Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-12-12

THE QUESTION ABOUT GEN. MEIGs' SALARY-The
question whether Gen. Meigs can receive salary
both as retired army officer and as superintendent
of the Pension Ofce building will not be decided
until similar questions now before the Court of
Claims are disposed OF. Until then Gen. Meigs'
salary of $40 per day as superintendent Of the Pen
sion ONCE building VIII be withheld.
INSPECTING THE RIVER FRoNT.-Senator Ransom
and the committee on Potomac river front are in
spect1ng the river front to-day.
THE NAVAL BOARD OF INSPECTION, OF which Com
modore DeKraf1t is president, will go to Norfolk
this evening to survey the tug Snowdrop, to see if
she is fit to be continued On duty, and also to
inspect the receiving ship Franklin.
ANTI -CHINEsE-The Pacific coast delegation held
meeting this morning to discuss certain proposed
amendments to the anti Chinese Legislation of last
Congress. Through some misunderstanding the
meeting was not well attended, and after some in
formal discussion 1t adjourned until tomorrow.
NAVAL ORDERS. - Lieut.. Geo. A. Bicknell de-
tached from the League Island navy yard and
ordered to duty at Chester Pa, as inspector of
terials under the naval advisory board Lieut..
waiter $. Hughes, detached from the Jamestown
ana ordered to the Alarm, 18th inst.
CANDIDATES ExAM1NED.-The naval board, Prot
NeWcomb, president, appointed to examine candl-
dates for admission into the navy as assistant
naval constructors, met at the Navy department
To-Day. There were seven or eight candidates for
examination.
THE Q. s. s. Tennessee is expected to leave Nor
folk to-day for Port Au Prince.
A CONVENIENT HANDBOOK for the navy has Just
been published by direction OF the Navy department.
being compilation of the laws relating to the navy
marine corps, ETC., from the Revised Statutes and
subsequent acts to March 8, 1883. 1t was prepared
by Mr.. John W. HOgg, chief clerk OF the depart
ment, during unofficial hours. 1t will prove OF
SDec1a1 value wal officers
In naval matters.
THE RECEPTION and supper which was to have
been given by the Massachusetts Republican Asso-
citation to Hon. George D. Robinson. governor-eect
OF Massachusetts, will not take place. owing to the
many previous engagements of Gov. Robinson dur
Ing his short stay here.
PAY DIRECTOR CUNNINGHAM TO Be RETIRED.-Pay
Director John S. Cunningham, inspector of pro-
visions and clothing in the Brooklyn navy yard,
will be relieved by Pay Inspector Ambrose j. Clark,
placed on the retired list. He stands third in the
list OF officers In the pay CORPS and Of the
osph Smt5 s nninr NV Wae aeventasn as nnSer s,of
carried Off the honOrS and title OF paymaSter gen.
eral in 1882.
APPOINTMENT Ely THE ATTORNEY GENERAI.-The
Attorney General has appointed Mr. Henry Randall
Webb (son Of Mr.. w. B. Webb a special assistant
district attorney in charge Of the prosecution
S,
Perry, resigned.
DEATH OF MARINE CORPS OFF1cER.-Captain
William Wallace, of the U. s. Marine corps died at
Philadelphia yesterday. Capt. Wallace was the
Oldest son Of the late Capt. William Wallace, of
Baltimore. He entered the United States Marine
corps In June, 1861 He was wounded at the battle
OF Fort Fisher The funeral will take place In Bal
tfmoTe tomorrow.
To MAKE OCEAN NAVIGATION sAFER.-The hy-
rorhtn nnFdn <1oO Oa,,
tofore stated In THE STAR, has begun the publica-
tion OF monthly pilot chart OF the north Atlantic
ocean, giving details OF storms and other nautical
Information, which, 1t is believed, Will be valuable
probable limits Of the gulf stream, drift ice Ice
bergs, the best tracks for vessels reported rocks
ment Of new lights and changes in the positions Of
buOys Masters OF vessels making extended voy-
ages are to be furnished gratuitousy with general
sailing charts and log books, in which they are
asked to enter data In order to deduce the meteor
olgy OF the ocean, AS soon as sufficient data is
received, the chart is to be issued weekly.
COMMISSIONER LoRING'S REPoRT.-The annual
report Of Hon. George B. Loring, which has been
submitted to the President states that the expert
ments In extracting the juice from sorghum cane
by diffusion instead OF milling have resulted in an
increase Of from 25 to 30 per cent in yield. In
urging the Importance OF forest culture the COM
missioner says: "The total value of the forest pro-
ducts OF the United States for the census year Is
estimated at 100000. In other words our forest
products exceed in value our crops OF hay rye oats
barley, buckwheat, potatoes and tobacco taken
together. They amount to ten times the value of
the gold and silver, OF which we make SO much
account, and to more than three times the value of
the precious minerals and the coal and other min
erals cOmbined.' The report shows that there were
distributed during the year nearly two and a half
million packages OF seeds, OF which more than two
million packages were furnished to members of
Congress-
PHILADELPHIA REPUBLICANS CALL ON THE PRES
IDENT-A large delegation OF the republicans OF
Philadelphia, who are In the city to secure the
national convention for that city, called upon the
President yesterday afternoon and upon the Sec
retary OF War this morning. 1t is whispered that
these VISITS are Significant OF the preference OF the
Pennsylvania republicans for the next presidential
ticket.
AMONG THE CALLERS at the White House to-day
were Senators Miller [CaL), Pike, ingalls,, Beck,
Vest. Cockrell, Brown and CuliOm, Representatives
Miller. Morse Peelle, Mckinley TOwnshend Van
Alstyne, Culbertson (Ky.), Milliken and Slocum
and Commissioner Evans.
ACTING SECRETARY OF THE TREAsURY-Assist-
ant Secretary French has recovered from his recent
indfsposition. and to-day resumed his duties as
Acting Secretary OF the Treasury. Secretary FOlger
is reported to be convalescing, but is not expected
at the department before next week.
THE CASE OF O'DONNELL.-Some davs ago Secre-
tary Frelinghuysen cabled Minister Lowell that
upon an examination Of the question of ODon-
nell's citizenship he had become satisfied that he
was an American citizen. and that he (Sr. LowelD
should SO consider him n treating with the British
government. ODOnnelrs case was a subject of
consideration at the Cabinet meeting yesterday.
AferWard the Secretary OF State cabled further in
StructionS III the matter to Minister Lowell but the
nature OF these instructions is refused to the public
at present
THE PRESIDENT AND SECRETARY FoLGER-The
President ON Monday evening sent handsome
basket OF flowers to Secretary Folger. The reports
of Secretary Folger's early retirement from the
Cabinet are again In circulation. There seems to
be no foundation for them unless he may be com
PEELED to take such step by continued ill-health
A Postal Convenience.
EXCHANGE OF POSTAGE STAMPS AND ENVELOPES
AUTHORIZED.
The Postmaster General has issued the following
circular letter to postmasers: sIn consequence of
the recent reduction in the letter rate of postage
posmasters are directed to exchange for the public
as application may be made, the three and six
cent denominations of postage stamps and stamped
envelopes for others of different denominations.
Postmasters are informed that under no ctrcum-
stances must money be given in exchange for
stamps or envelopes. Stamped envelopes will be
exchanged at their full current rate. Stamped en-
velopeS bearing printed cards and special requests