The Portland daily press., 1883-01-04
WASHINGTON.
Naval Affairs.

merits OF the various guns, torped0es and other
machlnerd OF naval warfare without giving
hearing or taking any action. A resolution
was discussed advising the naval board to in
quire and examine and report upon the best
located and best adapted navy yard for the
establishment of a government foundry and
also to inquire with view to the purchase Of
IOOO ton steam hammer. Tomorrow the naval
appropriation bill will be considered
The District Commissionership.
New YORK, Jan. "a Washington dis
patch to the Commercial Advertiser says the
nomination of Olmstead as commissioner of
the District of Columbia is endorsed by the
correspondents of New York Herald, World
and sun, the Brooklyn Eagle, the Philadelphia
Times, Philadelphia Press, Boston Journal,
Globe and others. Ex-Secretary Blaine in a
letter endorses Olmstead very highly and
strongly recommends his appointment.
Forty Clerks Discharged.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 3.-Forty clerks were
discharged from the census Office this morning
The Dickson Case.
Mr.. Smith of the counsel for Dickson re-
sumed his argument in the police court to-day
In conclusion Mr.. Smith apologized for the
remarks he might have made during the
progress of the hearing. He said, "We want
the court to say we are corrupt or we want it to
say we are honorably discharged. We want
the case decided upon the question of corrupt
INTENT"
Mr.. Cuppy followed Smith: 'I am here as
Dickson's friend," said he'll shall stay here as
long as these hounds of he'll fly at his throat
and II he goes down want the honor of going
down with him.
Gov " ellis replied for the government
At the close of his address the court said he
would notify the counsel when he was ready to
deliver his decision.
The Jeanette Inquiry
The Jeanette board to-day adjourned un-
til the 10Th of January by which time they ex-
pect to have the record of testimony taken
completed.
q. S. Supreme Court
The United States Supreme Court conven ed
to-day after the holiday recess.
No Tariff Legislation Expected this
Session.
Democratic member of the ways and
means committee says that he does not expect
that any tariff bill will pass at this session. He
says that all the amendments that have been
defeated in committee will be presented in
the House, and thar the debate will be so pro-
tracted that no legislation will be enacted, and
the bill will fall between the houses.
Logan's Onslaught on Porter.
Gen. Logan, in concluding his long speech
on Fitz John Porter, made the extraordinary
statement that those who engine red Porter's
case tried to get an Ohio officer 10 swear false
ly as to the date of reception of an important
dispatch received by Porter.
The Taxes on Cigars, Cigarettes, Etc
Secretary Folser, in response to the eTesolu-
tion directing him to inform the Senate of the
estimated amount that will be required to re-
fund the taxes on cigars, cigarettes, tobacco,
distilled spirits and matches, collected on stock
consumed, if the taxes on these commodities
are repealed has transmitted TO the Senate a
letter OF the commissioner of internal revenue,
in which it is stated that the amount required
is $36, OSO, 716. The letter adds that con-
siderable porti IN of the articles estimated is
C0nfaiuAd hr0wn ho 10
not prepared to estimate the amout so held.
The Tariff Revision.
Committee on ways and means covered
great deal OF ground at meeting today and STOP
ped itswork on the tariff commissions report at
the free list In doing this however it passed
over for forther inquiry, schedule of Bonds.
papers, etc" and part of schedule of sundries.
The committee virtually completed the tariff
bill this afternoon and it will be reported to the
Senate tomorrow.
The Mississippi River Commission.
The Mississippi River Commissions report
was submitted to Congress yesterday. The
amount expended from July 1, 1882, to Deeem-
ber 16, 1882, including estimated liabilities, is
S96, ,224.S4. Balance which is estimated will
be required during the remainder of the fiscal
year ending June 80, 1888, $91, ,7S0.SS. The es-
innate for salaries and expenses of the
mission for the next fiscal year is put at $780,
Upon recommendation of the Engineer De-
partment of the Army under the general sup
ervision of the commission, the river ihas been
divided into four administrative districts, each
IN charge OF an officer of engneels.- The mem.
bers OF the commission have personally exam
ined the work in progress, and in report avs:
Substantial benefit has already been confer
red, and we see no reason for doubling the ul-
innate entire success of the improyement On
the upper Mississippi, below Des Moines river,
work has been carried on in detached portions,
and so far only at those places where naviga-
tion is most impeded; but on the Mississippi,
below the junction with the Missouri, only con-
tinuous work beginning at some po mt of stable
regimen affords any prospect of success"
The report recapitulates in detail the plans
upon which the commission is at work below
Cairo, the main principle being contraction
OF the width of the river and sprotection of the
banks, to secure the securing out of the bottom
and prevention of the formation of bars. The
estimate in detail for the next fiscal year are:
For works for contracting the channel and pro-
tecting caving banks on six reaches of the river
length OF lo4 miles viz: New-Madrid reach,
40 miles; Plumb Point reach, 80 miles; Mem
phis reach 16 miles; Helena reach, 80 miles;
Choctaw Bend, 80 miles; Lake Providence
reach, 30 miles; for Carrying on work at the
harbors of Vicksbnrg, Natchez and New Or
leans; lock at Bayou Plsquemine ;ssthe rectif-
cation of the Red and Atchatalaya rivers, and
foreclosing creveases and outlets as auxiliary
TO works of channel improvement, $4573,000.
The commission renews the recommendation
heretofore offered that provision be made by
law for the appropriation, by suitable proceed
ings. of land and material necessary in any
work of improvement of the Mississippi river
undertaken by the government. From much
of that part of the report which relates to
levees one member of the commission, General
Comstock, dissents He is OF opinion that
levees are of little aid in the improvement of
low-water navigation. The same member
doubts at present the advisability of raising
levees on the banks of rivers above the present
grades.
Secretary Folger Won't Resign.
Judge Folger persstently denier the persis-
tent rumors that he contemplatss resigning,
aud says that he has no present intention of re-
signing. 1t is true that the lease of his house
has expired but that is all the truth there is IN
the story.
Gen. Grant and the Retired List.
The friends of General Grant will take ad-
vantage IT his presence here to urge upon Con-
gress the proprlety of Immediately passing the