National Republican., 1882-11-08
DEPARTMENT WORK.
WHAT THE CLERKS DID TUESDAY.
Postmaster -General Houo's Annual Report-In-
ternal Revenue-More Appolntmcnts-Pen-
sion Certificates stiRations-
The Total Issue Of Patents.


asked by n reporter OF the New York Associated
Press If IL was his intention to recommend in his
annual report n reduction of the rate on letter
postage. He answered al have been giving
that subject the most serious consideration for
some time past and while have not finally de-
cided not to recommend a reduction, must say
that do not believe the public generally feel the
three-cent rate to be n burden. Among the many
facts which have perhaps influenced my opinion
may instance the condition Of affairs on the
Pacific slope, where a private express company
(Wells, Fargo e Coz are carrying good part OF
the mail under five. cent rate"
The Postmaster-General admitted that this was
an anomalous state of affairs, and said that 1t had
been unknown to him until within the last ten
days. They profess, said he emphasizing the
word protest., to buy our stamped envelopes to
meet the requirement Of law that full postage
shall be paid. and add their own private stamp.
The people of that section give as their reason for
paronizng private concern instend OF the gov
III maShnery 1hat they thus u.s. secure greater Sd t
odmit The real reason is probably force OF habit,
inasmuch as the express company had perfected
their mail system years before the government
service was organized upon that coast.
! am at present pondering oyer scheme, con-
tinued Judge Howe, that shall probably recon-
mend in my. report, unless serious objections
should hereafter occur, Iy which think the pub
lie would be greatly bcneiited, with small loss to
the government. simply stated, 1t is TO encourage
the use of stamped envelopes instead Of adhesive
stamps. The saving would occur in the following
manner. The great bulk OF letters that come TO
are either not stamped at all, or upon which full
rate Nhree cents) has not been paid. OF course II
would not be possible to have such Il class II only
stamped envelopes were used. and the expense Of
returning such matter to the Dead Letter
Office, and its subsequent handling, is M
item of magnitude The plan Is TO sell the
stamped envelopes at the present price of adhe.
sive stamps, which would practically amount to
reduction of one cent to the class OF people who
most need it. Figures that have by me show
that the cost of manufacture would decrease the
revenues OF the department by about s2.VOO,OU0
whereas the reduction of the rate to two Ceu,s
would mean a decrease of Sl5,0O00OO j am not
certain either that the saving from the reduction
of expenses in the Dcad-Letter Office will not
about balance the account
The Postmaster General also said, IN regard to
the proposed establishment of n postal telegraph
system, that 1t was well known that his personal
opinions for many years have been strongly i'll
favor of the proposition, and added that al hOugh
he had little hope of disposition ofthe matter at
the next session of Congress, he should probably
include it among the recommendations OF his re-
port.
First Comptroller Lawrence Tuesday decided
an interesting question in connection with the
transfer of government bonds. On the 2lst of
July, 1889, Paulina Garcia, q married woman of
Matanzas, Cuba, died intestate, leaving govern
ment bonds registered in her name. Her hus
band and three minor children survived her. The
husband presented TO the First Comptroller evil
dence of these facts, and the sworn opinion Of
lawyers that by the law of Cuba title to the bonds
in question vested in the surviving husband and
father as guardian of the minor children. He
held that he was, therefore, entitfed to have the
bonds transfe' red to the minor children without
letters of administration. The First Comptroller
decided that in such case II WINS proper TO
make the transfer TO the minor children, and that
the accruing interest could be collected by the
guardian. He held that the law of Spain in force
in Cuba controlled the rights of the parties in
such case but that II the claimant had been
citizen of the United States transfer could only be
made by an administrator upon the estate of the
deceased.
Acting Commissioner of Internal Revenue Rog-
hos lpttpr nanutv Tollnntnr
Williams, of Ridgeway, S. c., giving the details of
an assault made upon him by w. J. johnson,
William Jones, and q. b. Wooten, who fired three
shots at him while he was on the train between
Columbia and BlythewOod, and swore they would
kill him because he prosecuted the first named Tor
violation of law. He also states that on the night
of the 18th ultimo n body of masked men attacked
his house near Blythewood and gave him five days
to leave the county.
General Absalom Baird, Assistant Inspector Gen.
eral, has been detailed by the Secretary of War to
investigate the charges preferred against the Off
GERS of the Soldiers Home in connection with
recently annulled beef contract. The commits
sioners of the Home requested that the matter be
Investigated. General Baird is now engaged in
that work.
Three hundred and thirty nine patents and 35
trade marks were issued to citizens of the United
States Tuesday. OF the tot al number of pasents
citizens of New York secured G7, Pennsylvania 49,
Massachusetts, %, and Connect ticut 20.
Business was practically suspended In the ex-
ecutive departments Tuesday. In the Interior De.
partment those employees who SO desired were al
lowed to leave shortly after noon.
Henry Steers and Mers Coryell, of New York,
have been selected as the two civilian perts ON
the naval advisory board, as required by the act
of Congress authorizing the board.
The receipts from internal revenue Tuesday
were S3l2, ,2l059 and from customs S527 295,09 The
national bank notes received for rede mpton
amount to S2SG000.
The President has appointed Rutledge Wilson
Justice of the peace for the District of Columbia
and Nelson d. Adams notary public for the Dis.
trict of Columbia.
Two hundred and seventy one land patents and
seventy pension certificates were issued from the
Interior Department Tuesday.
Samuel Mulliken chief clerk of the Department
of Justice has rendered his resignation, to take ef
feet on the 18th instant
Mr.. Nathan Smith has declined the appointment
of chief clerk of the Post Office Department from
personal reasons,
General Carmen, chief clerk Of the Department
of Agriculture, is confined to his bed from the
suits of tall.