The Portland daily press., 1883-02-20

Decision in the Alabama Claims Court.
In the Court of Commissioners of Alabama
Claims today judgments were rendered in IS
cases growing out of the destruction of the
whaling vessel Goodspeed by the Chickamauea
Nov /, 1864, for the aggregate sum of $23,500
with interest
Hazen Wants to be Investigated
Gen. Hazen of the weather bureau denies in
letter TO the Secretary of War that he has
done anything wrong in seeking to secure leg
islation in the Senate favorable to the weather
bureau, and asks for a committee to investi-
gate his administration.
The Secretary of War replies to Gen. Hazen
by saying 1t is manifestly improper for the war
department to request the Senate to appoint an
investigating committee and the Secretary can
not find sufficient reasons for granting his ap-
plication. The Secretary states that he shall
advise the President to investigate the signal
service bureau.
Secretary Folger Better.
Secretary Folger is much improved He has
not been in good health since the November
election, and in consequence 9 has not been able
to give that attention to treasury affairs which
the position requires. He seems to regard his
illness as OF little account, but there are
grounds for believing that it is of more impor-
tance than he thinks. So strongis this convic-
tion that prominent treasury official is au-
thority for the statement that he would not be
surprised to see Judge Folger resign within a
few weeks.
The Star Route Trial.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 19.-Rerdell again took
the stand in the star route trial this morning.
Among the papers taken from his room was a
memorandum in S. W Dorsey's handwriting.
1t was tabular statement; in the first column
the number of the route, then the termini,
next the pay, then the expected increase,
(signed upon the basis of $50 to $50 per cent
and the last column was headed SET. j. b.
followed by allowances of 331 per cent; wit
ness said he had the journal and ledger copied
by Charles E. Gibbs and wife Gntimate ac-
quaintances of his) and afterwsrd compared
carefully the copies with the originals; had a
conversation with Attorney General MacVeagh
in 1884, and went to New York to get the orig
inal books for that officer; met Postmaster Cen
eral james on the way; arriving in New York,
went to the Albermare Hotel and saw S. W.
Dorsey in his room Dorsey was in bed he got
up, and witness noticed that he was very much
excited he Immediately commenced by saying
that be (witness) had turned traitor to him,
and had been holding interviews with the
Postmaster General and the Attorney General.
Witness was examined at great length, his
testimony bringing out no new or startling
facts
Merrick took up the papers connected with
the route from kearney to Kent and presented
them in order to witness. He testified regard
ing the handwriting showing that defendants
signed the names of one another.
Thanks OF Congress to Chief Engineer
Melville.
A joint resolution rendering the THANKS of
Congress TO Chief Engineer Georee W. Mel
vile. describes his brave and meritorious con-
duct in the Arctic regions and authorizes the
Presidedt to increase his rank and pay to that
of chief engineer with the relative rank of
commander in the navy to take rank next af-
ter Chief Engineer Andrew j. Kiersled.
The Sundry Civil Bill.
The suDdrv civil bill makes appropriations
for repair of lighthouses at Cape Elizabeth and
Matinicus; for continuing the survey of the
coast OF Maine eastward from Mosabec and in
cludlng Machias bay and approaches and ex
tension OF triangulation, $4,000; for expense of
Soldiers Home at Togus, $142.191 There is
a ahDeral appropriation made for the general
work OF the hsh commission, and in addition
there is special appropriation of $500 for col
lectDg statistics as to fisheries covered bv the
Treaty of Washington; for the erection of the
necessary buildings and apparatus at Woods
Hole, for the propagation of matkerel, striped
bass, loosters and other useful marine animals,
$25 600.
The amount appropriated in the sundry civil
service bill is S22,347 600. The largest single
item is that for public printing. 81, ,377 $50.
The amount privided for the signal service is
1856, 5,065.
The receipts from internal revenue today
were JS559, ,992, and from customs $445, ,633.
The national bank notes received for redemp-
-tion today amount to $207 900.
The Adiutant General has received infor-
nation of the death of Major B. K Hart Fifth
Cavalry, at Fort Mckinney, Wyoming Terri
tory, on the 17th instant.
The President has approved u act granting
right OF way for railroad purposes and tele.
graph lines through the lands of the United
STATES included in the Fort Smith military
reservation at Fort Smith