The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1883-01-12

ana VIII now Do unable 10 make purchases
at less than SIS.
The public will be surprised to learn that
General Grant and Minister Romero have
a reciprocity treaty ready for the sigma
lures OF their associates on the internation-
al commission, which will probably be pre-
sented to congress next week for ratitica-
ton. The hostility of Mexican manufac-
tnrers to the scheme prompted the prepare
tion OF treaty last summer In the quietest
possible manner and Minister Romero took
1t TO Mexico and silenced the opposition
which threatened to be so powerful. Pres
ident Gonzales then appointed Gen. Canedo
on the commission, who will be In Wash
ingtOn this week.
rHE EYE OF THE SPEAKER.
Rich men in congress fare no better than
the poor. The speakers eye Is controlled
by members political influence and not
by cash. For nearly two hours the other
day millionaire Flowers, of New York,
h0wled himself hoarse In trying to catch the
attention of tho speaker. Keller could not
see him until he had seen all the big guns of
his party r Hnst before pre-
Flowers, and the man Of millions was hap
py. He got his little bill through.
OPPOSITE OPINIONS.
Under date July L. 1882, the attorney gen.
eral rendered an opinion to the secretary of
the treasury that Chinese labOrers returning
to Informative land from other foreign lands
c0uldn not be transported across the territory
OF the United States without violation of
the act OF congress Of the 9th of May, 1882,
unless they were in the United States OH
the 18th of November, 1880, or came within
ninety days next after the passage of the
act. The treasury department Is guided by
this ruling, and that department has receiv-
ed no official information of the attorney
generals recent opinion to the secretary of
state on the Chinese question, which Is ex-
actly the reverse of his opinion to the sec
rotary OF the treasury.
POSTAL TELEGRAPHY.
The bill introduced in the house by Mr..
Anderson, OF Kansas, to create the postal
telegraph of the United States, provides
that the government may Issue bonds to the
amount of $300O, 900, redeemable In twenty
years and payable In thirty years, and that
at the expiration of ten years there shall be
set aside from the earnings of the telegraph
$500, 900 per year to form sinking fund for
the payment of the bonds. The bill pro-
vides that there shall be uniform rates of
So cents per message of ten words or less,
1t cOntemplates a telegraph postal Office at
every pOstoffice where there Is the carrier
system.
EXECUTIVE CLEMENCY REFUSED.
The president has decided not to inter-
fere in the case of Dick Liddle, now In Jail
Mt Huntsville, Ala, charged with rObbing
United States paymaster at Muscle Shoals,
Ala, In the spring of 1881. Application for
tenden, of Missouri, and other higher of
fcials In that state, including the United
States attorney and chief Of police In Kan
sas City, on the ground that the pardon
would aid materially in the conviction of
Frank James, now awaiting trial at INDIE
based ON the report from the attorney gem
eral, who made adverse report on the petit
ton for pardon on the ground that nothing
would be gained by such action, rs Liddel
was rs much deserving of punishment as
James.
THE PRESIDENT TIRED OF OFFICE.
President Arthur is not looking as we'll as
he did a year ago. During the reception at
the white house New Years day ho was
cordial and polite as usual, but his manner
seemed forced. 1t is said he Is already tired
of his presidential responsibilities, and
would not accept the denomination IL 1t
were offered him. Color is given to this
report by the following incident: When the
e.retary of the senate presented his COM
pliments to the president Friday, the latter
exclaimed: How are you, ShOber! I'm re-
ally glad to see yOn," and then, leaning
over, he almost viii pered in Sht ber's
ear: II wish were back with you all
again. TWAS good deal happier there
than here"
DOING GOOD WORK.
Congress is more advanced in its business
by nearly a month than it ever was before
at this date wit hin the memory of the oldest
member. The house has passed nearly all
the appropriation bills, and the senate has
passed the agricultural, Indian, consular
and diplomatic and military academy APP
preparation bills. The postofiice bill is in
the hands of the committee, and the army
bill has just reached the committee. AS
for general legislation both houses have
passed the civil-service reform bill and the
senate has passed the bill extending the
bonded period for whisky, and has spent
some time In debating two measures Of
first-class Importance, the presidential sue
cesson bill and the bill referring all claims
before congress and the departments to the
court of claims fol investigation.
REFUNDINa TAXES.
A communication from the secretary Of
the treasury transmitting to the senate the
estimate of the commissioner of Internal
revenue of the amount of money required to
refund taxes on cigars, cigarettes, tobacco,
distilled spirits, and matches, notes the diff
ficulty of arriving ut any accurate estimate,
saying there are So, 695 dealers In manu-
featured tobacco, ,S;!S rectiliers of distilled
spirits 4,o4l wholesale dealers In distilled
spirits, and 16s,770 retail liquor-dealers in
the United States. He Is of the opinion,
however, that there are 5000, 900 gallons of
tax-paid distilled spirits in the hands of the
trade, the tax. upon which Is So, 800, 900;
tax-paid manufactured tobacco in the hands
Of dealers, ISL ,223 pounds, the tax on
which Is SS,2S5, 72l; number Of cigars and
cigarettes, S2,24, lU7, the tax on which Is
81, pa, 2I2; tax on matches In the hands of
dealers, 81 900, 7f3; total amount of taxes to
be refunded, S36,, 3 ZIG. A considerable |
of the articles above mentioned |
are now in broken packages.
THE CIVIL SERVICE.
The president has not yet made up his |
mind who he will appoint commissioners of
the civil service. Mr.. Pendleton says he
has no candidate and that he should not |
urge anyone for appointment. Inquiry |
among democratic senators fails to discover |
that they have any candidate for the one |
place to which the democrats are entitled |
under the bill. This Is rather remarkable, |
since it Is seldom that an Office with salary |
attached TO 1t goes begging. A prominent |
AZ