The Portland daily press., 1883-01-12
WASHINGTON.
The Alleged Bribery Gases.

The Alleged Bribery Cases.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 1.-THE grand jury bas
commenced an investigation into the alleged
jury bribery cases and today examined witness
es in connection with the case of Frank n Fall
charged with attempting to bribe the colored
juror, VIM. H. Brown of the former Star route
panel.
The Star Route Case.
Nephi johnson, the sub-contractor, was
further examined in the criminal court this
morning regarding the Star route from Tooue-
vile to Adairville, Utah.
considerable documentary matter was put in
evidence to-day, and after examination of q
few witnesses the court adjourned.
Mississippi River Improvement.
Prof. Mitchell OF the coast survey stated to
the Mississippi improvement committee to-day
that he favored the works now in progress and
said the entire work could be done for $40 0O0-
600.
Naval Engineer Reprimanded.
In accordance with the findings of the re-
cent court martial Secretary Chandler publicly
reprimands Chief Engineer Edward Wells for
assaulting an enlisted man in the navy.
The Census Deficiencies.
Mr.. Cox of New York, who bas been the
firm friend of the census, will soon offer a reso-
tion inquiring why it is necessary that the CEN
sus work shall stop again on account of want of
funds. A discharge of nearly all the bu, eau
will be made this week unless Congress shall
Immediately make the needed appropriation.
No one is disposed to say that the work shall
proceed as 1t did once before, without an ap-
preparation, trusting to Congress to make good
the deficiency and to overlook the violation of
law. The trouble with the Census seems to
have been that no one connected with it knew
what the work would cost, and that when this
was discovered no one was willing to inform
Congress what the amount would be; eonse-
quently these repeated deficiencies.
The Tobacco Interest.
Mr.. Malone will represent the tobacco inter-
est in the Senate. He had already indicated
the purpose of the Tobacco Association to
move for reduction of the tax to eight cents.
Members of thes association are very busy in-
te terviewing members, and will stay here until
some definite result is reached.
The Richardson Contest Dismissed.
The House committee on elections this MORN
ing dismissed the contest in the Lee e-Richard-
son, South Carolina case.
The Tariff.
The committee on ways and means to-day
considered schedules of cotton weol and
woolens and books, but made no changes. The
bill will probably be ready to report to-mnrrow
Miscellaneous.
Louisiana people think that John A. Walsh
will call Senator Kellogg to personal account
for having published him as btackmaier.
Gen. Hazen does not believe that there is
any probability that Capt. Howgate will return
to the city. The total amount of Howgate's
defalcation is $4,000
The House committee to investigate the gas
company through John Bailey, its Chief Clerk
proposes to commence Immediately. The mem
bers say they intend to ascertain the truth of
the charges.
The large fees which have been paid to
George Bliss are attracting attention in Con-
gress, and an effort is to be made to learn from
the Attorney Genera why Bliss should be paid
such an exceedingly large sum.
A number of scientific gentlemen are en-
deavoring to secure the transfer of a portion of
the signal service to some division of the Smith
sonian Institution.
Work at the Navy Yards.
Some time ago the House called upon the
Secretary oi the Navy for copies of the orders
issued between August and December 4, by
virtue of which work was ordered to be done
or discontinued, or workmen to be employed
u discharged, in any of the navy yards. In
response, seventy printed pages of orders have
been sent in. The Secretary says: Neither
the records of the department nor of the bu-
reaus show the number Of men who were en-
ployed or discharged in each case in conse-
quence OF these orders. A list OF the orders
u the commandment of each navy yard has
been forwarded him, with the request that he
will furnish the department with the informa-
ton desired. 1t is probable, however, that it
will be impossible for the commandant to spec
lly Jn0 NUMBER Oh men employed or 6ch8rged
in consequence of such orders and that they
will only be able to report the number of men
employed on thu first day of August and the
fourth day of December, together with the
employments and DISCHARGES during the inter-
mediate period. Upon the receipts of the re-
plies from the commandants of the yards they
will be forwarded TO the House of Representa-
tives." In addition he shows that in eight
navy yards there were 1876 more employed on
November 1 than on September 1. Apparent
ly, with some impression about the intentions
of the author of the resolution Mr.. Chandler
specially mentions that during the 60 days inn
mediately preceding November the number
of men employed in the Portsmouth yard was
decreased by 1913.
Clerks Discharged.
One hundred ndfive clerks were discharged
from the census Office to-day If an appropria-
ton is not made within 80 days the entire office
will be closed and work suspended until the
first of June.
Marriage OF Senator Cameron's Daughter
Miss Virginia Cameron, daughter OF Senator
Cameron of Pennsylvania, was married this
evening at her fathers residence in this city to
Lieut. Alexander Rogers of the United States
army.
Clark Mills Dying. -
Clark Mills, sculptor became unconscious at
9o'clock tonight and it expected to die before
morning