The Portland daily press., 1883-12-21
WASHINGTON.
OF 1usercst to Ia,por,er.


WASHINGTON, Dee. 20.--A case Of interest to i'm
porters and Others having judgments against the
government IS about to be passed upon by First
Comptroller Lawrence, of the Treasury Depart
meut The question is in regard to the liability of
tue government for interest when the payment OF
these claims have been DELAYED. A firm in New
York obtained Judgment against the Collector of
Gu toms Il that city for The return of So 600
ged, in excess, upon entities For some reason
there WAS delay of seven months in the presen a.
lion Of the account, for which detent the firm in
question g. ked per cent interest. The Comptrol-
Ter has number Of sim lar accounts to settle, and
will decide them all in the opinion he is preparing
on the New York case He will not allow claims
for interest. He viii hold that. if such rule were
adopted it would be to the profit of claimants to
delay th presentation of their accounts indefinite
ly, and the government would be compelled TO pay
in proportion to their ability to evade settlement.
Projection of Fisheries.
The subcommittee of the Senate committee on
foreign relations, which for some time has been
taking testimony relating to the protection of the
fisheries along the Atlantic coast will make re-
port shortly after the holiday recess. But per
son, Col. Mcdonald, of the United states Fish
Commission, remains to be examined.
During the past summer testimony has been taken
along the coast rom New Jersey to Portland, Me.
Since the beginning of the present session of Con-
gress, Seth Green, of Rochester, N, Y, has been
examined. He said the fish along the coast would
be entirely destroyed by allowing them be caught
at all seasons Of the year.
In its report the subcommittee will recommend
legislation prohibiting tn catching of fish along
the Atlantic coast during the spawning season.
Relating TO shipping.
The bill introduced by Mr.. Dolph in the Senate,
today. provides that vessels arriving at port of
entry in United ates laden wi coal salt raj road
iron and other ike articles in bulk may proceed TO
to such places Within that collection district may
be S ecially designated BY the Secretary IF the
treasury for the purpose under superintendanee of
customs officers at the expense of Parties lnteres-
ted.
The Freedman's Bank.
At to-dsys session of the executive committee ap-
pointed at the Louisville colored convention, the
committee SpDOiQteQ to draw ID a memorial IA
Congress in regard 10 the FIeednan's Bank, re-
ported they bel eve the law of insolvency was viola
priation be made fully indemnify the creditors of
all losses sustained by depositors.
The senior Postmaster.
The Star says: "The records Of the Post Offiee
Department show that Henry Beardsley. of North
Lansing n y, is he senior postmaster in the
vice He has held his Office since June, 1928, hav-
ing served ell Of the time under his original COM
mission. The boudsmen that he gave then have
been dead for nearly forty years.
Greeley Relief Expedition.
The board appointed by the President to prepare
plan for the relief of Lieut.. Greeley and party,
organized tn afternoon, with Gen. Hazen as presi-
dent. 1t will meet at the Navy Department on sat
urday, when a general plan of procedure will bs
agreed upo,.
Pension swindIers Indicted.
The grand jury handed District Attorney Cork
hill io-tiay pre- sentments against N. W. Fitzgerald
S. G. Fitzgerald AMI A. d. weob, for fraudulent
use of the mails and for defrauding pensioners.
AA0 lu"lSeHeuts WI DO PiceohtSu tO-luoiIONs
COufesiiBg Skinner's Seat in the III ouse.
A formal notice of contest for the seat in the
House as Representative from the first North Caro-
lima dis rct, to-day served by Charles G. Pool
against Thomas G. Skinner, the sitting member.
Confirmed by the Senate.
In executive session to-day the Senate confirmed
the nominations OF Benz. Butteruorth of Ohio
Commissioner of Patents, and Frank B. CoDger of
Michigan as Postmaster al ashington, y. Q.
The Senate to-day confirmed the following nomi-
natl ms:
Oliver H. Ingalls,, Franklin, Mass. Sylvanus w.
Hartshorn, Waipole, Mass; Joseph M. Hollywood,
Ezreff a Banks. Biddeford, Me; Jacob B. Thomas
Hallowel. Me-; Elliott Wood, Winthrop, Me.
Consuls- George Clifford of Maine, at Cognac.
Peter Strickland of Massachusetts, at Cove Dakar
Senegal; Frederick NJ. Cheney of Massachusetts at
Zanzibar.
Collectors of Customs-Noel b. Mutt, at Passama-
quoddy, Me-; Albert A. Gardiner, Nantucket, Ms.