The Portland daily press., 1882-02-20
WASHINGTON.

The Fitz-John Porter Case.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 1S-The entire New Jer-
sey delegation waited on the President to-day
and requested that all the proceedings in the
Fitz-John Porter case be carefully reviewed,
and that the recommendations of the commits
sion favoring his restoration be granted.
Messrs. Robson and Hill, however, make a
reservation, holding that the commissions con-
illusions we're unconstitutional.
The Lapsed Land Grants.
The House subcommittee on the Judiciary,
Robinson of Massachusetts, chairman, to whom
were referred the legal question respecting the
lapsed land grants to railroads, commenced con-
sderation of the matter to-day. Their decision
will probably involve all questions relating to
the grants to the Northern Pacific, Atlantic q
Pacific, &c.
The case now being heard involves the mat
ter where settlers and lumbermen entered the
lands ut Marquette on the Michigan Peninsula
The State claims that the land grant lapsed
from the Ontonagon & Brule River abroad
twenty years ago, but did not lapse SO far as
the State was concerned, and belongs neither
to the Government, railroad nor settlers, but to
the State of Michigan.
Applicants for Judicial Offices.
There are now on file in the Department of
Justice twelve applications for appointment on
the United States Supreme bench, and forty
seven applications for appointment to the va
cancy on the Court of Claims
The Apportionment Bill.
The Senate committee ON census this after
noon unanimously decided to recommend the
passage of the House apportionment bill with
out amendment. The chairman, Senator Hale,
was accordingly authorized to report it back to
the Senate, Monday, and ask its immediate
consideration.
Competitive Examinations in the Post
Office Department
Postmaster General Howea has transmitted
to the House of Representatives in response to
a resolution of Jan. Both that table contain
ing the lists of all designations, removals, pro-
motions and appointments under kthe grade OF
Assistant Postmaster General made in the
Post Office Department since March 4th last,
which coversi Postmaster James's administra-
ton. All of the information obtainable from
the records of the department has been embod-
ied.in the report. The Postmaster General
says so far as he has been able to learn promo
ton has been uniformly made with regard to
the merit and capacity of the employe and not
so much with regard to length OF service. All
candidates for promotion to places above the
$1,000 grade were examined by the board in
several cases, the examination being competi-
tive.
An Interesting Decision.
The question was referred to the post-office
department some time ago as to the proper
mail charges on supplements to certain rellg-
ious paper published in Providence, X. l. The
subscription price OF tne paper Is ou Genus per
annum, and with supplement it is ten dollars
The supplement consisted of illustrations of re-
ligious character and it was held by the post
master who brings the question before the de-
partment that the supplement is not mailahle
matter under the pound rate. Decision rend-
cred by the first assistant postmaster general,
Hatton, is that the supplement- and entire pub
LEGATION is of an educational and literary char
acter with legitimate subscription list and is
sued regularly and falls within the meaning OF
the law defining second class matter and there
foie is mailable at the pound rate.