The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1882-04-07

deems such provision breach of faith. The
policy proposed by the bill would, In his opini-
on, tend directly to drive into more friendly
hands the trade or the Oriental nations.
The house committee on improvements OF
the Mississippi river have decided that IL will
be more effective for committeeman TO remain
In Washington and look after appropriations
for the overfiowed districts than TO proceed to
the Mississippi river for the purpose of exam
lining and report as to the cause of the pres
ent flood. Representative Kings resolution
providing for the appointment of such COM
mission was consequently rejected.
The house committee on Indian affains de-
cided, by majority vote, to report to the
house with favorable recommendation the bill
recently reported to the senate by the railroad
committee, granting right of way to the st.
Louis and San Francisco Railroad company
through the Choctaw and Chickasaw nations.
The minority, two members, will submit u
statement in opposition to the passage OF the
bill. .slszM
Mr.. Finley, of Florida has introduced in the
house bill authorizing the commissioner of
agriculture to buy in each OF the states of Flor-
da. Illinois, Louisiana, and California a farm
of 100 acres, to be used for experiments in the
cultivation of all sorts of crops and fruit He
has also introduced a bill directing the secre-
tary of the interior to place upon the pension
rolls tho names of all surviving officers and en-
listed men, including militia and volunteers,
who served sixty days in the war with the Semi
mole Indians in Florida.
Secretary Lincoln does not agree with Judge
Advocate General Swain in the latter's opinion
that the Judgment of the Mason court-martial
was not in accordance with law. Secretary
Lincoln approves,the finding of the court mar
tial, and has 80 reported to the president. The
latter will not take any action in the case until
the supreme court has passed upon the points
10 NI,oI,l tlnat
Mason will be released through any action of
the president.
Sergt. Mason's wife and the baby are stop
ping with Mrs. Mason's sister in Washington.
Mr.. Bigelow, who represented Mason before
the military tribunal, paid the lady n visit,
and among other things informed her that he
would secure her husbands release at almost
any time, but that to urge the matter now
would tend to cut off the liberal assistance now
being rendered throughout the land. Mrs.
Mason and her sister, Mrs. Williams, are divid-
ed in their opinion as to the best course to
pursue, but if Mr.. Bigelow's policy should pre-
vail, the little lady will be literally endowed
and the sergeant will remain in prison for
some time yet.
Representative Updegraff's bill for the APP
pointment of commissioners to regulate inter-
state commerce, provides for the appointment
by the president Of nine commissioners, three
y
years, and three for three years; and on the
LIST of July of each succeeding year vacancies
shall be filled by the appointment of three
commissioners. The board shall have COM
plete supervision over that portion of the bust
ness of railroads fromoneIState toanother, with
power to fix a schedule of rates, with view to
allowing the companies to earn6 per cent. on
the cost of their roads and equipments. 1t au-
thorizes the board to examine the books and
accounts of railroads, and requires the road to
make sworn report each year to the commits
sioners of their business, expenses, etc.; en-
powers the board to determine and decide what
shall be deemed net profit; to hear complaints,
and, IL allegations are sustained, to assess up
on the railroad or railroads three times the
amount of damage shown to have been suffer
ed, which assessment may be enforced in any
district court Of the United States. The bill
provides, in case of complaint of violation of
any laws of the United States by any railroad,
that the attorney general shall file information
and trial by jury shall be had, and in case of
verdict the fine shall not be less than $500 or
more than $4,000.
Following is n statement of the public debt
Mt the close of business March 81.
Extended 6s. .................S 1O9, 9O1, 600
Extended Observation-Disclosures. 40l,503,g00
Four and half per cents......... 250OGO,0O0
Four per cents ..................... 73SS05,450
Rebuilding certificates .......... 542,35O
Navy pension fund. ................ 14O0O,0O0
Total Understanding debt. :. 81, 5l4 752, roo
Matured debt. ...................... 12665,6l5
Legal tenders Observation-Disclosures. 346740.S5l
Certificates of deposit. I140,0W
Gold and silver certificates. ....... I3522,29O
Fractional currency. ............... T06i,S9S
Total without interest. .......S 43S46s,O3s
Total debt 1865 SS6,35i
Total interest ................ g1367l, 500
Cash in treasury. .................. 25329i ,76l
Debt less cash in treasury. ....... 1,126 s66, 422
Decrease during March. .......... 16,462.946
Decrease since June 30 lSSl....... 1li332,3S9
Current liabilities: Interest due
and unpaid .......................S 13l3,299
Debt on which interest has ceased 12665,6l5
Interest thereon ................... 6l2,275
Gold and silver certificates .. .... T3,522,a90
United States notes held for re-
demption OF certificates OF depos-
it.. ........................ 1l,l40,OOO
1852. 154,o3s, as1
Total. 253, 291, 76l
Available assets: Cash in treasury 2j3, 291, 76l
Bonds issued to Pacific railway
companies, interest payable in
lawful money, principal out
standing. neutrality-suspicious.. o4o@o.OS
Interest accrued and not vet paid. $3.50, 352
Interest paid by United States.... 53,405,97
transportation service. I,ss7,47e
earnings. ' @ 30. 655,lss
States. ~ .o' p s7ssa,aOl
nDrTd