The Portland daily press., 1883-01-06

| probably retarn to New York Thursday next
| On Monday next he will dine with Senator
Miller of California, Tuesday with the Secre-
tary OF State, and Wednesday with the Presi-
dent, The Chinese Minister visited General
Grant to-day.
The Pension Clerks.
1t is said at the Interior Department that
only about fifty of the 800 temporary pension
office clerks whose appointments expire within
| the next two months will fail of reappoint-
ment.
Mississippi River Improvement.
General Comstock stated to the Mississippi
River Committee to-day that $1,000, 900 is al
ready expended at Plum Point, and he esti-
mated that So, 100000 would be necessary to
complete the work there, which would make
$1,000, 900. To this he said there would prob
ably have to be added $1,809,00O to rivit the
banks On being asked the estimate of the
committee to complete the work of improving
navigation of the entire length of the river on
this plan, he said the committee had estimated
that the cost would be $33, 100000 When
asked if he did not believe that this would be
as much exceeded when it came to the actual
work as had been the case at Plum Point, he
said he did not believe the entire river could
be improved for less than $66,000,000. This
estimate had no regard to levees.
The Steam Menhaden Fisheries.
A hearing was held yesterday by q sub-com-
mittee of the Senate Committee on Foreign
lecldtIOuo upUu TITO SuUjbCb Oh Tie mGElaQen
fisheries on the Atlantic coast in connection
with Senator SewelPs bill to prohibit the sein-
ing of menhaden within two miles of the
shore. Prof. G. Brown Goode, of the Fish
Commission, made long statement of the
experience of the commission in connection
with food fishes, their habits, means of sub
sistence, etc. 1t is claimed by the hook and
line fishermen and others interested in the re-
suits of the catch, that the wholesale destruc-
tion OF menhaden by steam seine boats, de.
r-iu hn inO- -Gch If fla
subsistence, and that the steam fisheries should
therefore be prohibited by law as public
sanitary measure. There were also present at
the hearing Capt. j. W. Hawkins of Long
Island, who is engaged in the menhaden fish
cries, and who is here to oppose the Sewell
bill; Mr.. James Buchanan, of Trenton; Mr.
William f. Brown, of Point Pleasant, N. Y,
and Prof. Spencer E Baird, of the Fish Com
mission. 1t was repI esented to the committee
that there are more than 80 steamers, of vary
ing dimensions, engaged actively in the mem
haden fishery along the Atlantic coast from
Cape May northward, and that the only use
made of the fish is to compress oil from them
and utilize the pomace or residuum for ferti-
lizer, which is characterized as a criminal
waste IN view OF the fact that many varieties
of edible fish are almost wholly dependent
upon the mongrel fish for subsistence.
The Army Bill
The clause in the army appropriation bill as
it passed the House, providing for the gradual
abolition Of the pay corps Of the army, will
encounter strong opposition in the Senate, and
it is not likely to be adopted there, where army
social influence is much greater than in the
House.
Naval Vessels.
House committee on naval affairs virtually
decided to recommend that appropriations be
made by Congress to build two 5000 ton eruis-
ers, one of 1900 tons, two of $500 and q de-
spatch and torpedo boat all of steel, and that
rla-b oil rtr hn hnr7a hoo
The Star Route Cases.
In the stor route trial this morning a GOOD
deal of testimony was put in touching the nom
delivery of mails at little postofice in Colo
RADIO called Agate.
Matters Before the Judiciary Committee
House committee ON judiciary discussed the
Knott resolution declaring all Northern Pacific
railroad land grants forfeited and laid it on the
table.
Mr.. Anderson of Kansas made o statement
in regard to his resolution of enquiry which
calls upon the secretary of the interior gto fur
nish the original maps and papers of Leaven-
worth, Lawrence and Western (Kansas Pacific)
railroad with view to ascertaining if that
road is not laying claim to large tracts of land
to which it is not entitled and the committee
agreed that tee enquiry should be made.
The Yellowstone Park scheme.
Rufus Batch has not been successful with
his Yellowstone Park scheme so far as the
hotels go. Mr.. Vest, from the Committee on
Territories, reported a bill for the government
of the park. but hostile to Hatch's hotel
scheme, which he characterizes as monopoly.
Mr.. ConkliDg, counsel for Hatch is reported
| to have advised him that inasmuch as the
] Secretary of the Interior has given him an
| agreement for lease, it is as binding as if the
lease was executed. If such an opinion has
been given, it is doubtful if the improvements
will be made in the face OF hostility in Con.
| gress. Boston parties are interested in this
| scheme