The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1883-06-22


niissloneo TO purchase war vessei, caIis
out the information from the navy depart
ment that this government has twenty war
vessels for sale, one of which is monitor
viz, the Dictator. No one Of the twenty Is
very valuable. In fact, II they are not soon
disposed OF they will be broken up and sold
as junk.
The President on. Tuesday had long con-
ference with Secretary FOlger in regard to
the question OF recognizing and CONSOLE
dating the internal revenue districts so as
to meet the requirements of the law. IL Is
proposed to settle this question as soon as
possible, and 1t Is expected the announce
ment OF some perfected plan will be made
In few days.
Considerable testimony in support of the
charges against Supervising Architect Hill
was taken by the treasury commission
Monday. An expert claims to show that
only upon small portion of the stone-work
OF the Philadelphia custom-house the gov
eminent paid S35, 900 in excess of the regu-
lar rates. Upon the work of one man
for thirty days the contractors are alleged
to have made profit of S745. t..
Commissioners of-Internal-R Revenue Evans
says that the rebate claims are coming in
from dealers very slowly, and from those
received and the information obtainable in
that the claims will fall very far below the
estimates generally placed upon them. He
thinks that the aggregate claims will not
be more than 25 or 30 per cent of the amount
predicted. 81.
The commission recently appointed by
the Treasury Department to investigate the
alleged smuggling of Chinese women and
British Columbia, have submitted report,
from which 1t appears the practice COM
planned of was not general, although there
may have been Isolated cases. The COM
mission recommends additional vigilance on
the part of customs officers on the border,
and also on the part of the revenue cutter
stationed at Puget Sound.
The report of the navy-yard commission,
which has been approved by Secretary
Chandler, recommends the closing of the
Pensacola, League island, and New London
yards and the conversion of the Washington
yard into a naval arsenal. Various changes
are suggested as to the management of the
Mare island yard, by which a saving of
$50 day may be affected In the payroll.
1t Is also recommended that the work of
fortifying the yard at Portsmouth be dis
continued.
prised by Mr.. Bingham, United States Min
lister at Toxic, of the delivery to the Gov.
eminent of Japan of the Treasury draft for
S7S5, 600. the amount of the indemnity fund
returned to that government by the United
States. In accepting the sum the Minister
the most cordial terms the appreciation of
his government at the equity and Justice
constantly manifested by the United States
toward Japan, and alludes with much salts.
faction to the present happy relations ex-
listing between the people of both coun-
tries.
Although the star-route trial has not yet
ended, the record up to this point Is the
largest ever made In q criminal trial in this
country. Printed in small type and octave
size, it comprises over six thousand pages,
or about four and one-quarter million
words. The report of the preliminary pro-
ceedings up to the date when the taking of
testimony began covered 1853 pages; the di-
rect testimony for the prosecution occupied
2,3lS pages. Merrick delivered the long
est speech in the trial, lasting nine days,
and covering 2S3 pages of the record. The
record Of the Guiteau trial comprised 2, 200
pages and was regarded as of extraordinary
length, but becomes quite Insignificant COM
pared with this enormous record.
Special agents report to the Treasury De-
partment most extensive system of snug
Cling along the Rio Grande border, but the
boldness of the smugglers has, perhaps, not
been brought to the attention of the Treas
ury authorities in more striking way than
by a native of Texas, whose opinion was
asked us to the qualifications of q certain
applicant for the position of Collector of
Customs at Laredo. ''He won't do at all,
said the gentleman. ut will be difficult to
find any one there who will do, If you wish
to honestly enforce the custom laws. The
people of Laredo, In fact, have protested
against the erection of gas lights in that
town in order to facilitate smuggling"