The Portland daily press., 1883-04-14
WASHINGTON.
Two-cent Check stamps.

IWo-Cent Cneck Stamps.
WASHINGTON, April 13.-The law providing
for the rebate to banks and others holding
checks on which is printed the 2-cent stamp "a
calculated to work serious Inconvenience both
TO the treasury department and to holders.
Although sufficient notice has been given, BY
The early passage of the act, of the abolition OF
the stamp to enable the banks to work off their
surplus checks to large extent still, there be-
ing some 5000 of these institutions in the couu-
try, they will hold in the aggregate a good
many stamped checks July /. The adjustment
OF the rebate Will involve, therefore, the send
ing to the department OF a vast amount OF var-
ous descriptions OF blank checks, which each
bank will want returned for use in some form
or other. There has been some talk at the de-
partment OF not returning the checks at all,
but simply destroying them. II is not be-
lieved, however, that the banks would consent
TO loss of their check books, which they had
sent in to secure the rebate for the 2-cent stamp
printed upon each check. Again, if they be
returned, they must be cancelled in some way,
in order to prevent being sent back again for
another rebate upon the same material, which
would be possible, provided there was a dispo-
stion to commit fraud upon the government.
The process which will probably be resortsd 10
will be 10 punch hole clear through the check
books, thereby cancelliDg the stamp and pre-
Guiding any fraud through duplicate payments.
The books thus punched would be returned TO
the owners and conld be used.
The American Flags Birthday.
WASHINGTON, April 13.-The anniversary of
the American flag is being celebrated here tc-
day at the residence of sam Reed, the son OF
the designer. This is the sixty fifth anniver-
sary Of the flag.
Nearly Six Thousand Alabama Claims
WASHINGTON, April 13.-The Alabama
Claims Court has completed arranging its
docket. There are now five thousand seven
hundred and seventy cases on it, divided into
two classes. First, claims for destruction of
vessels and cargoes; and, second claims for
war premiums. There are fifteen hundred and
ninety-one of first class and the remainder are
OF the second. The cases cannot be considered
in their regular order because they are not pre-
pared. One hundred cases have been tried
The Civil Service.
The Civil Service Commissioners have taken
possession OF their new quarters in tho Agricul-
tural Department Building, which, however,
they do not consider as necessarily permanent.
Mr.. Eaton says number OF applications for
examination have already been received. It
has not yet been determined whether the ex-
aminations shall be public. but the records viii
be, as the law requires. Mr.. Eaton is disposed
to favor public examinations. Sixty appli-
cants can be examined at once in the commits
tee room. 1t is probable that Mr. Lyman,
Chief Clerk of the Treasurer's office, will be
appointed Chief Examiner
Tie New Nickels.
The first installment Of fve-cent nickel piee-
es of the latest design was received by Treasure
or Wyman to-day from the Philadelphia mint
1t amounted to $500 More are expected soon
and they will be put into circulation when re-
ceived. This issue Of nickel pieces has the
word cents" inscribed under the Roman num-
eral "V,' and is intended as a substitute for
the new nickel pieces which bore no inscriE-
tion to designate It's value beyond the figure
"V."
Judge Greshan's Successor.
1t is rumored that Judge Frazier Of Indiana
who was one OF the com nissioners to settle
Alabama claims, is to be appointed to succeed
POSTMASTER General Gresham as United States
District Judge.
PutsUpon the Brand List.
Postmaster General Gresham today placed
| upon the brand list the Industrial Works"
of New Philadelphia, Ohio, and the "Union
| Trust Company" of st. LOUIS. These firms
will hereafter be denied facilities OF the United
States mails so far as money orders and regis
tered packages are concerned.