The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-04-26
WASHINGTON.
Exclusion OF Improper Articles from the
Mails.

&AASA6C11A VI AAlRiORtE aEklJltS lIOLu tUc
Mails.
WASHINGTON, April 25.-Superintendent
Thompson Of the mail service is determined to
break mp as much as possible the practice OF
sending dangerous and unavailable articles
through the mails. With this object ia view
be has issued the following circular to division
railway mali snperintendents:
Complaint has been mare TO this office that
samples OF fertilizers, INK powders and other
unavailable articles are being sen. through the
ma,ls from many OF the larger post Offices ia
violations OF the regulations. In
the hurry Of making up and
distributing The mails, It may not always be
possible 10 scrutinize every package so as to
exclude everything unmailable, but il is be-
lieged thai no business man would knowingly
cifer anything Tor mailing forbidden by the
regulations. Supeftutendents are therefore
requested TO confer with the postmasters in
their respective divisions as ~ the best msthod
OF exercising more rigid scrutiny OF all third
class matter. AZ would be well for the post
M aster 10 call ths attention of the public
through the press and otherwise 10 the class OF
matter excluded from tue mail under the re-
guiations so that oil may understand that II is
IN their own interest that the department. is
trying by every means to exclude from the
mail all matter that might under any cFcum-
stances damage other articles IN the mail, or
the person OF those handling them.
The Union Pacific and the Government.
The government officials say that they are
IN earDest In the present movement 10 compel
the Union Pacific Railway company 70 come
70 a settlement with the government. Solic-
tor General Phillips has been studying the
case all winter, and probably bill Ia equity
asking for an Injunction restraining the paging
OF dividends would bave been prepared before
this II the whole amount Of the company's in-
fast44e@ss ltai heaft aseasfssrFd f'if 50 sss.oi
led by the company. Ia the opinion .I tns
s-rsrfyiz fcrsT aud q M. McCamman,
tha Law adviser Of the interior department. the
company owes the government, 10 December
], 1882, l,I2I ,752 "a. From this. under the
advice, Il Is said, OF Mr.. Sidney Bartlett the
the road proposes 70 deduct 25 per cent. GU the
amount expended for construction. This
leaves an Indebtedness 10 The government Of
81 .036, ,S25. The interior department officials
say thar the comp plny admits it's indebtedness
ia this saIo, aud that Sir. Dillon will not re-
fuse 10 pay II at once into the United States
treasury unless II Is bis Intention not 70 comply
at all IA the Thurman law.
MIR Iriier's letter was framed with the pur-
pose OF developing Mr.. Dillon's intentions. II,
IN Mr.. Dillon's answer, the company declines
10 pay the uncoutssted balance into the treas
ury, all further negotiations will be at once
dropped, and the company Will be sued. The
suit will be to restrain the payment OF any
dividends to the stockholders 50 loug the
company is IN default to the government for
the sum demanded by Mr.. Teller. II the gov
erument secures an Injunction no dividends
can be paid until the elOse Of the litigation, in
which will be settled the difference between
the interior department and the road as 10 the
latser's right TO deduct expenses tos consIruc-
tion from gross earnings
This will 90 through all the courts, probably,
until a decision of the Supreme cour, shall be
obtained. A refusal. therefore, BY the compa-
ny 70 pay the 81 036, ,S25 which it admits owing
will puE an eud 10 Union Pacific dividends for
a long time, provided Judge Lowell, 10 whom
thu application will be made, shall grant the
injunction. Ii, on the other hand the undis-
puted debt shall be paid by the company, the
government will not ask that the payment OF
dividends be restrained because of its condi-
tionai claim Of $3.50 9ls which is the indebted
ness denied by the road. There is no dispos-
tion to be harsh with the company
Court of Claims.
In tho court OF claims to-day the case Of J
NJ. Doherty against the United States was ar
gued and submitted.
The case OF Solomon T. Corsar against the
United States which involves she distribution
of the Abernare prize money was continued
till the next term OF court.
The Hin Investigation.
Owing TO the vacancy created by the resigna-
ton OF Assistant Solicitor Robinson from the
Hill investigating committee, nothing was
done at tho adjourned meeting to-day.
The Coronation of the Gear.
Secretary Chandler issued instructions TO
Rear Admiral Baldwin, commanding United
States naval forces on the Enroyean station. TO
proceed with his personal stall TO MOSCOW
to attend the forth coming coronation of
tue Czar.
Chief Examiner OF the Civil Service Com
mission.
Upon recommendation OF the civil service
commission the President to-day appointed ID.
~ X 4Aioa nf pannsvlxania 10 be chief
Of Atlanta, Ga, has been appointed clerk OF
the commission.
Pluro-Pneumonia.
Reports received at the Department OF Agrl
| culture show there Is less pluero-pneumonia IN
| the country than there has been for several
| years
A Claim Compromised,
| The acting commissioner Of internal revenue
to-day informed Messrs Bayard and Perre-
| maud OF New York OF the acceptance OF their
offer to pay $4,000 as compromise OF their
| liabilities 10 the government on account OF in-
! ternal revenue taxes IL is understood the re
maiping cases against Bush the Boston dis.
tiller, arising out Of the same transactions will
be pushed TO trial.