The Portland daily press., 1883-08-13
WASHINGTON.
Dentll of q Naval Omcer.

Death OF Naval ORcer.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 11.--The Navy Depart
ment has been informed of the death of As
sistant Engineer Nelson Ross, U. S. N, re-
tired at Fort Covington, Franklin county,
N Y.
Clerks Furioughed by Lot-rhe Force i'm
she Census bureau Diminished.
| Owing to want of funds, it is has been
found necessary TO fulough large number of
the force employed in the census bureau. Col.
Sexton, superintendent, decided that the fur
loughs should be made by lot. This was done
IN the interests of fair play, so that all clerks
shonld stand on exactly the same footing.
The plan agreed upon met with the approval
of the persons interested. The clerks were all
considered equally competent and deserving,
and this plan was determined upon as being
the fairest way of deciding which should 90
first Accordingly the names of all the en-
ployeS were written on slips OF paper, which
slips were placed in a small box and shaken
up. to be drawn as occasion required. These
first drawn are to be furloughed for two
months, at the expiration of which time they
will return to their duties, and an equal mum
Der of others will be furloughed for like pc
riod and with the same prospect of return.
So far about 40 clerks have been furloughed in
this way, and more viii be furloughed from
time to time. The number of employees now
on the roll is ITO. Il s proposed to reduce the
number about one-half, which it is thought
will be sufficient to keep up the bureau, now
QIaWluR 10 Il CtOo6. II uN6 also D66u OHclU6Q
that these furloughed clerks can be trans
ferred to any other bureau of the Interior De-
partment Where an additional force may be
required. sThis decision was the result OF con-
ferences between Secretary Teller and other
members Of theACabinet who conceuded that
there was nothing in the spirit or letter of the
civil service law to prevent the transfer from
one bureau to another whenever it might be
deemed necessary. MessrS. Gregory and
Sherman of the Civil Service Commission CO.
Ind Mil fnfa ofaSir Of 4ta law
Mr.. Eaton was not in the City at the time the
question was under consideration.
Epidemic Diseases
Surgeon Main of the United States Marine
Hospital Service, states that tetanus is
common at Brownsville, Tex, but there is no
demic at Tolucca and Topic. Mex. Measles
are epidemic at Hermosiilo and throughout
the states OF Sonora and Sinaloa. Yellow fe-
yer prevails at Huatulc0 and OriZaba; also at
Progresso and Yucatan, where it has existed
Tor some weeks. The ffever is travelling west
and south and not north, The typhus epiden-
ic prevails in mountain and valley over Duran
go, La Cateoas and Aqua Calientes and prom
ises to be great scourges to Mexico.
Life Saving Station az EEunneweIl Beach.
Commissioner Price telegraphs that the
Creek difficulties have bean adjusted to the
entire satisfaction of all the partieg-peace
hencefoEth.
Bids were opened at the Treasury Depart
ment today for building the life saving station
at Hunnewell Beach, Maine. Jordan 81
Bond of Augusta, Me-, were the lowest bid
ders at S3240.
Bitfers or whisIKey.
Commissioner Evans, who in his off-h md
waytdecided that several patent medicines cali
ed "bltters' we're really whiskey, and as such
subject to special tax, stated this morning that
he had just begun to consider the matter, and
that he finds there is a great deal more invOlV-
than first eupnOS6n Ia
that this reopening of the matter was brought
about by Repre3en tatiYe Tom BaYne, who has
been here some days in the interest OF the con-
cern in Plttsburg, which is the test case.
An Unsettled Question of Duties and
Charges.
The question of duties and charges upon
packages not having been satisfactorily decd-
ed by the Commission appointed for tho pur-
pose, the whole matter will De referred to the
Attorney General for opinion.
No New Telegraph Poles in Washington.
The District Commissioners have refused to
ALLOW new telegraph poles to be erected. They
state that plan for the removal OF all poles is
under consideration.
Percentage Demanded.
Mr.. Lottimer Darlington, formerly vice CON
. sui at Bradford, England, complains to the
State Department that w. +. Grinnell exact
ed from him percentage Of all fees collected,
which he has since discovered was Illegal. He
complained to Consul General Merritt, who
referred the matter to Grinneli and refused to
forward the papers to Washington. State De-
partment officials say that an inquiry will be
made, but that the case is worthy Of little at
tention as a consul may make any any arrange
meDts with his deputies that he chooses, and
may appoint asvice consulate any one that suits
him. Darlington's complaint is looked upon
as the outcome Of feeling Of disappointment
caused by his dismissal.
Weekly Bank Statement
The United States Treasurer now holds in
United States bonds to secure national bank
circulation 1857 ,578,6C0, as follows:
Currency ......,.,...........,. $3,452 900
per cents. ........ $4,000
Az per cents. ......,........ 4oooo,ooo
4 per cents .-.'....'''' ........ ..lO4, ,820,259
312 per cents ........,., -, 6,913500
per cents ---,t'.......-.. ....ts. zOZ,oo7, 300
United States bonds held by the Treasurer 10
secare public moneys in national bank deposj-
toriessAug. 11th, S17 10000, as follows:
Currency 6s 6s....................... ..... 100000
s neI per es1ts cents IA ,a5sS9oo 5sS 9o9
BIZ per cents. 401 300
per eents''' .......... ..,...8,656,O0
United States bonds deposited to secure cir
culation during the week ended Aug. 11th,
$467, 100.
United States bonds to secure circulation
Withdrawn during the week ended Aug. 11th,
S239, 500.
National bank circulation outstanding-Cu
rency notes, 1854 ,517, ,727; gold notes, S747,-
464.
The internal revenue receipts today were
$479,64S; and the customs receipts, $7O6, ,319.
The receipts of national bank notes fo- re-
demption Tor the week ending today, az conf
pared with the corresponding period OF last
last years, were as follows:
New York ....... ....S467 900 1851 ,0oO
Boston. n.................. $4,000 2lS,OoO
MISCELLANEOUS. ....... ...... 654,ooo 72S,ooo
Total. ............. Isl 100000 s1,965,ooo
Receipts today. .1..s,.'......'.'' olo,Vto
Gold, Silver aud Notes i'm the Tseasury.
The statement of the United States
Treasurer shows gold, silver and United States
notes in the Treasury as follows: Gold coin
ard bullion, $202,644, ,999; silver dollars and
bullion, $117 .927 ,698; fractional silver coin,
$27, ,997 ,146; United States notes, $53 529, 1888;
total, $402 .090781. Certificates outstanding
Gold, $50, ,210; silver, $73,700,47l; currency,
$12,575, 900.
Death of an Army Omcer.
Adiutant General Drum received telegram
this morning announcing the death from heart
disease of First Lieutenant /. o. Shelby.
Sixteenth Infantry, at Fort CoDcho, on the
9th inst.
The Nipsic at Rio JaneiFo.
The Navy Department is informed that the
Nipsic arrived at Rio Janero yesterday from
New York with all we'll on board
Cleveland Custom House.
The contract for completing the work on the
heating apparatus in the Cleveland custom
house has been awarded to.Bartlett, Heyw ard
g. Co. of Baltimore at $18, 100.