Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-03-10
Washington News and Gossip.

Washington News and Gossip.
GOVERNMENT RECEIPTS To-DAY.-1nternal reve-
nne, $542,s7l.74; customs. SIX. .s49.01.
AMONG THE CALLERS at the White House to-day
were Senators Harris, Allison, voorhees,, Beck.
and Logan, and Representatives Ketchum, Hill,
Hammond, Haskell, Aldrich, Richardson, Davis
tIlL), Thomas. Rice tMo) and BIsbee. ~
DEFLEcTIvE NAVAL ARMoR-Chief Engineer n
B. Clark has been instructed by the naval advisory
board to prepare drawings in conformity with its
views In order that proper targets for testing the
merits OF DETECTING arInor may be constructed
This Is with view of Investigating and testing
the practcabIllty OF the defective tuets designed
appropriation OF s20 600, to be Immediately avala-
BILE. was made by Congress at the late session.
For THE CONSCIENCE FuND.-The first con.
troller OF the Treasury has received package
from W. P. Clyde & Co., Of New York. containing
So 70 in coin, which they explained was forwarded
at the request Of one OF their correspondents in
san Domingo. Their letter contained no further
Information. 1t is supposed the money is con-
science contribution.
REAR ADMIRAL NICHOLSON commanding the T.
s. naval forces on the European station reports to
the Navy department his arrival In the flagship
Lancaster at Southampton, England, February
2tn, ana MS proposed departure on the 25th for
OF his relief.
The IRoNcLADs.-Chief Engi neer W. H. Shock
mas submitted to the naval advisory board full
and complete plans and specifications of the en-
glnes and machinery proposed for the ironclads
Puritan, Monadnock, AmphitrIte and Terror.
THE PRACTICE SHIP DALR-Capt Ramsay, super
1ntendent OF the naval academy, has requested
Secretary Chandler to have the repairs upon the
practice ship Dale tnow at the Norfolk navy yard
completed as soon as possible.
FIRST CONTROLLER LAWRENCE, of the Treasury,
leaves for Ohio tonight to be absent for ten days
During his absence Mr.. j. D. Thompson, chief OF
The consular division. Will act as controller.
GOLD, SILVER AND NOTES.-The statement OF the
United States treasurer shows gold, silver and
United States notes in the Treasury to-day as fol-
lows: Gold coin and bullion, size O52563; siver dol
lars and bullion, so5 1885, fractional silver con
assi Certificates e a0 oatstsnding: Sai GoId
,13O silver, s6s517. 300; currency slO,6e5 OO0
THE CAPE VERDE IsLANDs.-Under date Porto
Grande, Cape Verde Islands, Commander Albert s.
Barker reports his arrival in the United States
steamer Enterprise, February I'd, after passage
OF thirty days But few deep sea soundings had
oeen made owing to rough weather and the dis
pose Commander Barker says: '.Thts place is Of
considerable Importance as coaHng station,
10000 tons having been delivered in 1882. There
are two coal companies with every facility for
handling coal with dispatch. There were two
American vessels In port, the brigant1ne Proteus
a regular trader running between this port and
Portland, and the schooner Little Lizzie, OF New
Bedford. The English government and few
steamship companies have contracts with the coal
livered alongside vessels having no contract at
thirty-six shillings per ton OF 224o pounds. The
postage is double that paid In Portugal. as the
postal treaty with Portugal does not include her
colonies. There Is but one regular monthly mail
from England to this place. but there frequent
opportunities OF sending letters to Europe. Ileave
tomorrow, intending to touch at Porto Praya."
DISPUTED CLAIMS AGAINST TIE GOVERNMENT
The late Congress on the last day OF the session
passed an act entitled, IAN act I'd afford assist
ance and relief to Congress and the executive de-
partments in the investigation OF claims and de-
mandS against the government" which is OF great
interest and importance to the heads OF depart
ments and all other executive officers The second
section Is as follows: "That when claim or mat
ter is pending In any OF the departments
which may involve c0ntrOverted questions OF fact
or law, the head OF such department may trans
NIT the same, with the vouchers, papers, proofs,
and documents pertaining thereto, to said court,
1.-THE Court of Clams.l and the same shall be there
proceeded in under such rules as the court may
adopt. When the facts and conclusions of law
shall have been foun1, the court shall not enter
Judgment thereon but Shall report its findings and
opinions to the department by which 1t was trans
mltted for It's guidance and action" 1t will be
seen that departmental officers may, under this
dCt, Tlu themselves OF all controversies OF law
fact In any matter which comes before them by
having the secretary refer the same to the Court
OF Claims, where 1t will be judlcially investigated
and determined. When the report from the court
has been made the department will have no re-
sponsibllty, but to be guided by the decision thus
obtained and to act thereon.
THE WEEKLY STAR for this week is now ready
for mailing; price, three cents per copy. 1t Is a
large, eight-page paper OF fifty-six columns cut
pasted ana folded, and Will be sent anywhere in
the United States and Canada, postpaid, for one
dollar year.
ARMY ORDERs.-The leave OF Captain John c.
White, first artillery, is further extended one
month on account OF sickness. The leave OF First
Lieutenant Charles H. Noble, 10th infantry, Is ex-
tended four months, with permission to leave the
United States.
PERsoNAL-Hon. Carl Schurz, editor OF the New
York Evening Post, is in town.--Mrs. NJ j. Hunt,
OF F street, leaves for New York this evening"
Senator-elect Palmer, OF Michigan, is at the Ma
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