign Lucien Flynne to examination for pro-
motion. Medical Inspector j. G. Spear as a MEM
ber of the medical examining board. Lieutenant
Commander c. II. Pendleton to the Brooklyn as
executive.
RIFLE PRACTICE IN GEN. HANCocK's MILITARY
DIyIsIoN-The following officers and enlisted men
have been ordered by Gen. Hancock to proceed at
once to Governors Island, New York harbOr, to
take part in rifle firing for places in the team of
the military division of the Atlantic: 1st Lieut.
A. c. Taylor, 81 artillery; list Lieut.. w. B. Homer,
1st Sergeant W. F. Eckardt5th s. S: artillery ~ Sergeant
T. w. Guinan, 5th artillery; Corporal j. Byrnes,
5th artillery; Corporal j. A. Gbbens 5th artillery
Worthington, j. H. Festos, Charles Rickard and A.
Harzmez, all of the 5th artillery.
COMMISSIONER RAUM AND THE TAX ON WHISKY
In his report to the Secretary OF the Treasury,
which will be submitted to Congress at the coming
session, Commissioner Raum will not take positive
ground against the proposed reduction OF the
WHISKY tax, but he will indicate that he does not
regard 1t with favor On questions of this charac-
ter the Commissioner does not regard it as in his
tions holding that it is for Congress to regulate
The taxes. He will submit showing of the reve-
nue. derived at the present rate OF tax on whisky,
and Will probably state that the proposed reduc-
ton from 90 to so cents per gallon would not bene
mt either the producer or consumer, but that
who handle the whisky after it is made and before
the consumer gets it. The commissioner will
probably take substantially the same position
that he held with regard to the tobacco tax that it
Will cut down the revenue without benefitting
the general public. The whisky trade will oppose
the reduction, it IS said, as millions Of gallons Of
whisky now held in bond would be reduced in
value by the proposed change in the tax. The
weight OF the influence OF the revenue bureau
Will, no doubt, be against the reduction.
NAVAL EXAMINING BOARD, with Pay Director
Jno s. Cunningham as PRESIDENT Pay Directors
Murray and Russell as members, and j. c. Dulin as
recorder, Is ordered to assemble at the Navy de-
partment here tomorrow.
THERE IS LITTLE UNPLEAsTNEss in the War de-
partment. 1t grows out Of the publication Of the
annual reports Of bureau officers Of that depart
ment. For long time 1t has been the custom of
officers who make bureau reports to the Secretary
OF War to give them to the press at their own con-
venience when they were ready to go out Secre-
tary Lincoln announced some time ago that as
soon as he had completed the examination of these
reports he would give them out in a lump and not
before. Acting upon the custom of past years
The STAR got hold of General Benet's report and
printed It This was followed up by the publica-
War. Secretary Lincoln was displeased
that that the reports should go out be-
regsred ne # gaYa breach his sf
might be stated that he regards it gross viola
ton ton Of Official etiquette. The result OF it all has
been been that tt the Secretary has addressed circular
letter to the heads OF the different army bureaus
calling their attention to what he considers lack
OF courtesy towards him, and requesting that
the head OF the War department and the discre-
ton OF the Secretary OF War as to whether and
The oces Who have sIg their Is sqs
to the press to say that they have acted only upon
precedent.
INDIAN CONFERENCE AT THE INTERIOR DEPART
MENT.-A delegation Of Sacs and Fox Indians, To-
Gated in Iowa, had an audience with Secretary
KirkwOOd this morning touching the payment of
some $4,000 which is due them. Before the money
is paid the government, of course, requires the
signing of the necessary papers. The Indians evil
IDENTITY have fine opinion OF Uncle Sans integri-
ty. They have an idea that 1t is the intention to
defraud them In some way, and as yet they have
refused 10 sign the papers The chief OF the dele
srn9 gaxGh Is ,rop WEI @ built young buck whose
splendid shade OF deep blue paint Only this
and nothing more.
COMPETITION FOR THE SENATE RESTAURANT PRIV
1LEGE-There are number Of applicants for the
Senate restaurant, which has been closed since
summer, the term OF possession of the gentleman
then holding it having expired. Among those who
have applied for it are John Chamberlain, Mr..
Freund Mr.. SanderSon, Mr.. Gautier, Mr. Burras
formerly Of Welckers) and Mr.. Lake, now of the
Senate document room. There has been good
deal OF complaint In the past about the high prices
charged at the Senate and House restaurants. The
their gas and fuel costs them nothing: % senators tors
have suggested that in view OF this the schedule of
prices ought not to be above those OF firSt-class
restaurants In the city. When Mr.. Lake putt his
application 1T seems he submitted a list OF prices
which he was willing to abide by. This list is said
to have been about thirty per cent below the prices
formerly charged. President pro tenapOre Davis
then decided to require each applicant to submit his
schedule OF prices together with othersuggestionS
as TO his manner OF conducting the restaurant.
Proposals OF this character have been made out,
and Senator Davis will examine them and decide
upon an appointment upon his return. Under the
rules OF the Senate the Vice President has control
OF the restaurant and other privileges, while on
the House side the committee on public buildings
and grounds controls the letting OF the restaurant
and the Speaker dspenses corridor privileges.