Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-02-09
WASHINGTON.
BITS or NEWS FROM THE SEAT OF
GOVERNIENT.
The Mississippi River Improvement-The
senate Labor Observation-Disclosures
Piutes-Star Route Trial.

Piutes-Star Route Trial.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 6.-A committee has
been appointed by the secretary of the
treasury to investigate the circumstances
attending the loss of mineral stamps,
figure 1, used in printing tens of internal
revenue stamps which have been missing
from the bureau of ENGRAVING and print
ing, since Jan. 81, last The committee is
to determine where the responsibility of
the loss rests, and whether the use of the
set of numerals to which the last stamp
belonged, shall be discontinued.
The house committee on patents authro-
lied Mr.. Vance to prepare bill to so
amend the revised statutes applicable to
patents as to provide that an American
patent shall run fifteen years from the
time the invention was patented in q for
eign country, making all patents of what
ever class extend seventeen years, not to
revive the American patent now dead or to
extend any living patent, but to apply
only to patents hereafter granted.
The senate committee on education and
labor resumed its inquiries this morning,
and examined Frank K. Foster, secretary
of the Massachusetts, Federation of Trade
and Labor unions. Witness made a gen
eral statement as to the labCring classes of
New Englal in general and Massachu-
sets in particular. Speaking OF the moral,
intellectual and physical condition OF
printers as a class, he said the lines of
caste were growing more and more defined
each year, IN New England, at least. The
mill operatives of New England as class
are perhaps the worst OFF, and their pres
ent condition is sure to produce an
enfsebled race of men and women in the
next generation, as the same conditions
have already done in England. The work
ing people in Massachusetts are better off
than those of other New England states on
account of the enforcement of the ten hour
law. The hours worked in Massachusetts
ar sixty per week, while in the weaving
district of England they are but ffty-six.
| The wages are about the same. Since 1873
the average of wages has increased six and
nine-tenths per cent, while the average
cost of the necessities of life, including
| meat, breadstuffs, vegetables, dry goods,
boots. board, etc., has increased twenty
one and three-tenths per cent.
NOMINATIONS:
Postmasters- K. Els her, Mobiles
vile, Ind; Edward Sayin, Notre Dame
Ind; FL. M. Goodspeed, Ligonier, Ind;
Jno. Clinton, Brownsville, Tenn; L. II.
Warner, Superior, Wis; Chas. w. Wood,
Burlington, Wis; Squire D. How, Marshall,
Mimi. Hattie E. Carroll, Plainview, MINI. !;
| Hy Baltin, Miamsburgh,O o.; Oliver G. Eastor,
Havana, ILL.,; T. G. Lawler, Rockford, ILL.,;
Orville Sanborn, Chenoa, Ills; j. Burnes,
Ft. Smith, Ark; w. Egbert' Smith, Butte
City, Mont.
| WHISKY TAXES.
The speaker laid before the house to-day
communication from the acting secre-
tary of the treasury urging the necessity
of an amendment to the pending internal
revenue bill providing that any package
of distilled spirits shall be forfeited to the
United States if such shall be found to
differ in proof from proof indicated by
marks and stamps thereon, unless such
differences shall be occasioned by lapse of
| time, The conditions under which spirits
have been stored or kept, or by other
natural action in matter, by the present
congress.
MISSISSIPPI IMPROVEMENT.
The special committee on improvement
of the Mississippi has agreed upon re-
port. The committee is divided into sub
committees upon jetties, outlets and gen
eral Improvements. That on jetties will
be unanimously in favor of outlets. There
were six against three; Butterworth, Holman
and Hazeltine in favor of continuing work
at Plum Point and Providence Beach, with
auxiliary works at Memphis and Vicks-
burg. On the question of levees as an i'm
provement to low water navigation these
six voted against, Thomas and Ellis in
favor and Carlisle reserved his
vote. The majority believe that
in this matter it will be better to await
the further operation of the works at Plum
Point and Providence Beach. Burrows
will write the report on the general
improvement, Butterworth, Holman and
Hazeltine reserving the right to make
minority report. Nothing was said at the
| meeting this forenoon about the amount
of money to be expended, but it is under
stood the committee will favor and appro-
| priation for work below Cairo of $2,500,000.
STARVING PIUTEs.
The Piutes Indian of Nevada who refus-
ed to GO on a reservation, are starving and
| have appealed to the government for aid.
THE STAR ROUTE TRIALS.
In the star route trial the route from
Vermilion to Sioux Falls being under con-
sideration, Alex Miller, sub-contractor, tes-
| titled that the mail sometimes consisted of
postal card and sometimes two or three
letters. It might have averaged three let
| tiers daily. 1t was not the labor of hauling
that postal card but the time he had to
make had run his horses down.
Wilson-They were little bit thin, you
bet. Laughter.
Bliss-Did you get thin?
Witness sir, but 1 never had bet
ter appetite in my life. Laughter.
NOTES AND NEWS.
Friends of Col. CorkhiH say there is
truth of a revival of the rumors of a
| change in the Office of the district attorney.