The Portland daily press., 1883-07-17
WASHINGTON.
Cabinet Meeting.

WASHINGTON, July 16.-An informal meet
ing of the cabinet was held this afternoon.
There were present Secretaries Folger, Lin
coin and Teller and Postmaster General
Gresham 1t is understood the session was
mainly devoted to the consideration Of routine
business before the departments requiring inn
mediate attention.
The New Tax and Tariff Law
The Treasury officials are still very much In
doubt as to the operations of the new tax and
tariff law and as to its probable effect upon the
Treasury. Receipts from internal taxes since
July first are more than was expected in view
of the abolition of such large percentage of
the tax. The customs receipts are still large
but that Is directly attributable in the duties
paid on goods Withdrawn from bonded ware
houses waiting for reductions in the tariff.
There are two conflicting opinions among the
customs officials as to the probable customs
revenue for the fiscal year. Some think the
reduction indicated will be followed by CORE
spending reductions In receipts, while others
are OF opinion that the reduction in the tariff
will stimulate importations to such an extent
that the aggregate receipts will not be dimin-
ished. II the latter suppo3ition should not be
correct the surplus revenue will be largely
reduced Some OF the more conservative
Treasury officials are of opinion that before the
end OF the fiscal year very practical question
will be-Will there be any surplus revenue?
II is to bs remembered that in the statement
given as TO the amount of the surplus revenue
at the end OF the last fiscal year no allowance
had been made for the requirements of the
sinking fund or for the large pension disburse-
ments, which were delayed Fifteen million
dollars in pensions have already been paid
daring July.
The Presidents Yellowstone Trip.
The date Of the departure of the President
from here on his trip to Yellowstone park has
not been fixed. He will probably leave here
August lst and attend the opening OF the
Louisville expojition before going further
west Arrangements for the trip will be made
by Lieutenant General Sheridan. Secretary
Lincoln will accompany the President, and it
IS said Senator Wade Hampton will be of the
party. 1t is certain no will not start on the
voyage in the Despatch to Newport before
Friday as he has made an appointment for
that day at the White House with a member
OF the cabinet.
Civil Service Appointments.
The operation of the civil cervice rules has
made it impossible for any appointments to be
made from the vast number of applicants for
positions in the executive department now on
file with the appointment clerks. These appli-
Cations cannot be turned over to the civil GER
vice commission because they are not made in
the required form, although the applicants
may Withdraw their papers and after correction
personally file them with that commission.
Plans for the New Cruisers.
Commodore Wilson, chief of the bureau of
construction OF the Navy Department, to-day
submittsd plans for the proposed cruisers.
Boston and Atlanta, to the Naval Advisory
Board. The plans for the largest cruiser, the
Chicago, will be submitted on Monday next.
The plans for the despatch boat Dolphin,
which were prepared by the Naval Advisory
Board, have been ready for some days. 1t is
expected contracts for the construction of
these vessels will be signed by Secretary
Chandler as soon as he returns
The Washington Monument.
Bids were opened to-day by Col. Casey for
furnishing 42,O01 sect of white marble for the
Washington monumer. Hughes Sisson of
Baltimore was the only bidder and his offer
was $3.50 per cubic feet. He BID she same
price at former letting, but the contract vert
to the Lee Marble Company of Massachusetts,
at $I29 who failed to fulfil it. Sission has
formerly furnished marble for the monument
1t is expected work on the monument will be
resumed by September.