Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-09-11
WA HINGTOk.

IHE estimated decrease of the public
debt during August is So, 100000.
THE Hon. Benjamin Butterworth,
Commissioner of Patents, offers liberal
premium for the best design of a picture
illustrating the genius of invention, and
correspondence with artists is solicited.
1t is intended that the picture when
completed shall be elaborate in detail
and of immense size.
TIE treasury department is closed to-
day, the building being heavily draped
with black and flags flying half mast.
Acting Secretary Conn will issue an
order to close the sub treasures and
custom houses during the hours of the
funeral ceremonies. Acting Secretary
of State Dawes read Telegram from the
president directing executive order to
be issued formally announcing the death
of Folger.
The State Department received from
Mason United States consul at Marseil-
les, report upon the situation at that
place and Toulon since the abat ment
of the cholera epidemic. He says:
''The fin 4nces of Toulon and MarseiIles
have been stra' ned to the utmost in
cleaning the streets and tenements and
caring for the sick and burying the
dead. The presence of i pending fnan-
cial ruin weighs heavily upon the busi,
ness community and even the ordinary
resources Of charity are seriously cur
tailed. The tide of returning fugitives
has just set in and no descript on can
picture the wretchedness and destitu-
ton that already exists"
The debt lGatement issued Monday
shows decrease in the public debt dur
ing August of So, 542, 652 The decrease
since June 80, 1884, is 1856, Al
Gold certificates outstanding .......... 121 $50
Silver certificates Observation-Disclosures. 121, 131 92
Certificates of deposit. 1920, 900
e edahTdlng eercncat>s ne 200 's s9e
Fractional currency mot including
amount estimated as loss or de-
stroJ ed)... ........................ 6978,0G1
The Treasury Department is now in
process Of issuing drafts and warrants
for the payment of all cases in favor of
the plaintiffs certified by the Court of
Alabama Claims the latter part of July.
The process of issuing drafts is very
slow. They have to be prepared with
great care and strict accuracy. Several
instances have already occurred when,
by the error of single letter in the
spelling of name, the error had to be
reported to the court and correction
made, and in the absence of the judges
this has caused considerable delay in
settling cases. This explains why drafts
have not been issued earlier. With this
exception it is probable that substantial
ly all of the drafts will be ready for
distribution shortly. The aggr egate
payment is little less than SO, 600, 900.
! This will leave to the fund, after deduct
ing the expenses of court and general
management of the business on the
Part of the United States, balance of
about So 900, 900. There are about 900
cases of claims on yet to be tried begin
ming on the 10Th of October, when the
court reconvenes. 1t is expected that
many of them will not actually come to
trial, being excluded under certain
technical rulings as TO jurisdiction adopt
ed by the court, but IN any event VIZ Il
Informed Lersons intimate that the
balance of class 1 cases with the in
terest will not exceed $1,000 600, leaving
yet to be distributed among war
premium claimants st least $4,000, 600,
probably So. 500,600.