Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-01-05
REDUCTION IN MAIL EXPENSES.

ton in cost OF steamboat service
from March 1, to December 81. 1881, amount.
ed to ss,o47, 422, while the increase during
that period was $608, 1853, leaving the net re-
duction. 81, 439. 1853. Very Respectfully.
RICHARD A. ELMER,
Second Assistant Postmaster General.
Postmaster General James is giving to-
day his last days service to the depart
ment. He expresses confidence that the
department will for this year be self
sustaining The official reports are graf
flying. For the quarter of the year end
ing September 80, 1880, the receipts of
the department amounted to 1851, 157;
expenditures, $9,737, 554; excess of ex-
penditures, s1,3S5, 1867. For the cor
responding quarter of 1881, the receipts
were 50 400, 706; expenditures So, 6S9, 100;
excess of expenditures only $196, 4O3.
Gen. James says the quarter including
January OF this year will be sells sustain
ing.
The friends of
FITZ JOHN PORTER
are much elated at the frank avowal of
Gen. Grant that Porter has been wrong
ed and ought to be indicated. They ex-
pect to get bill for his reinstatement
through this congress without much diff
Guilty.
A prominent Republican said tonight
that Gen. Grants change of opinion
would not influence Senator Logan to re-
verse his judgment and favor the bill to
reinstate Porter. He said Logan may,
out of respect for Grant, remain silent,
as he will not vote for such a bill. The
Democrats generally give Gen. Grant
credit for an honest change of opinion
in this matter
A leading Democratic senator said to-
night that he took no stock in the theory
that Grant was maneuvering to catch
Democratic votes in favor of the bill for
placing his own name on the
army retired list. He said he knew
Grant to be very candid man,
and one ready to make acknowledgement
If he discovered himself to be in error;
that having recently studied the case for
the first time Grant reached the conclu-
sion that his previous opinion had been
wrong, and frankly said so. This sena-
tor added that in his opinion the bill to
retire Grant will pass, as several Demo-
cratic senators, perhaps half dozen, in.
tend to vote for it. Any bill to simply REIN
state Porter will receive the support of
all the Democratic Senators in congress,
but should it propose to reimburse him in
the shape of back pay, it will meet with
strong opposition from some of the Dem
Ocrats.
CONTINGENT FUND INVESTIGATION.
The senate sub committee of appropri-
ations investigating the contingent fund
expenditures, proceeded with their work
to-day. They had several witnesses,
among them Frank j. Hessler, who is SUI
perintendent of the treasury cabinet
shop, and has been for several years.
The committee called upon Hessler to pro-
duce his time records, showing the work
done by the different men under him.
They arc inquiring into the allegations
of Brown, the carpenter, who testified
that he worked ON Secretary Sher-
mans new residence and was paid
for his work out of the treasury funds.
Hessler is said to be an unwilling witness
He mas very defective memory, and
some of the committee think he does not
want to remember too much. His evil
dence has been contradictory of Browns.
The committee are not through with
Hessler. They are comparing his time
records with the pay rolls, for the pur-
pose of seeing whether these records and
pay rolls contradict or substantiate
Browns testimony.
The committee are not able t0tell when
they will complete the investigation.
They have developed some points which,
if substantiated, will, when made public,
not look we'll for the past management
of the treasury department. In other
words, there has been testimony of a
somewhat damaging character, but
whether future evidence will sustain this
testimony or refute it cannot be told.
That there have been certain irregu-
laritles in the treasury department is not
denied. For instance, some very fine and
costly work that was done in the treasury
cabinet was taken out of it without its
equivalent in value being returned for it
in any shape. The contingent fund was
on different occasions employed in man
ner not authorized, but the responsibility
for these Irregularities has not been def
nitely fixed. In their report, when it
comes to be made up, the committee will
recommend certain legislation in regard
to the disbursement of contingent funds,
which will tend to prevent abuse here
after.
INTERIOR DEPARTMENT REGULATIONS.
The secretary of the interior has pre-
pared a letter of instructions to the Indian
agents in regard to the employment of
military, and to the capture of criminals
He instructs the agents that they have
the power to keep intruders off of the
reservations, and may call out the mill
tary to assist them, not as posse conf
tatus, but simply as force to enable the
agent to carry out his authority. This
probably is precaution against the in
vasion of Indian territory by persons who
have in view q settlement on these lands.
The agents have Instructions, also, that
they may arrest criminals who have
escaped from state or territory, but
must notify the authorities of the state
or territory from which the captured
criminal has escaped, at what time and
place the latter will be delivered over to
such authorities.
sARGENT's CHANCES.
The friends of Ex- Senator Sargent do
not speak so confidently now as they have
done of his being appointed secretary of
the interior. They have the naval port
folio in view for him now, and are bring
ing all their influence to bear in that d.
rection.
SMALL POX.
The president said to-day that he would
probably send special message to con-
gress calling attention to the alarming
prevalence of small pox, and the neces-
sity for immediate legislation looking to
its suppression.
INDIGNATION
is expressed at the Indian bureau at the
story that, owing to the failure of the
government to pay the Southern Utes the
balance of the s25, 900 due them, serious