The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1883-12-14
WASHINGTON.


ut Detroit.
Representative Robinson, of New York,
proposes 10 learn by what authority Rear
Admiral Baldwin accepted gold snuff
box from the car at Russia.
The United States supreme court In the
matter OF the contested will OF Mrs. Dor
sey, OF Mississippi. affirmed the judgment
OF the court below in favor OF Jefferson
Davis, 10 whom her estate was bequeathed.
The case of O'Donnell was considered
at the cabinet meeting Tuesday. 1t Is
learned that Secretary Frelinghuysen some
days ago instructed Minister Lowell to rec
Ognize O'Donnel's citizenship, and fur
Their instructions We're teegraphed him.
A lad Of 10 years, who had been APP
pointed page in the house Of representa-
tives, stood up Monday Ia be sworn In. AS
the officer read the iron-clad oath the little
fellow expressed his preference for the
modified oath, which was solemnly adj
ministered.
About n dozen members of congress call =
ed at the white house Saturday, where 5.
>. Cox appealed to the president to re-
quest q postponement of the execution OF
Patrick O'DO nell. President Arthur re-
piled that cablegranl would at once be
sent to Minister Lowell to make al inquiry
into O'Donnell's citizenship.
A committee of Mexican veterans submit
to Speaker Carlisle the names of Towns
bend OF Illinois, Le Fe,re of Ohio, Hol-
man OF Indiana, and Broadhead of Mis-
! souri,, with the statement that should any
OF them be appointed chairman of the COM
mittee on pensions he would in their opln-
ion, fully advance the interest of the vet
Grams in the matter of pensions.
The most interesting question just now
In washington Is as to the location OF the
republican natl NAL convention. Delega-
| EhiOoUO Cinnin-
natl, and indianapolis. While Baltimore,
Boston. Philadelphia and Saratoga are
anxious to secure the prize, they have
| made no direct eff 'rt for that purpose. 1t
is generally conceded that the gathering
will take place In the west.
The annual report of the commissioner
or agrlcu ture Is In print. In urging the
| Importance of forest culture the commits
sioner says: ''The total value of the for
est products of the United States for the
| census year was estimated at 500, 90 900.
In other words, our forest products exceed
the value OF our crops of hay, rye, oats,
barley buckwheat, potatoes, and tobacco
| taken together. They amount to ten times
the value of tie gold and silver Of which
we make so much account, and to more
than three times the value of the precious
minerals, coal, and other minerals COM
bined."
Commissioner Loring has completed his
report of the proceedings Of the national
cattle convention, held in Chicago on the
18th and 10th of November. The suppress
sion OF cattle diseases Is regarded as mat
ter of national Importance, and the general
| government, as well as the state govern
ments are asked to take proper action In
the matter But few ifany OF the diseases
now found among cattle are said to be in
dlgenOus to this country. but can easily be
| traced to infected animals that have been
imported. The report also refers to the
| prejudice In foreign markets to American
cattle, and recommends that congress de-
| wise some means to overcome this preju.
dice.
RELICS OF THE PAST.
| A large part of the s13 bills and resolu-
ti0ns offered in the house Monday were
relics of the last or of former congresses.
Many OF them were in print, and Others
| were revamped to suit the view Of their
latest patrons. Gen. Rosecra.s, who heads
the list for the number of bills introduced,
proposed his grist chiefly by the simple
process of cutting the heads of Of old bills
and paSting the bodies OH writing paper.
| The general prides himself upon the work.
YES, sir" said he, II put in tfty-three-
just a full deck and the little joker"
| RAILWAY REGULATION.
The bill introduced by Mr.. Bedford, to
regulate railway traffic between the states
and territories, provides for the establish
bureau to consist OF three commissioners,
| appointed by the president, TO receive n
| salary OF of $4,000 each with necessary
and proper expenses. Within ninety days
after the appointment of the board, the
| railway companies are required to forward
q statement of the franchises and present
condition OF the roads. Power Is conferred
upon the commissioners to examine the
books and records OF any person or COM
pany operating any railroad. They are
| also empowered to prescribe the maximum
| rates 10 he exacted, and make regulations
touching the manner of packing and trans
| port ny freight and the accommodation OF
| passengers.
YIELD OF THE YEAR.
/ The returns Of corn production are more
| conservative than in October and NOyem-
Der, from injury to soft corn by the warm,
moist weather north of the 4Jth parallel
Corn that has been cribbed is in worse
condition than for many years. The pro-
portion of understandable corn Is there
| fore large. The final estimate of the guam
tity produced will fall q few millions short
oil the indications of previous returns, or
twenty-three bushels per acre. This esti-
mate relates only to quantity, and makes
no discount for inferior quality, which Sc
riously increases the practical shortage.
Losses from packing in masses or injury to
soft corn from mild and wet weather are
treated as after-harvest considerations. An
investigation will be made as to the extent
of such injury. Wheat--the aggregate
slightly exceeds 400, 600, 0oO bushels. Oats
The crop Is about 4 per cent. larger than
last year, and exceeds 500, 000, 900 bushels.
The yield of rye and barley Is little less
than In 1882. Buckwheat Is reduced more
than one-third.
THE HOUSE COMMITTEES.
The speaker Is busy framing his commit
tees, and Is giving the matter careful con-
slderation, appreciating the difficulties of
the task. It's not only the speaker that
Is busy, but everybody else is engaged in
the same work, and there is not q politi-
clan In Washington who Is not able TO tell
exactly how the committees should be
framed. How they will be Is quite anoth-
er matter, as Mr.. Carlisle wisely keeps his
own counsel The indications are now
that, of the more important chairmanships,
Mr.. Morrison will ba placed at the head
of the ways and means committee, Mr.. Ran
dali will have appropriations, Mr.. Regain,
commerce; Mr.. Belmont, foreign affairs;
Mr.. Buckner, banking and currency; Gem
eral Rosecrans, military affairs; Mr.. Money,
postofiice; Mr.. Tucker, Judiciary; Mr.. Con-
oil