The Portland daily press., 1883-12-28
WASHINGTON.
Chillrcn'n Christmas Club.


WASHINGTON, Dec. 2T.-Tho event of th,
week will be the Ohildren's Christmas Clul
and Its dinner to the poor children Of the city
to be given tomorrow. The Presidents daueh
ter and her co-laboEers are very busy with the
preparations,an the wonders Of the Christmas
tree will be great event in the lifetime oi
many poor children of the city, and pleasure
60 all who have helped in the work The en-,
| terprise has proved quite attractive, and the
| application for membership has been SO great
that the Young managers have been obliged tc
close the list, lest it grow to such immense pre-.
portions as to make it unwisldly.
Two-Ceut Postage success.
Third Assistant Postmaster General Hazsu
! says the two-eent postage is q success. The
| demand for two-cent stamps hss baeu enorn-
| GUS. The receipts from the sale of stamps this
quarter will almost, If not quite, equal those
| for the same quarter last year. The deficit en
| account of the reduction viii be only about 10
per cent, or between $4, 100000 and So 000, 600
| Ii was estimated that the reduction in letter
| postage would result in deficit of about So,
000O00 This will be the amount chargeable
to this cause, The other million or two will
| be chargeable to other causes: First, the new
| law giving postmasters at small postoffices all
| the receipts from stamp sales, instead of per-
| centage; and, second, the decision of the Su-
| preme Court giving land-grant railroads the
| right to demand cash for transporting the
mails over their leased lines.
Relief of Eiaz Johm Porter.
1t is understood that one of the first bills to
| be considered by the House military affairs
committee will be that for the relief of General
Fitz John Porter. a determined effort will
be made to get it through both Houses this ses-
sion. General Porter's friends have been busy
through the summer and fall 6nlghtening the
minds OF such of the old opponents of the bill
as we're open TO argument They are confident
InaT this time they will be successful in get
ting the bill through. Logan will of course on
pose 1t IN the Senate. but his opposition rather
helps it bau otherwise. One OF its strongest
opponents in the House in recent Congresses,
Gen. Anson McCook of Now York, is now sec
retary of the Senate.
Probable Tariff Legislatiom.
Mr.. Morrison has called meeting OF the
ways and means committee for January 1. He
lntepds to proceed at once to the preparation
OF OF bill for reducing the present tariff rate.
He says the Democratic party might az we'll
face the issue of sharp tariff reform Eastern
Democrats continue to be much disturbed over
the situation.
The Post will contain tomorrow an inter-
view with Mr.. Morrison, chairman of the ways
and meas committee, in which that gentle
men is quoted as saying that tho committee
VIII report bill making pretty general re-
dUctlon in existing dutiss.
Dedication of Garfield EEemoraE Church.
The dedication of the Garfield Memorial
chnrcn VIII take place Jan. 20, instead of Jan.
Is, as intended. The building com noleted is
one Of the handsomest church edifices in
Washington, The main feature OF the exer-
cises will be the dedicatory address by Presi-
dent w. x. Pendleton, LII. D., Of Bethany
College, West Virginia.
The PrcseEls Court.
Captain Richard Pike, master of the lost
steamer Fro5eus, was examined by the court
Of inquiry to-day. In response to questions by
the recorder, he said there was no Disagree
ment between himself and Lieut.. Darlington.
Ne expressed tho opinion that one o. tac
more boat loads OF supplies could have bssn
gotten off the ice to Cape Sabine, after the
wreck, that he suggested it to Lieut. Garlin,-
ton bat tho latter declined to let his beats 20.
lie describes the equipment of the Proteus,
ner noats, &C., as Sbeing seryiceable and sea-
worthy.
In regard to leaving Payer Harbor, Can't
Pike says he told Lieut.. Darlington that the
water he saw at the North was no good and
that he (Pike) was not ready to go, aud that he
wanted to get coal in his bunkers, etc. where
upon Lieut.. Darlington said, 81 can see open
water, and want 10 go; you shall have nv
men TO help you IN your bunkers y U1on that
witness said he would 90, aud tried to do 90.
"A conscientious OGsciaI.
Governor e. Irwin, of idaho Territory, has
returned to the United States Treasurer the
draft Tor $500 sent him as salary for the GUAR
ter ended Oct. Both, and has declined also to
receive tho salary due him for the quarter end
ing DEC. 3lHt. He states that he has been un-
able to attend to the duties of the Office sinca
July LIST, and he cannot conscientiously accept
pay.
miscellaneous
Lieut.. Sebree and Ensign Brown, United
States nsvys officers on board the Pints al
the time Of her collision with the brig Tally
Ho, have been reprimauded in general orders
oy Secretary Chandler fer neglect of duty on
that occasion.