Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-12-30
Washington News and Gossip.
New Year Receptions and Calls.

new Year Receptions and Calls.
THE STAR of next Saturday will contain q full
list OF those intending to receive on New Year
day who desire and authorize that fact to be made
known through its columns. Those wishing such
announcements published will please send them
In, property authenticated, with the names OF
such company as will receive with them, any time
during the week, out in all cases before noon Of
Saturday. No charge Is made for these notices
GOVERNMENT RECEIPTS To-DAY.-Internal reve-
nue., $493, o9.62; customs, S675, ,76421.
The Garfield memorial exercises take place in
the Hall OF the House OF Representatives early in
February.
SPEAKER kEIFER will not keep house, but will
room at the Ebbitt House during the session of
Congress.
A NEW ROUTE OPENED.-The new route to Cali
fornia by way Of the Texas Pacific r. r.. will be
opened next week-the first train leaving St
LOUIS on Sunday morning.
Mr.. SEvELLON A. BROWN will retain his posi-
tion as chief clerk of the State department under
Secretary Frelinghuysen.
INTERNATIoNAL GEoGR APHIcAL CoNyENT1oN.-It
Is proposed to hold geographical convention in
washington in 1888. to establish, II possible, an
inferno tonal initial or meridian of reference
from which all nations should reckon longitude
ana nave universal system of computing time
IL is called upon the recommendation OF the Inter-
national Geographical Congress-, lately held at
venice, and IT IS proposed that the commission
Shouid consist OF three members from each nation,
selected for scientific and practical knowledge,
astronomers, geographers and navigators. The
Italian government has already signified its ap-
proVal, and will appoint its official representa-
yves, and 1t is probable that other nations will
also agree. Gen; Hazen. chiefof the signal service
bring the matter to the attention OF Congress and
ask 1or a suitable appropriation for the COmmls-
sion.
NO MORE DECAPrTATIONs are expected to take
place among the employees Of the House of Repre-
sentatives until after January 1st This for the
reason that the Clerk of the House and the Door,
keeper, VINO make the casualties, are out OF the
city Nearly the entire Capitol police force, how
ever, will be changed within week.
THE BILL FOR RECLAMATION OF THE POTOMAC
FLATs-Chairman Neal, OF the District committee,
says he intends to push the bill for the reclama-
uOn OF the Potomac flats, and be believes it will
Mr. Neal, and introduced by Mr. Hazelton at his
request will be the basis OF the proposed improve
ment. The features OF the bill were printed In
IHE STAR ten days or more ago.
The FIGHT AGAINST GEN. DUMoNT, supervising
Inspector general Of steam vessels, has about died
out, and there seems to be no doubt that he will
SECRETARY HUNT, who has been suffering with a
severe cold, is better to-day.
SECRETARY FRELINGHUYsEN was entertained at a
dinner party in Newark, n j., last evening" at the
residence of Thomas T. Kinney OF the Newark
Datty Advertiser, and Will have grand reception
this evening at the Newark residence of Thos n
McCartPr. Tomorrow the Secretary will return
to Washington.
TWO HUNDRED AND EIGHTY-FIvE DOLLARS MISS
ING.-Mr. Edwin Z. Winship. formerly the cashier
OF the Sergea nt-at-Arms OF the House, met with
pecuniary loss this morning. He had gone into
the SeTgeant-at-Arms Office and had occasion to
use his pocketbook. He laid it down and lett the
room but few minutes. Returning he found the
pocketbook gone 1t contained two hundred and
e'sh'y-h'e dollars In crisp greenbacks.
BORDER RUFFIANs TAKE REFUGE IN THE INDIAN
TERRITORY. - Secretary Kirkwood has received
from the mayor Of Caldwell, Kansas, telegram
complaint ng that certain deSperadOeS who, on the
18th. 'raided" Caldwell. have taken refuge in the
indian territory. and asking the Secretary to have
Secretary states that steps will be taken to arrest
the guilty parties If they can be found but sug-
gestS That the border counties OF Kansas certainly
should consider themselves interested in dis
couraging all attempts to make the Indian terri
tory rendezvous for outlaws.
Is SURE OF IT-Mr. S. P. Rounds. OF Chicago.
has written to friend in Washington, advising
him that he need not put himself to any further
trouble TO secure his QROundSD appointment as
public printer; that the President had given posi-
i've assurance that he would nominate Rounds
soon after the reassembling OF Congress.
LETTER CARRIERS PAY.-A bill introduced by
Mr.. Lord in the House of Representatives on the
10th inst, proposes to advance the pay of carriers
OF the second class from $780, as it is now to 5000
per annmm. And the pay Of auxiliary carriers
from s4UO as II is nOW to $500, and after one years
service to $1OO per annum.
n,,,,,,o ~, -,,n .a..
BILE, in full uniform, at the adjutant generals
Office, at II 80 on Monday, January 1882, to
pay their respects 10 the President OF the United
States. Officers OF the navy in the city Will as
semble at the Navy department at II 80 am. for
the same purpose.
CHARGES were sometime ago preferred against
John Menshaw, steamboat inspector for the Balti-
more and Washington districts-as stated in THE
STAR at the time. These charges were against
Menshaw's PERSONAL and not his Offcial, character
They assert that he is over-gven to the flowing
bowl . About four X years ago similar charges were
that he occasionally INDUCED in nip, but to re-
move the charges altogether he took a pledge to
charges. Gen. DumOnt, supervising insDector of
steamboats,, has written to the man who makes
the charges against Menshaw, asking him for fur
ther det a1lS and for authorization of the names
which are signed to the charges. II he receives
sufficient information to warrant 1t an inveStiga-
ton will be made. The charges are, however, re-
garded as those OF q man who wants MenShaWS
place.
THR STAR ROUTE PROSECUTIONS TO BE PRESSED
Attorney General Brewster, under date OF Decem-
Der 26, wrote to Mr.. George Bliss assistant counsel
for the government in the star route cases. as fol-
lows: GAS soon as enter on the duties OF nv de.
partment, which will be In a few days, propose
to give you special authority to pursue these sug-
gested civil suits with all OF the prOmptitude that
orderly litigation will permit The uttermOst
penny laWleSSly received and taken from the pub
lie treasury must be recovered. Hitherto you have
tngs and before came into the cases had acquired
complete knowledge OF the subject These prose-
cutiOnS must be earnestly pressed the trials must
be prompt and the cases must be we'll prepared
On you, together with the other counsel who have
been before this investigating these cases, must
rely for their preparation. All that Is essential
must be ready for use. / have resolved that nv
duty will require me to take active part In the
trials In court, and propose to be present with
you and In person lead in the prosecution for the
United StateS.''
RUMORs OF A POSSIBLE DUEI--There are rumors
about town Of possible duel between Representa-
tive Blackburn and Gen. Burbrdge, both OF Ken
lucky, in consequence OF the former denouncing
the latter ito Dr. OuSey. also of Kentucky as
traitor. New York San correspondence from this
city says: "Gen. Burbridge, wrote note de-
an explanation or apology, and the note
the code suggests 1t was delivered to friend, as
is understood, to be handed to Mr.. Blackburn, who
had, however, meanwhile gone to Kentucky,
whittier the note fS rpDOrted tO have followed