Morning journal and courier., 1883-03-17

A peddler from St. Louis has also asked to lease enough ground on which to erect stand for the purpose of selling wood, stones, etc., taken from the park. Of course these prop ositions have been declined. To day half dozen letters from adventurers were received containing all kinds of propositions. As yet the only lease executed is that of Hatch, Ho- bart dE Co.,, although several bona fde prop ositiens for leasing tracts from one to ten acres in area are being considered.
 A statement showing the consumption and distribution of corn and wheat throughout the country up to March 1st has been pre- pared at the department of agriculture. It places the stock of corn on hand at that date at about 58O, GOO, GOO bushels or 36 per cent. of last year's crop. Of this 3S0, 900, 900 are in the States of the central basin north of Tennessee and 166 OO0 900 in is in the Middle States. In comparison with the average stock of the past five years at the same date, there is scarcely any increase in the West or the Middle States. In the South the percentage of the crop remaining is 43 instead of 36. Taking all the States together, the increased stock is about ? per cent. The seven surplus corn States from Ohio west to Nebraska and Kansas inclusive had B per cent. of the crop on hand against 27 per cent. of the crop of 1880 on the first of March, 1884, when the estimated stocks were 413, 900, ,OOO bushels. The present total is about 320, ,O0O, 900 bushels as against 200,- COG, 900 last March. In Illinois and Iowa the proportion on hand is less than the average of the previous five years In Missouri and Kansas it is greater. The proportion of wheat on hand March 1st is 2S per cent of the crop of about 14O, 100000 bushels. The proportions of the Hast five years at that date are nearly the same. In the States of the central basin the total reported on hand is 104 GOO, 900 bushels. The proportion re- maining in the southern States is 25 per cent instead of 22, the average of previous years. In the Pacific States the percentage is 23 instead of the former average of 26 per cent.
 The public is advised by the Postofice de- partment that recent ruling of the depart ment to the effect that only letters having one full letter rate paid can be forwarded from one postofice to another refers only to forwarding mail matter after it reaches it's original address. A later ruling directs postmasters how to treat insuffciently paid matter that has been forwarded and relates exclusively to the treatment of such matter after it reaches the new postofice address to which it has been forwarded. If postal card has been re-forwarded without requir ing new prepayment in violation of the law, there must be one cent collected thereon.
 Congressman Reagan, of Texas. who had an operation performed on him early this WICK 1OE REhV01s IS COuS1uGEcu udukCIOuSAy ill. His condition is such as to occasion much alarm among his friends.
 The President has suspended Judge Will liam s. Hover, associate justice of the Su- preme court of Arizona, pending an investi- gation by the department of justice of charges of corrupt practice in accepting bribes. Judge Hover figured quite promi- nently here some weeks ago as witness Tn the Star route jury bribery cases.
 Secretary Chandler to-day issued notice to all American shipbuilders and contractors of marine engines, machinery and boilers who may desire to bid for the construction of vessels authorized by the recent act of Con gress to communicate immediately to the de- partment their facilities for doing such work. Under Fire-Brady in Bliss Hands fer
 Cross-examinatiOn-N Very Ex-
 citing Developed.
 WASHINGTON, March 16.-The cross-exami- nation of General Brady in the Star route trial was continued to-day. The government has thus far failed to develop any new points. Brady gives his testimony in confident man. ner and is evidently endesvoring to impress the jury with the belief that, while he was doing patriotic duty in extending the post service to meet the growth of the country, he is being persecuted in this suit. The witness described the method of preparing the adver- tisements fer letting the miscellaneous ser vice. The temporary contracts originally ran for six months, but the term was after ward extended to one year. A contract might have been discontinued, in order to put on better service and for other reasons; the power of the second assistant in that respect was broad. But in all cases except where the service was discontinued for cause (such as failure to perform service), it was require ment of law that the contractor be allowed one months extra pay. Witness could not remember whether or not the practice of posting bulletins of temporary service to be let followed the Congressional investigation. The witness said he expedited routes to get better service, but referred MT. Bliss to the contractors for an answer as to how contracts that were losing under the old schedule could be made profitable by expedition. He some times put up service to accommodate his friends, adding that the contractors
 were very well treated while he was assistant Postmaster General He claimed always to get expedited service at the lowest possible rate. Having rule that the western service should not exceed $50 per mile, he tried to get it at that rate and not to exceed 1t, and claimed that these nineteen routes showed they were getting it much less. The witness
 was asked why he allowed the contractor so much more for expedition than it's annual cost, as shown by the filed sub contracts,
 such as upon the Eugene City Bridge Cree route He answered that he was not dealin g
 with sub-contractors. The contractor was held for the service, summer and winter.
 The sub-contractor was not bound
 to the department, and could
 fha fina
 the middle of the winter, when the contrac-
 tor was bound to immediately restore the ser
 vice; thought the service on the Eugene City
 bridge creek route was cheaply let. It was
 not the practice to increase and expedite 8
 route where the service was
 being already inadequately performed.
 General Brady continued at much length
 explaining his action in certain cases. He
 did not recall saying to MT. Lilly in Septem-
 Der, 1880, that if a sub- contract on the Mine ral Park and Pioche route was given to Jen- nings he would cut the service down to one | trip per week.
 Mr. Bliss here presented the two 'price'
 drafts on the Indianola and Corpus Christi
 route and asked witness as to his knowledge of them MT. Wilson objected as it was cross-examination. Mr Merrick said they proposed to prove that the drafts were plac ed on Brady's desk by contractor on the Indianola route in 1880 for 8 corrupt pur pose. MT. Merrick argued to show the com | potency of the testimony.
 Judge Wylie wished to know if the ques | ton was admissible whether 8 defendant could be made to criminate himself. Mir. Merrick answered that he could. WheI | the defendant became witness and went ol
 the stand and denied his guilt he waived al l privileges of that kind. Without finishing 1 the argument the court adjourned till Mon l day next.
 THE SOUTH