The Portland daily press., 1883-04-12


al Gresham reached the post Office department
this morning, took the oath OF office and as
sumes formal charge OF the department. At
the conclusion OF the reception OF the employees
Juoge Gresham held conference with the
three assistant postmaster generals
Washington Monument.
Tho contract for furnishing 10000 cubic fset
of white marble for the completion of the
Washington monument has been. awarded 10
the Lee Marble Company at S1.29 per foot
The quarres are in Lee, Mass. The first delivery
Of marble under the contract will be made on
the 10th inst, and the work on the shaft will
be resumed May LIST. Should the material be
delivered promptly, as Is promised, about 100
feet will be added 10 the monument during
tho present year, and the proposed height
reached during the next two years The CON
tract for furnishing 10000 feet Of granite has
been awarded to Mr.. White OF Rockland, Me-,
at 81 cents per foot.
Alabama Claims Court.
In the Court OF Commission OF Alabama
Claims today, O. @. Suidum of New York was
appointed assistant counsel on behalf of the
United States for New York city, and j. e.
Moore OF Thomaston, Ne, and HI. ID. Tunhune
Of Paterson, N. j., were appointed special
commissioners 20 take testimony.
The following judgments were announced: /:
Levi w. Houghtons John r.. Houghton and
II L. Houghton SlS7s each; Levi w. Hough-
ton, administrator, S5634, Lucy A. Houghtop,
administrator, S187S Franklin Reed, adminis-
traitor, S1S7S; W. A. Farwell, Sl052; Francis
Cobb, S1052; s. l.. Nasits, $1,000; w. FL. Luce.
Sl56I and Rebecca S. Luce, administrators,
Sl0559.
The court adjourned until Monday next
Miscellaneous.
The committee appointed TO examine the
condition OF the treasury expect TO finish the
count Of all cash ON hand in about eight days.
No discrepancies thus far have been discovered
in either money CT accounts.
foe
arrangements for the construction Of light
house at Fourteen Foot Bank, Delaware bay,
for which there is an appropriation OF SI75, 600
available. This will be the largest structure OF
its kind in the world.
Revision of the Senate Rules.
The rules OF the Senate have been In an nm
satisfactory condition for some years, and at
the last session Of Congress Q resolution was
passed directing the Committee on Rules to
prepare revision during recess. This com.
mittee will meet at Bar Harbor, Me-. on June
ISL, TO consider the first draft which Is being
prepared IN Washington. The last revision
was made IN 1877, under the direction of ex-
Senator Ferry, of Michigan, and has been
found to be impracticable in its operation Ii il
said that the rules under which the Senate
had worked with satisfaction 10 the members
OF both political parties for sixty years were so
changed aud emasculated that the upper
branch Of Congress has been hampered ever
siuce, and the immense increase of public bus
iness has made IL imperatively necessary that
relief shall DO granted at the earliest day pos
she. The committee consists OF Senators Frye
Of Maine (chairmaD), Sherman Of Ohio Harris
on Of Indiana, Harris of Tennessee and Cor
man Of Mary land, the latter two being Demc-
Gratis.
Transit of Venus.
a gentleman connected with the naval OBJ
servatory here, said today that complete re-
ports OF the transit of Venus have been re
ceived, and the astronomers have Commenced
work for the final result Some idea OF tbe
immense amount of labor and intricate fnathc-
matics employed TO determine the distance OF
the san from the earth can be imagined when
1t IS known that il will take four years OF con-
slant figuring before the result will be known
The returns show that the results were oh
tanned at the stations in the United States
Importing Perfumery, Etc.-Decree OF
Belgium.
Information has been received through tbe
Department of State from the Belgian minister
that by royal decree OF December 30, 1852.
the optional duty OF 10 per eeutnm ad yalorem
for perfume containing alcohol imported Ia
packages holding at least half litre, and the
optional duty OF francs per 100 kiloernmmes
on sheepskins tanned and dressed, are abol-
ished, and that the salcoholic limit above
which wines are required TO pay supplement-
airy duty ON the alcohol contained therein. Il
definitely reduced from q to Is per cent.
The Consumption OF Postal Cards.
There were ordered at the PostofElce Depart-
ment today from various postoffices through
out the country 1867 COO postal cards, being
over ,250 600 more than has ever been ordered
on any one day. The average consumption Is
about $50 000 day.
Seeking Redress tor Wrongs.
Loo Chang & Co.. Chinese merchants, Of
Waynesboro, Ga. have petitioned the Chinese
minister here through their attorney for re-
dress from the Unitel States government for
wrongs done them and grievances committed
by mob at that place. They claim that the
latter clause Of the Oath article OF the treaty
between the United States and China OF 1874
Is applicable TO their case and they are en-
Titled TO damages. In addition to being treat
ed with violence and driven out OF town all
their property was destroyed.
The Jeanette Inquiry.
supplemental report OF the Jeanette
court of enquiry is completed and is now in the
bands OF the Judge Advocate General OF the,
Navy. II will not be given to the public, how
ever, until submitted to the Secretary Of the
Navy.