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

Washington News and Gossip.
eovERNMENr REcE1rTs To-DAY.-Internal reve-
nue., 1851 ,o72e4; customs, s6s2,675.
SECRETARY BLAINE win return to the city to-
morrow.
THE NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS for office, and
letters Of recommendation thereto appended, re-
ceived at the White House is about the same as is
usual after a new President has been in Office for
TWO or three months. The great rush is now over.
INTERSTATE AGRICULTURAL CoNvENT1oN.-Mr.
j. K Dodge, OF this city, is in chicago represent
Ing the Department of Agriculture at the inter-
state convention, which was called by the eXecu-
tive officers OF the several state boards OF agri-
culture. 1t includes, among other aims the feaSi-
Dllity OF uniform and improved system OF crop
reporting.
The CONTEST FOR THE SPEAKERsHIP.-Although
Congress will convene in three weeks from Mon
day next, the contest for the Speakership Is con-
Quoted by correspondence and away from the seat
OF war. Mr.. Kefer and Mr. HiscOck are in New
York York. n Mr Kasson, OF iowa, prominent candl-
will be after Thanksgiving before members will
reach the city in force.
THE FREEDMEN's BANK-Controller Knox will
this year, in addition to his annual report as Con-
troller OF the Currency, make report upon the
Freedmen's Bank, the control of which was placed
In his hands by Congress at its last session.
THE NEW ARMY REGULATIoNs-Gen. Drum to-
day commenced the distribution Of the new army
regulations to officers of the army. The new regu-
lat1ons, which were cOdtfied by Gen. Townsend,
make very thick volume, containing five or six
LlmeS as much matter as the Old.
NAVAL NOTEs-Rear Admiral Nicholson reports
to the Navy department by cable the arrival of the
Lancaster, flagship Of the European station, at
Gibraltar on the 9Th instant. All well on board.
The Lancaster lett New York October 10th. Com
modore Quackenbaugh, commanding the Pensa-
cola navy yard, reports to the Navy department
that the quarantine at that port has been raised
and the naval guard withdrawn from the quaran-
tine station The efficiency of the quarantine
guard was due In the greatest measure to Boat
swain Edwin CriSsey, who commanded it. Conn
modore Quackenbush highly commends the zeal and
arrived at New York yesterday. The Trenton was
put out of commission at New York yesterday
afternoon.
THE HALF DIME NICKEL CoINAGE-The question
whether the coinage OF the five-cent nickel pieces
Shall be resumed is under consideration at the
Treasury department. This coinage was discon-
tlnued under the act of Congress creating it when
the the supply of nickel pieces became redundant.
Ther here ca nave e, oeen zee coined 50 In nickes
ries, and the amount Of them on hand has dwtn-
died to about $4,000 or $4,000 The general in
crease OF business has drawn them out Of the
vaults, and there is threatened scarcity instead
OF the former redundancy. II they do not again
commence to flow in for redemption the coinage
VIII De resumed. Even after such a decision it
would take five or six weeks before they could be
again procured at the Philadelphia mint
Posi- OFFICE RULING AS TO THE POUND RATES
1t has been ruled by the Post Office department
that 'Justce to the public seems to sustain the
view tiat the admission OF a publication to the
er s sa a BE to ri t
permanence and regularity OF the publication"
PRESIDENT ARTHUR will return to Washington
thls afternoon shortly after four O'Clock from New
York Judge FOlger, Secretary of the Treasury,
Will probably accompany him. Judge Folger
wrote to the Treasury department to have his mail
sent to him in New York up to the Sth instant
ANNUAL REPORT OF AUDITOR ELA.-J. II. Ella,
auditor Of the Treasury for the Post Office depart
ment, has completed his annual report to the Sec
retary OF the Treasury for the fiscal year ended
June 3d. 1881. This report is devoted mainly to an
account OF the clerical operations and needs of his
oi1ce; detailed report concerning the expendi-
tures @ and and receipts Of the postal service having
now reports that the rapid growth Of the
the number Of accounts for mail Transportation
and miscellaneous payments: the great number
and variety OF orders OF the Postmaster General
aHectlng the accounts OF pOStmaSters, contractors
and sub-contractOrs, and the close scrutiny and
thorough examination and dispatch required in
Office, maze an increase in the number Of clerks
necessity for the protection of the government.
DECISION AS TO FRANKING PRIVILEGE Acting
Postmaster General Hatton has sent the following
communication to Indian Commissioner Price,
Which contains decision that explains ttself:-"I
have considered your inquiry whether the accep-
tance by you OF the Office OF Indian Commissioners de-
prtves youOf the right to send and receive through
the mail free all public documents printed by order
OF Congress- untlthe first Monday of December fol-
M yn1lr f.rVr off,
member OF Congress-. The right was conferred
BY by the first section OF the act of March 8,
no words of restriction, limitation or excep-
ton, and therefore, as the right is statutory
confirm this view It's purpose was to enable
members OF Congress to receive for themselves and
distribute to their constituents the public docu-
ments ordered during their term OF Office and
Which they were, by law, entitled to receive for
the purpose OF use and distribution. A limitation
which would defeat the purpose in view in the en-
actment OF the law can not be Incorporated upon
IL by any process OF construction. have no doubt
OF your right to avail yourself OF the privilege
Wncn atCacheS 10 you personally for public
benefit"
PERsoNAA-Archibald Forbes the famous Eng
lish war correspondent, is at the Ebbitt-Hon.
E. B. Washburne is living quietly in his Chicago
home, occupied in the preparation of history of
the life and times OF the Hon. Edward Coles, the
sspector General Dumont returned to the city from
New York yesterday.-Mr. Byron Andrews and
sWHc are reglSCeFeQ at Cne RRgS.-ASSiSCanG
Postmaster General HaZen, Senator and Medical
Purveycr Baxter were registered In New York last
evening.-Mr. james Barron Hope, OF the Nor
folk Landmark, is to repeat his Yorktown centen-
NAL poem in Richmond on the 22d Instant
Deputy Commissioner Clarke, OF the Pension b,l-
reau, is confined to his house by severe illness
James Gordon Bennett, of the New York Herald,
IS to sail for Europe tO-mOrrOw.-HOn. Samuel
Ingham, who was in Congress from 1885 to 1899,
and commissioner OF customs from 1857 to 1861
d led yesterday at Essex, Conn.,, aged 30 years
EX-AttOrney General DevenS is in Newport
Gen. Z. w. Rice has returned to the city from
Arizona, where he has been for the past two years
engaged in mining NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. w.
II. Rush is in town, undergoing examination for
promotion to the grade OF ensign in the navy
Representative Bayne is registered at Willards,
with party Of Pittsburg and Allegheny city con-
stituentS. - Ex-Sergeant-at-ArmS Thompson is
slowly recovering from the effects of carbuncle.
He is able now to drive out every day.-Mr. Jas.
Edwin Spear, formerly an editorial writer on the
Cincinnati Enquirer, now OF the New York World,
is In the city for the winter.-AuditOr OF Rail-
road Accounts MacCammOn returned to-day from
Pennsylvania, where he had gone to vote.-Dr.
Bliss returned from New York this morning.-F.
Hufty and wife, w. L. Argue and j. j. Patterson,
OF Washing ton, are registered in Boston.
Society Notes.
The pleasant news is told that Mrs. Hayes viii