The Dickinson press., 1883-07-07
PITH OF THE NEWS.
EVENTS IN

EVENTS IN WASHINGTON.
An important inference case has been
before the United States patent Of
ice for some years involving the right to
The telephone receiver now in general use.
The parties in the case are James W. Nc
Donough of Chicago, Messrs. Bell, Edison,
Grey, Noelker and several others. 1t is I'M
that the decision has been rem
dered, but that it is veing surreptitiously
TO avoid publication before it is
ever, upon pretty high authority that Mr..
McDonough will be awarded the patent for
the telephone receiver. The other invent
ors will each be awarded a proper share for
their respective Improvements. The decis-
ION is based on the fact that McDonOugh is
the first one in the country who made a tele.
phone receiver having a magnet coil and
diaphragm, which was constructed in 1869.
He is also the first n who made the tele-
phone transmitter, which he constructed in
1874.
The following are the latest posta
changes: Postottices Discontinued-Bel-
cher's Ford, Sphinx county, OAK; Terre
Haute, Decatur county, Iowa. Special ser
vice NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS., OAK, Riley,
OAK, from July IS; Osvata, Polk county,
Mimi, from June 30. Postmasters, new
bonds aecepted-William H. Humphrey,
Iroquois, OAK, 81, 900; E. f. Clarke, Ban.
croft, Iowa, $4,000. Mail messenger ser
vice established-Iowa, Britt, Hancock
county, from Minneapolis & st. Louis rail
way, June %. Star services changes-Da-
- ,O,,ko OK 1pE u,,r0,, To plonHioutrn
from July 16, embrace Riley next after HUI
ron; route 80, pa, Mitchell to Elmer, from
July 16, embrace Belford next after Leet.
The president has appointed the following
postm asters: F. ID. Conger, Washington, ID:
c. (Conger is a son of Senator Conger of
Michigan); Charles w. Dicks, Detr it City,
MINI, and Duke Whall, L~anasborough,
MINI.
A point of Importance to pensioners has
just been decided by the acting secretary OF
the interior in the case OF the application
of John R. Collet for an increase Of pension.
The decision CONSTITUTES the law Of June Is,
1874, defining total and permane:,t helpless
ness, to mean permanent injury, requiring
the personal attendance and aid OF another
person, and as those conditions were found
in the present case, the application was
granted. This is a reversal ot the previous
decisions of the department.
1t is understood that further changes will
be made in the various departments at
Washington on or about July L. Tuis ac-
ton on the part of heads of departments in
thus forestalling the operation OF the civil
service law is very severely censured by re-
formers, who say that the recent appoint
ments and promotions and those yet to be
made might very we'll have been postponed
for another month, when they could have
been made under civil service rules.
Secretary Chandler has decided to permit
Commander Frederick Smith, who was
contaminated for duplicating pay accounts
to resign. The secretary said, that although
Commander Smith had been found guilty
of duplicating his accounts in more than
one instance, he thought his actions not
resign.
Commissioner Of Internal Revenue Evans,
has directed the collector of Boston to i'll.
vestigate the charges against the newly ap'
pointed revenue agent, Z. M. Horton. The
commissioner says the very bottom of this
affair must be reached before Horton goes
on duty.
The secretary of the interior has decided
that land selected under the laws in the
south for university purposes, are effective
and valid as to the location but refuses to
anticipate power to endow a contemplated
university, holding that the question is pc
litical rather than executive.
Secretary Teller IS investigating the
charge that some of the registers of land of.
fees in Nebraska use their positions to force
advertisements into certain newspapers al
the expense of settlers.
David b. Parker declined the appoint
ment of postmaster at Washington, and will
retain the position as chief postmaster in
speetor.
Information has been received at the
war department that Maj. Nlckerson allied
for Europe June IL.