National Republican., 1882-06-10
GOVERNMENT SPLINTS
THE CAPITOL AND DEPARTMENTS.
COinsFe--Mr. Hewitps wants-Clnims-A Post
OIle Ruling Explained-Patents-A Census
Dulletin-Land Suryeys-Rail-
roads-Appointnents.

357.9St mules and asses. 1,Sl2932; working oxen,
g95y7O; milch cows, l2,4I5,593; other cattle o.
4SS,t00; sheep, 85lgl, csc; swine, i70S9ol, Tho
rate of increase from 1870 to 1850 was; In horses
as per cent? mules and asses, 6l per cent; work.
ing oxen, n decrease of % per cent; milch cows,
increase of 30 Ter cent? other cattle, GU per cent.
sheep, "a per cent, and swine, W percent
Mr. Logan has introduced in the Senate
bill proposing to extend the provisions of the act
Df August II, 1913, concerning paymnsters of the
Army, to paymaSters who served during the war
of the rebellion, aud were honorably discharged
from service. The act referred to authorized the
Puymaster- General to allow paymaSters employed
In the payment of volunteers during the war with
Mexico u commission not exceeding one-balf OIL
per centum on all sums disbursed by them; pro.
yided, the commission allowed did not exceed
$1,000 per annum from the commencement TO the
close OF the war.
The Secretary of State has issued, under an act
Of Congress, notice to persons having claims
arising out OF the destruction of tho American
vessel General Armstrong at fnyal during the war
Of ISL copy Of Gls notice was issed IN va. lne
terday. Tue notice directs the sccretaIy OF state
TO adjust the claims of the owners officers ana
crew of that vessel on evidence established by lhc
Court of Claims and TO draw requisition for tue
amount found TO be due them, not exceeding
SIO,739 The claimants or parties representing
them are directed TO send their statements TO thc
State Department before the SOlh OF this month,
with documentary proof specifying the amount
claimed with interest
Mr. J. George Day, OF New York, q former exten.
sive manufacturer of paper, aud an expert in
everything relating to the qualities and values OF
paper, has been appointed by Mr. Rounds 10 the
genernl superntehnenCy OF the paper warehouse
OF custody, inspection, and issuing of paper used
i'll the establishment. Mr.. Rounds expresses great
confidence that the employment Of Mr.. Day III the
capacity Indicated will result in saving of
many thousands Of dollars annually to the gov
lnent. Mir. Day, even In the brief time he has
been here. has made himself familiar with the
general working Of the entire Office, while ms long
experience and thorough business bnbiis wiz
III
which he has been assigned.
The bill introduced by Mr.. Curtin,i OF Penn
byvania, relative TO tho civil service OF
the United States, provides that hereafter
pi the government shall DO npportioned
among the various Congressional districts, the
Representatives TO make their selections In the
manner now iollowe.i in appointments to the
Military aud Naval Academies Each United
States Senator shall be empowered TO select can
didale who shall be known as nn "nppOintee-at-
large" Such appOintee having been thus nomi-
mated. shall be subject to an examination before
board of three persons, one of whom shall be
selected by the head Of the bureau 10 which the
appointment is TO DO made, The successful com
petitor shall be appointed for six months, at the
end OF that period three years, aud shall be re-
lLovable only for cause.
1t having appeared that an impression has pre-
vailed that the Post Office Department had de-
cided that newspapers and news agents could not
include in their publications, bills, receipts, and
orders for subscription, It is stated at the Post
onico Department that 10 such ruling has ever
been made, as the statute expressly authorizes
such incosure in second Glass matter. The Do
partment has simply underworld to enforce the me
be in such form rs to convey no other information
than the name, location, and subscription price of
the publication or publications TO which they
refer" Under this language 1t has been held
that the order for subscription could not be
printed as part of n supplement but 1t must be
distinct incloSurc, containing nothing beyond
that permitted by the terms OF the statute.
The bill reported from the Committee on Bank
5ng and Currency by Representative Dingey
provides that until an international agree
ment on coinage ratio for the of silver In full
1egal.tender coinago shall be made by the leading
ronimercial nations, or until the cquivalency of
bullion between the standard silver and gold coins
of the United States IN the markets of the world
shall be otherwise secured the issue of silver GER
tiilcates shall be suspended; provided that the
TO time, as paid into the Treasury, be reissucd on
the deposit of silver dollars. The bill further pro-
vides that until the agreement above Indicated Is
reached the Secretary of the Treasury shall cause
tobe coined only such number of the standard
silver dollars as may bc required supply the do
lnand for actual circulation, in lieu of tho mini
mum coinage provided for in the act of February
t2S, 1878.
In 1873 patents were issued by the Interior De.
partment to the Northern Pacific Railroad Com
pany for over 100000 acres of land in Minnesota,
the cost of ofsurveying which was over $4,000. At
the time the patents were issued the fact was
looked that prior act had provided that the cost
of surveying, selecting, and conveying lands must
be paid by the railroad company before the patent
was issued The cost in this case not having been
demanded ofthe company by the government be-
fore patenting the company atterward refused TO
pay them Secretary Teller has just decided that
said expenses must be paid by the railroad COM
pany. and has directed the Commissioner of the
General Land Office to certify 10 further lands to
the Northern Pacific Railroad Company until such
fees paid, not only on any lands the patents for
which may be hereafter asked, but also OH those
heretofore patented to that company
The bill llntroducedby Representative Kasson ITO
charge the Court of Claims with certain duties in
cases Of contested elections" provides for n
reference of contested election cases to the Court
of Claims for judicial aScertainment of the facts
at issue, and nd gives such Eases, cases priority over all
every referred to IT, to report the facts as pro-
vded, and the principles of law applicable thereto
either has been duly and legally elected. This
report together with the opinions II any, and the
papers and testimony In the case, are TO be pre-
seited to the House of Representatives of the Con-
gress for which the election was held. Whenever
lhe court decides prior TO the first session Of the
Congress for which the election held that one
of the parties has been duly elected" 1t is made
the duty Of the Clerk of the House to place the
name Of the member certified TO be elected upon
his roll of membership. elect. which by existing
Jaw, he isrequred TO complete prior TO the meet
5ng of each Congress.
Mr.. Hewitt OF New York, offered a preamble,
which went to the Naval Committee, reciting that
certain information had been called for from the
Navy Department and 1t had not reached the
House in proper shape: Therefore
ResOiped, That the Secretary of the Navy be
IeHlested 10 supply the information lacking on
First-The aggregate expenditure on each steam
vessel in the Navy including original cost first
built. and all expenditures thereon since July l.,
1865, under all bureaus, in separate columns, with
fair allowance for the value of NIL old aud new
material belonging TO the government used in
repairs, specifying the amount 50 expended under
each presidential administration since July 1866.
Second-A classified list of all the steamers in
the Navy specifying: !, those which have never
been at sea, or have only been towed whenat sea,
or have never been placed In commission; q,
less I mil Ia.
\ those which have steamed more than
1000 miles and less than 5000 miles; 4, those
which have steamed more than 5000 miles and
less than 10000 miles, and O. those which have
steamed 10000 miles, as nearly can be ascer-
tained without materially delaying the reply 10
This resolution
1hird-A table giving the cost per ton of dis.
placement. of each steamer in the Navy, under the
heads original cost" and expenditures for RI.
pairs" and also the cost per estimated horsA
power, of the engines Of each vessel under the
same heads and be II further
Resoiued That the Secretary Of the Navy bo re-
quested TO report whether any one Of the navy
yards belonging TO the United States is prepared
TO undertake the construction of the largest OF the
steam vessels described In the House resolution
how much time would be required 10 get one ylrd
ready for the work, and the probable cost of such
preparations, INCLUDING tools and other necessary
appliances; and also whether there Is any dry
dock belonging 10 the United States capable of re-
ceiying and docking such vessel when built,
and, If not what would be the probable time and
money required for the building of a suitable dry
ducK.
NJ. Reed, from the Committee on the Judiciary,
miIt,d 70 the House recently a long aud care
1u y-prel ed report upon the land grants made
10 the Northern Pacific Railroad Company to aid
in the construction OF its road and the legal rights
oftht corporation in relation TO such grantssnce
its failure TO fulfill the conditions of the granting