The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1882-09-01

article OF military equipment. The present
army shoe is not what 10 ought TO be, and
there are many complaints about Ii. The
new samples are being made at Leaven-
worth, Kan.
The gosslps are busy trying to stir up a
fuss about the removal of General Sturgis,
Colonel of the Seventh Infantry, from the
management of the Northern Soldiers
Home. 1t may be authoritatively stated
that the cause Of the Change is that Sturges
has proved a conspicuous failure in the
position, and the rights of the soldiers
whose money Is spent there demanded more
competent management.
In the reductions provided for in the nav
al appropriation bill the line of the navy is
given one promotion for every two vacan-
cies until the reduced number be reached
While In the staff corps promotions are sus-
pended altogether In several grades. 1t is
understood that this was not intended by
the Senate committee, and that next winter
promotions in the staff will be authorized
the same as In line.
The Second Auditor has received ZIP to
date about l,5OO claims from officers of the
army for longevity pay under the, recent
Tyler decision, about $50 of which have
been reported to the Second Comptroller for
confirmation. The second Auditor thinks
that there will be at least 5000 of these
claims, and that at the present rate of set
Element 1t will take long time to complete
million dollars; 81, 300, 900 was the amount
of the estimate made to Congress. 1t was
reported that claims might aggregate more
than 81, 900, 900.
1t is believed that when the expenditures
and receipts of the Postoflice Department
for the past fiscal year are obtained, which
will not be before the end of the present
quarter, 1t will be ascertained that there
remains surplus of receipts over eXpend
lures sufficient to warrant the Postmaster
General In recommending Congress in his
annual report to reduce the rate on postage
The plan most favored is to cut down the
rate ON letters to cents, and probably the
weight allowed for newspapers will be in
creased. Another change likely to be made
in future will be the introduction of stamp
ed letter sheets combining envelope and
letter sheets.
EDIsoN's INVENTIONS.
Thomas A. Edison took out twenty-four
patents last week for electrical apparatus
of various descriptions, all of which he had
assigned to the Edison Electric Light Co. of
New York. Among these are a magnetic
ore separator, electromagnetic railway, and
an electric chandelier.
ff SILVER COINAGE. q.
The acting treasurer, Wyman, has given
instruction for the transfer TO the mint at
Philadelphia for recoinage of all the I'M
current subsidiary silver heldat the differ
ent repositories throughout the COUNTRY
There are about 500, 900 OF these coins at
various offices, including Scent, 5-cent,. and
20-cent silver pieces, and other uneurrent
silver. tr, sssss 50 q
GEN. SHERMAN. a
Gen. VIM. Il. Sherman will ask to be
y placed OH the retired list of the army in
November, 1888. He would he retired I'M
4. der the army compulsory act inFebs :. 1884.
Gen. Sherman statesAhe has, made up his
mind to retire from active service in the fall
of next year, instead of waiting for an en-
forcement Of the law, so as to give his sue
cessOr in command of the army, Lieut. Gen.
Sheridan, an opportunity of expressing to
the next congress such views as he may
have looking to the best interests of the
service. Gen. Sherman will make his home
inst, Louis, 49,, ~ sers q - d
st ga EPENsIoNs.&t "a e
Heretofore the practice of the pension Of
flee has been to assign certain number OF
cases to each clerk to work up. In case
where this clerk has been discharged from
the office, his cases often about half COM
pleteds have been set aside and allowed to
get moldy, being allowed to rest often from
one to five years. Commissioner Dudley has
directed that this practice be stopped, and
the uncOmpleted cases of one clerk, in case
of his removal or absence from any cause,
be Immediately assigned to other desks, and
the necessary work on them continued to
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