The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1883-08-17

ports tnat the disease which mas raVageu
Damietta Is malignant local distemper,
and the unclean habits Of its people. The
Indian government has decided to send
to Egypt seven physicians and forty assist
ants.
An attache of the Mexican legation at
Washington says a commercial treaty has
been recently signed between this country
and Mexico, containing no offensive and de-
fensive provisions. The widespread dissatis-
faction of the lower classes in Mexico in
regard to the American railway projects,
he says, has totally disappeared, and cap
ital from the United States Is welcomed by
all.
The reported intention of Mr.. A. G. Hes
ing to bring criminal or other prosecution
for libel against Mr.. Mchaelis is ridiculed
by the officials of the Solicitor of the Treas
ury. Such a course would be suicidal, they
say, as on prosecution the defense would
rake up records which, could not fail to
endanger the completion of the compro-
mise.
Alpha B. Beall, an employe of the Gov
eminent Printing Office, was arrested by di-
rectiOn of the Commissioner of Pensions,
Dudley, on a charge of violating the pen
sion laws incidentally defrauding Mrs.
Christine Dreamer out of S75S14 in the
prosecution of a pension claim Of Las
The prisoner was taken before United
States Commissioner Bunday and given
preliminary hearing. The Commissioner
placed him under 81, 500 bonds and the case
was continued over until Saturday. Com
missioner Dudley is making q very determ-
ined war against these frauds perpetrated
upon business.
tobacco taxes received at the Treasury De-
partment to date is about %, 600, aggregat-
ing SO, 900, 00O Ten of the smaller districts
are still to be heard from. The claims from
these districts will, it Is estimated, swell
the total to $500, 900. The two largest
filed by Esberg .Bachman & Co., is for S4s,-
900; the other is for $685. 600. The reason
that the claims from the Pacific Slope av-
erage greater than from any other section is
believed to be because there are so few
factories there, and dealers are in conse-
quence compelled to carry much larger
stocks.
Sufficient progress has now been made in
the assignments and allowances for the
newly consolidated revenue districts to en-
able the bureau to make comparison of
expenses under the old and new system. 1t
Is found that the total saving per annum
will reach in the neighbOrhood of $3.50, 900,
which is the amount at first estimated when
the reorganization was proposed. The re-
duction in collections by the abolition of
nearly so 900, 900 of taxation has not adj
mtted of q proportionate reduction in the
cA DCllNt VI COllCCIlOll. as tllc StIIlt tNltuI
Of territory has yet to be covered by depu-
ties. The only saving, therefore, has
been in the matter of salaries to those Col
lectors who were dropped by the reorgan-
iZation.
CLEAR CASE OF CRANK.
Another crank has turned up. He is
North Carolinian, and in Il recent letter
from Greensboro to the postmaster general,
he says: II want to go in some kind of
Inn ciunsS and wnlllH like IN oct a LITTLE in
formation about the laws. want to put a
boat line to Cuba, or run q still for charita-
BILE purposes. The whisky will be put in
four pound cans, easy to carry and by send
ing this fine whisky through the mail it
will break up Il lot of blockading through
the country and throw the freight money
into the postal office. Part of the proceeds
will be devoted to the poor who need bread,
widows, etc. ! would like to hear from you
soon, and the best you can do for me on the
question asked. If the mails are carried by
contract to any OF the ports mentioned,
can put prices as low as any one." The
letter has not been answered.
ADULTERArIoN OF BEER.
The internal revenue bureau !. ., been
quietly investigating the subject of the
adulteraton of beer and the result of these
inquiries has developed such surprising
facts that the officials consider it a public
duty to do all in their power to prevent
SGCll DIdCllCtS. ~ ClICuldl bNS bCtli ioouOu
to all brewers of the country, requiring
them to send to Washington statement OF
all articles used in the manufacture or their
beer. Under the proper construction OF the
law as it now stands, the internal revenue
bureau has no power to do this. 1t Is true
that the commissioner can compel brewers
to keep record of all articles used, but the
bureau is lame in lbs decision that the man
ufacturers must forward this information
to Washington. Deputy Commissioner
Rogers says that no difficulty will be ex-
perienced in this regard, and if case Is
withhold this information the parties will
be followed up very closely by the revenue
agents. He says, furthermore, that the bu-
reau considers it duty to inform the, pub
lie of the facts in relation to this subject,
and he regards 1t as more efficient in stop
ping aduteration than any other method
that could be devised.
MUTILATED COINS.
Strong pressure is being brought to bear
upon Mr.. Burchard, director OF the mint,
for the adoption of some plan whereby mu-
tilated coins will be redeemed at their race
value. 1t has come to the knowledge OF the
treasury department that there is In this
country regular gang of men who make
living by sweating" coins. 1t takes some
capital to be able to follow this for living
and the common method is to take num-
Der Of gold eagles in a bag and rub them
Violently together. lHe aDTdSlOllS are lioJ
noticeable, and in the course of day quite
a quantity of gold dust Is obtainable. Di-
rector Burchard says that it would be man
ifestly unfair to encourage these men by. re-
deeming at its face value coin which they
have willfully mutilated. He Is of opin-
ion, however that innocent parties holding
mutiated coin ought to have some redress
beyond that furnished by the present laws:
In his report to congress Director Burchard
will call attention to the matter, which Is
of more Importance than is generally con-
sidered. The amount of mutilated coin
held by individuals is comparatively small,
but the aggregate it is estimated, will reach
astonishing dimensions.
OUR REDUCED POSTAGE.
The fate of the familiar Scent stamp is
sealed. after October it will not be issued,
although it will be received for postage un-
Til outstanding supplies are exhausted
The department has not yet promised to re-
deem surplus stocks of these stamps held
on hand by postmasters when the law goes
into effect, but will probably do so, al
though the clerkage involved will be enor-
nous and will necessitate special increase
In the force of clerks, for which there is at
present no appropriations; hence postmas-
tiers have been admonished to have q small
supply on hand as possible, and the depart