Morning journal and courier., 1882-07-12
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.

The Star Route Trials-SeveraI Routes
 Under Consideration--The Case of Ser
 geant Mason-Other Matters.
 WASHINGTON, July 11.-At the opening of the criminal court this morning William Krides, postmaster at Mineral Park, Arizona, was called to the stand to testify in reference to the Mineral Park Pioche route. Petitions were presented to the witness with the pur- pose of showing that they were fraudulently signed. The witness was asked if he recog- nized any of the names appended to the peti- tions He said he could identify few of the names as those of persons residing at Signal, point on another route. Route Mo- A, 16O, from Canon City, Oregon, to Fort McDer- mott, was next considered, and the official papers were proved by Postal Clerk Coon. One trip per week, schedule of 13O hours, was the requirement of the contract, which was let to Peck for $2, SSS per annum. The service was expedited and increased. For the increase to five trips per week $28,- 66G additional pay was allowed to the con- tractor.
 The circular to be issued by the Tariff commission calling for correspondence from those desiring to furnish information IS to be addressed to the president, John L. Hayes, West End Hotel, Long Branch.
 The agricultural department returns show the condition of the corn to be low. Eighty days must be very advantageous to insure even medium yield The prospects are good for the best yield of spring wheat ever garnered Winter wheat averages higher than any previous July. The condition of oats, rye and barley is also high.
 The case of Sergeant John Mason, the sol dier who attempted to shoot the assassin Guiteau, is still pending before the Presi- dent He has not determined upon his action in regard to 1t, but the general impression among those best calculated to judge is that he is not disposed to interfere with the sen- tence of the court-martial which tried the case. The petition filed by Mr. Bigelow, of Mason's counsel which raises the point that Mason is illegally confined in the peniten- tiary at Albany, was referred by tee Pres1- dent to the Judge Advocate-General of the armG, who has just completed his review of the legal points raised in the petition, and whose report will be submitted to the Secre- tary of War in day two. The character of the review is not positively known, but it Is pretty well understood that the Judge Advo- cate-General still adheres to the views ex pressed in his previous report on this case. 1t vii be remembered that General Swain then contended that the court martial had no jurisdiction over the offense charged, and further, that the offense charged was not proved.
 The Senate Finance committee agreed to- day to report to the Senate the House bill to relieve exporters of tobacco from paying the cost of the export stamps now required by law also report the knit goods bill with the technical amendment rendered necessary by | typographical error in the House print of
 the bill, which not discovered until the
 bill had passed the House. The committee ! also adopted an amendment to the internal revenue bill changing the rate from May 1883, to October, 1882, when the provisions of the bill relating to the stamp taxes on bank | checks. drafts, orders. vouchers, matches and other articles embraced in schedule A shall l 20 into effect.