The Portland daily press., 1883-03-30
WASHINGTON .
The Leannatta inquiry.


WASHINGTON, March 29.-The Jeannetts
court OF enquiry win be reconvened at the
Navy Department at 1890 a. m. tomorrow fo
examination of the four members of the Jean
nette's crew recently returned from Siberia.
Madagascar Included.
The cruising limits of the South Atlantic
station have been extended to include the ISL
and OF Madagascar.
Whiskey in Bond.
A great deal of interest is shown by Treas
nry officials In the result of the efforts made
by the whiskey interest to induce the Cana
dian government to modify its regulations re-
garding the importation of whiskey in bond
lnasmuoh as II will gain nothing by having
43,000,O 600 gallons OF whiskey taken there tc
avoid paying taxes in this country, the con-
sent OF Parliament is considered doubtful
but the whiskey people, with so many mil
lions of dollars at stake, expect to succeed
better with the Canadian officials than with
our own Congress. There Is no lack OF money
to secure this modification, and the whiakey
men rely largely upon the letter of Acting Sec
retary French TO Secretary Frelinghuysen, In
which he not only consents, but urges that
"prompt action Is desirable This nuts our
Treasury Department in the aspect OF asking
the Canadian government to help our whiskey
people eyade their taxes, and furnishes the
only excuse upon which the Dominion author
tiles could in any way become party TO this
strange proceeding, Should the Canadian OF.
iicials prove less accommodating than our
Treasury Department, tho whiskey interest
persist IN saying that they will take their
goods TO Bermuda or Honduras.
Proportion of Appointments from States.
The civil service commission Is about 10 set
tie some interesting questions that arise out al
provision in the act creating the commission,
70 the effect that the number of appointments
from each State in the executive departments
shall be IN proportion TO the States popula-
tion. The commission will have TO decide
whether this applies TO past or future appoint
ments. II u Is construed so as to apply TO past
as woll as future appointments, sumo States
and Territories. notably the District OF Co
iumbia, VIII have to walt century before
their contingents in the departments come
within the quota allowed them by Law. The
probability seems to be that the commission
will decide that the law applies to future APP
pontments.
Secretary Folger Disappoints Don Cam
eron.
Secretary Folger is so much improved in
health that his friends think that he will be
able to start on a sea voyage early next week
He will probably 90 by regular steamer from
New York, He has not followed the advice
OF his physicians in diminishing all Treasury
business from bis mind. Yesterday he wrote q
letter TO Don Cameron, for instance, stating
that he could not appoint the person TO be
superintendent OF the bureau Of engraving and
printing whom Don Cameron had supposed
that Folger had promised him that he would
appoint. Judge iFolger stated that ii never
had been in his mind to appoint anybody to
the place outside OF the bureau. This seems
to dispose OF the report that the position was
offered to Corning Of New York.
The Postoffice Department.
A Cabinet officer expresses sthe opinion that
IL would be necessary for the President to ap-
Point successor to Postmaster General
T0xga atuifb IN, a al
that Il would not be in compliance with the
statute to make temporary appointment Of
ten days as has been suggested.
Effects of the Tariff on Imports.
There are no indications at tho Treasury
Department that the tariff agitation of the past
three months has had any effect on imports
The custom receipts average nearly 81, 000, 900
day. The internal revenue receipts are
nearly S2000,0 eco in excess Of those Of this date
last year, and we're 1t not for the reduction by
the recent bill, they would be larger than ever
before. The estimated income Of the govern
meat will reach S105. .O09, 600 for the entire
fiscal year, or $4,000 900 more than last year.
Judgment OF the Circuit Court for Maine
Affirmed.
In tho United States Supreme Court today
in the case OF A. X Buffum ct. al, appellants
VS.. the Oakland Manufacturing Company, an
appeal from the Circuit Court OF the United
States for the district Of Maine, Judgment was
affirmed with costs per stipulation.
The Vacant Postmaster Generalship.
The President has not yet taken any action
with regard 10 the vacancy in his cabinet
caused by the death Of Postmaster General
Howe and i may be stated by authority that
such action will not be taken before next
week. A delegation from Ohio called upon
the President this afternoon and urged the
importance OF having in the cabinet q repre-
sentative from Ohio.
Alabama Claims.
Several claims against the Geneva award
have recently been filed in the Court Of
Claims, the parties choosing TO ignore the
regular Alabama Claims Court. There is some
question as to the Jurisdiction of the Court OF
Claims over such cases which can only be set
tied by decision of the court ITSELF