The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-08-22
WASHINGTON.


LunR FhaEMe among Cattle.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 21.-The acting Secre-
tary Of the Treasury today received letter
from e. f, Thayer, OF the Treasury cattle COM
mission, dated West Newton, Mass, Aug. 18th,
reporting the outbreak of lung plague among
the cattle of Salem, Conn. DIR. Thayer states
that the affected herds are in quarantine by or
der Of the State commissioners, who appreci-
ate the importance of preventing the suread OF
the disease, and, having full authority, will
doubtless prevent its further extension. The
disease appeared early in July and has been
fatal in several cases.
North Atlantic Squadron.
Rear Admiral Cooper, commanding the
North Atlantic squadron, reports to the Navy
Department under date of Portland Me-, Aug.
7th, that in compliance with instructions of the
department he will proceed with all available
vessels of the squadron to Newburg, N. T., by
the 18th OF Octor to participate in the centen-
nial celebrations which occur at that date
All Quiet in Alaska.
Commander Merrimar, commanding United
States steamship Adams at Alaska, reports to
the Navy Department that he has visited the
different Indian tribes in Alaska and that
everything is quiet and in good order In that
territory.
Failing Off i'm Postal Receipts.
1t appears that the postal revenues derived
from the sale of postage stamps have fallen of
as the time for the reduction of letter postage
rates approaches. This indicates that the pub
lie are making preparations for the change and
are not adding to outstanding stocks OF stamps,
and that when the first Of October comes
very largely increased demand for the new
stamps will be the result. 1t is assumed that
the sales of postal cards next year will be less
than those of the fiscal year just ended, but
the decrease will be made mp in the number of
stamps sold. No provision has yet been made
for the redemption of three cent stamps and
envelopes in the hands of postmasters. This
redemption can only take place by an act of
Congress. II is suggested that these three cent
stamps and envelops can be used for double
postage by adding a one cent stamp, and there
will be no necessity for their redemption, which
would entail a great amount of labor and ex-
pense upon the department
The Name of Every Pensioner.
The public printer has the immense job of
printing the pension list which is well under
way, and it will be completed in thirty-five
days This list embraces the name, post office
address and county Of every pensioner in the
country, with the amount allowed monthly to
each. There will be several large -olemes of
from 600 to 800 pages each, or an aggregate of
about 5000 pages. The first volume, compris-
ing New England, New Jersey, Maryland and
theNDistrict OF Columbia, is already finished.
New York and Pennsylvania will form the
second volume. They are about up now. Ohio
is printing and Illinois is begun and these will
go into the third volume. There is a feverish
anxiety in some quarters to get hold of these
lists OF names, several prominent newspapers
Offering latge sums of; money for advance
sheets of the pensioners Of their respective
States as news.
1t is believed that the publication of the PEN
sion list will do more to detect fraud and weed
out undeserving pensioners and dead beats than
any step which has been taken since the war
in pension legislation. The determination to
publish was only reached after good deal of
pressure, a formidable opposition being raised
by the controlling class of claim agents. Now,
that it is to be done in the form of report to
Congress, much good is anticipated. A promi-
nent official of the Interior Department thinks
It will have the effect to save the Government
Sl,000,000 the first year. This is true if but
one out OF every fifty is dropped, and the pro-
portion OF frauds is conceded to be much great
er.
Telegraph Line to Yellowstone Park.
A Western Union line has just been COM
pleted to Cinnabar, Montana, fifty miles south
of Livingstone, Montana, on the Northern Pa
clfic Railway, from which point messages to
the Hot Springs Hotel, Yellowstone Park, are
delivered free by pony express. The President
and party will be the first to use the line.
The Cattle Commission.
Mr.. Saunders, of the Treasury cattle COM
mission, has just returned to Washington from
visit to Great Britain, where he has been in
communication with the authorities in regard
to the importation of American cattle into that
country. He left the city to-day for visit 70
Baltimore, New York and Chicago, and will
inspect the cattle quarantine stations at the
two former Cities
Commander Reed commanding the United
States steamer Alliance, reports to the Navy
Department., under Date OF Charfottetown, r.
e. l., Aug. 10Th, that since July Both that yes
sci had visited Arichat, Port Hawkesbury,
Port Hood, Pjctoa and Cape Canso. He saws
Pictou, in common with other places around
these provinces, has suffered much on account
of the doing away with reciprocity with the
United States. There were no American ves-
sells in Pictou and only one at Charlottetown
No American fishermen were met except at
Cape Canso Commander Reed has informa-
ton that there are a great many of them on
the north side of Prince Edwards Island,
where the Alliance will go before visiting
Georgetown and the Magdalen Islands.