Daily globe., 1882-02-05

ttes--CommunicatiOn from DR.. Bliss
IN Reference TO the Expenses Of CART eld's
Illness -Morrell's Biz for Counting the
Presidential Vote-- miscellaneous.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 4 Tn house commit
tee On naval affairs to-day visited the navy
yard and witnessed some experiments to test
the relative strength of iron and steel. They
then returned to the committee room and
heard Gibbons, president of PutZy&J ones ship
building Co., Wilmington, Del, on the question
of naval construction. lie advised the use
of steel as material in preference to iron. He
had at present six steel vessels in his yard un-
der construction, and cOnsiderered that mater
| ial much superior to iron. 1t could be OBJ
tanned in goot quality and abundant quantity
in this country. 1t was, he said, sometimes
cheaper to import steel than to use home
made, but our steel is the best. His views on
this question accord with those of other build
ers who appeared before the committee.
| WAR CLAIMS.
| Three commissioners representing Penn.
sylvania appeared before the house committee
on claims to day in behalf of citizens of that
state and made an argument for losses sus-
| tanned from Union troops, and for horses and
stores supplied them at the time of the battle
|
quarter of a million of dollars, aud il will re-
| quire more than that amount to obtain the
necessary witnesses to sustain it,
| THE RIVER COMMITTEE.
| The house committee on rules this NOR ming
agreed upon an amendment to the rules chang
ing the name of the committee on levees on
the Mississippi river to the committee on inn
provement of that river and to add two more
members to the committee. 1t is generally
understood the new members will be appoint
ed from states north of the Ohio river. The
members of congress from Mississippi are
very much dissatisfied with the action Of. the
committee on rules. They wanted a commit
tee to be empowered to report all appropria-
tions for the Mississippi. The report will be
submitted day by Blackburn, of the CON-
mittee on rules, if he can get an opportunity
and it will be adopted though unsatisfactory
| to Western members. The members of the
Mississippi river committee say they are de-
termined to continue the fight for power over
appropriations for the Mississippi river.
SENTENCE CONFIRMED.
| The president to-day confirmed the sentence
of death imposed by court martial in the case
of the three Indian scouts convicted of mutiny,
and ordered their execution March Sd next.
| FROM DIX. BLlSS.
The select committee o. the house charged
with auditing expenses attending the illness
and death of the late President Garfield to-day
received brief communication from DR.. Bliss.
1t contains no itemized account of charges Eor
does it suggest what compensation should be
| allowed, but leaves that matter to be deter
mined by the committee. In view of the crit
icism as to eXorbitant charges which would
probably be presented by attending surgeons,
| the members of the committee regard the
communication from the surgeon in charge
as very appropriate, and considerate one.
1t is understood DR.. Bliss was authorized by
Drs. Agnew and Hamilton to prepare a CON-
munlcation to the committee and to forward
copies OF it TO each of them for endorsement
| NEW DEPARTMENT.
The house committee on reform in he civil
service to-day had under consideration the
question of establishing another department
of government, embracing agriculture, com
merce and manufacturing. The sentiment of
the committee was decidedly in favor of the
proposition.
YELLOWSTONE PARK.
The president has appointed P. Fl. Cong er
of Michigan,t to succeed Morris as superintend-
ent of the Yellowstone national park
THE AGE OF PosTOFFICE SEEDS.
Postmaster General Howe will on Monday
forward to Butterworth, chairman of the COM
mittee on civil service reform, long commu-
nication explanatory of the position of the
postoffice department. on the question raised by
| Senator VOORHEES, as to the limitation of age
imposed on postal employees.
The postmaster general says the approval
bestowed by Postmaster General Key upon the
action of the postmaster at Cincinnati in
placing such limitation upon age was spe-
scifcally revoked in subsequent order,
leaving it entirely within the discretion of
local postmasters. There is, however, a
postal regulation which provides that mail
carriers shall be within the ages of 81 and IS
years.
The postmaster general says he regards
this regulation wrong in principle and gives
his reasons therefor, and in accordance with
this belief he will issue an order which shall
only stIpulate that mail carriers shall he
above the age of 81. As they are bonded en-
to insure their legal responsibility.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 3.-The accounts of
John A Cook and a. NJ. Gibson, for services
in connection with the investigation. of the
| alleged star route frauds, were presented to
Gen. Reynolds, first auditor of the treasury,
o-day, for examination and to audit. They
are for sc, 900 and $4,000 respectively.
When the postoffice appropriation bill
comes before the house again determined
effort will be made by number of leading
republicans to insert an amendment in the bill
appropriating S450,O0 for the purpose of in
creaslng the pay of the postal clerks and route
agents from S70O to 81 200 per annum.
| The house committee ou commerce to-day
aothorized 8 favorable report to be made to
the house on bills for government ana central
harbor of refuge, Sand Beach, Lake Huron,
Mich; to authorize the construction of a
bridge across the Mississippi river at or near
Keithsburg, H., and to establish it as post
road; authorizing the Sioux City d Pacific
railroad company to construct a railroad
bridge over the Missouri river; and authoriz-
ing the construction of bridge over the Mis-
souri, river at or near Harrisburg, Moi
PUNISHMENT IN THE NAVY.
The navy department has issued the follow
ing order:
The frequency with which punishment By
solitary confinement on bread and water, or
on diminished rations is imposed by sentences
of summary courts, meets with disapproba-
tlon of the department. This punishment is
a severe one, and it was not probably contem-
plated by law that it should be generally re-
I of T.,1o Sc