The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1884-11-07
WASHINGTON.

- WASHINGTON.
Tie collections made by internal revenue
officers in the Peoria Ql.) district during
October, were 81, 422 Asa considerable
gain over the same month of last year.
During the year ending October Slst, tho
national banks withdrew from the federal
treasury ST, $40, 313 deposited to secure cir
culation. At the present rate of redemption
the 3 per cents will disappear by June 1856.
The decrease in the public debt during
October was $500, 1872; decrease since June
so, 1854, 49,, $50, 37S; cash in the treasury,
silver certificates, Sl51, 556 SOL; certificates
of deposit ST., $685. 600; Iefunding certifi-
Gates, S2G4, 500; legal tenders, $346, 6S1, 016;
fractional currency, S6,974,219.
The treaty now in process of negotiation
between Spain and the United States pro-
vides for the free admission to the latter
country OF sugars, mOlasses, and raw tobac-
co, and q reduction of duties on other arti-
ces from the West Indies. In return, there
fore, Cuba and Porto Rico are to receive
Spanish and the tariff on cattle, fish, and
manufactures will be freely trimmed down.
The Supervising Architect of the Treas
ury Will ask Congress for S4O,C for relay
ing the floors in the Chicago Custom-House
Building. Mr.. Bell says that there is no
use trying to patch up the floors-the only
way in which the uneyenness can be rene
died is to reset the whole. The Superin-
tendent of the Federal Building at. Peoria
has been ordered to stop work at the main
cOrnce, as an effort is to be made to secure
an appropriation for an additional story.
A story is told of the recent visit of
George Bliss here. The report is that Mr..
Bliss suggested to the President that it
would be very unwise to allow Secretary
Gresham to enter upon any investigation of
the accounts of the First Controller, which
might result in reopening OF the matters
relating to the payments of the bills for
special counsel. Judge Gresham had com.
menced an investigation of the, accounts in
the First Controllers office, and his known
searching methods while Postmaster-Gen-
eral and the fact that he was very persist
ent in urging the bringing of civil suits
against some of the old star-route contrac-
tors give some color to the story.
THE LONGEVITY OF PAY DECISION.
Some papers have discovered, as they inn
agine, that the decision of the supreme
court in the Morton case allowing the time
spent at West Point to be included as SER
vice in the army in the computation OF
earlier than hitherto. This is a great mis-
take. Officers can be retired against their
will only when disabled or when 81 years
old, in both cases without regard to the
length of their service. The president may
retire an officer after thirty years service
at his discretion il the officer asks for it,
and after the officer has served forty yeaIs
the president is obliged to retire him If he
asks for 1t. Undoubtedly before great
while some officer who had spent four years
at West Point and thirty-siX in the army
will demand to be retired under the law
granting him that privilege after forty
years service in the army, and then the ex-
ecutive branch of the government will have
to cOnstrue the law and the decision of the
supreme court.
TIE MERIDIAN CONGRESS.
The international meridian conference
held its final meeting Saturday. The min
utes of the proceedings were submitted and
approved. An official copy of the proceed
ings will be delivered to the government of
the United States, and will no doubt be
made the basis of treaty upon q resolution
adopting the meridian of Greenwich for
universal initial meridian. Only one ma
ton voted In the negative. San Domingo,
France, and Brazil abstai ed from voting.
The proposition defining this was almost
unanimously supported; Before adjourn.
on behalf of the conference l2 desired to
express the high appre 'iatin vi the abili-
ty, fidelity, and zeal with W. Mr.. Ped
drick, the secretary sclec cd - he depart
ment OF state, had peri ma tl1 difficult
duties which devolved u,wl hiu, and to
thank him for his SO We :. The confer
ence then adjourned sine d. 'rh' official
protocols are in both Frcn'I a. English.
AT the request of delcsatcs. Photograph
of President Arthllrwith lis . graph will
be presented by t.Ic secre II! OF state to
each of them.
A DEPARTMENT. OF SCIENCE.
The joint commttee a1pnilt i shortly be-
fore the adjournment of cuilgr,sl TO inquire
into the organization and Wor of the coast
and geological surveys, the 'spil service,
and the hydrOgraDhic oili'' probably
meet in this city Nov. il. y ring the re-
cess members Of the COMM to- have been
collecting opinions of scielt iic Gentlemen
and heads of various bureaus interested on
the subject under consideration. The Ma
tiOnal Academy of Sciences vas asked to
consider the subject AMI requcs to furn-
ish report to the commit upon its reas-
sembhng i'm November. That body refer
red the matter to u committee of which
Gen. NIeigs was chairman, and this commit
tee has completed its report. but will not
make IL public until 1t has been given to
the Joint committee. 1t Is understood the
report recommends radical changes. A
number of members of the academy have
given free expression of their opinion on
They favor the establishment Of q new gov
eminent department to embrace all bureaus
of scientific nature. This would include
the signal service, photographic office, coast
and geological surveys lighthouse board,
naval observatory, and army engineer work
In the matter OF the improvements OF rivers
and harb0rs.
REPORT ON COAST DEFENsEs.
Gen. John Newton has submitted his an
nual report on the coast defenses. He ear
nestly urges that the harbors of our princi-
pal seaports be made impregnable to attack
by the addition OF guns OF heavy caliber
and other appliances known to modern
warfare. The past events, he says, by no
means justify the assertion made that our
cotton and grain have become so necessary
to the nations that thew could not engage in