The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1884-03-07
WASHINGTON.

balance In the treasury is Sl45, 5S4,2s1.
=, Secretary Lincoln still holds $4,000 Of
! ,ihe congressional appropriation for the re-
Hef OF fiood-sufferers.
The bill to divide Dakota into two sections
anu admit the southern portion as a state
was reported to the senate Friday.
:. The United States government Is pressing
losses sustained by Americans in Cuba dur
ing the rebellion.
There Is said to be little doubt of the pas
sage by congress of bill granting mail car
riers thirty days leave of absence with pay
each year.
The house military committee Is opposed
70 the bill providing for the perpetuatlon of
the offices OF general and lieutenant general
OF the army.
Information comes from the white house
mat there has been 10 thought of recalling
Minister Sargent from Berlin.
The bill of Mr.. Henley, of California, re-
strlcting Chinese immigration has been
agreed TO by the majority Of the house COM
mittee on foreign affairs.
The house committee on invalid pensions
mas agreed to report a bill to allow the
widow of General Frank p. Blair $1,000 and
q pension of $50 per month for services rem
dered the union cause.
The supreme court of the United States
mas decided that notes of the government
redeemed in time Of peace and reissued I'M
DER the act OF 1873 are q legal tender in the
payment of private debts.
The excess of the value of exports over inn
ports OF merchandise into the United States
during January last was $40 81, 4S7, and for
Inc twelve months ended Jan. 81, 1888, was
30, $40, $50.
The house judiciary committee voted 7 to
Z on the proposition admitting claims under
the Geneva award OF all Ship-OwnerS who
suffered losses from confederate expeditions.
Two reports will be submitted to the house.
Mr.. Butler, the appointment clerk in the
treasury department, expected to succeed
John Z. New as assistant secretary, and
rendered his resignation when he learned
the intention of President Arthur to appoint
Ex-Governor Fletcher, of Missouri.
The senate committee on public lands was
almost unanimous in deciding to forfeit the
Texas Pacific land grant claimed by the
Southern Pacific company, and propose to
make sure that the tract will be available
only for actual settlement.
j. II. Johnson, the mayor of Danville,
Virginia, testified before the senate investi-
CATION at Washington that had Il negro
shown himself on the street during the cleo
ton riot there would have been u million
holes bored in him.
Joaquin Miller appeared before the house
committee On territories to state his belief
that polygarny is decreasing, that the Nor
mon people are extremely ignorant, and are
led by cranks. lie opposed repreSsive meas
ures. and urged education as the cure for
political disorders in Utah.
The United States consul at Birmingham
reports that the foOt-andlnouth disease in
cattle exists In nearly every county in Eng
land. Instructions will be sent to American
consuls in Great Britain TO certify no in
voices of cattle until they have been found
sound by veterinary surgeons.
The Indian committee of the house will
report in favor of selling the kickapoo reser-
Walton in Kansas, the removal of the tribe
to the Indian territory, the allotment in sew
crafty of the lands to the Indians preferring
to remain upon the reservation, and the sale
of the remainder of the land to settlers ut
So per acre, the proceeds to be used for the
benefit of the tribe. There Is about 10000
acres in the reservation.
President Arthur has sent to congress the
report of the civi-service commission. The
document admits that there have been sew
eral violations of the law in regard to pOlit-
ical assessments, but the amount collected
was not one-fourth as much as formerly. 1t
is still possible, says the commissioners, to
promise the sp0ils Of one hundred thousand
offices as rewards for party victory, but the
civil-Servlcc act Is success, and has passed
its most difficult point.
Representative Towshend who has charge
of the postOlilce appropriation bill, states
InaJ the Dill Is HOW Hlllcn larger IMAM any
other general appropriation bill. 1t has
nearly doubled its proportions since 1870.
This is occasiOned by the vast number of
new and expensive routes created in the
Western states. The appropriation for the
coming fiscal year will be over S45,000,00 600.
Notwithstanding this will be reduction
of about -, 800, 900 from the estimates of the
postmaster general. There is no doubt,
though. that the income of the postoflicc de
partment will be more than sufficient 10 pay
expenses.
TIE NAVY.
After weeks debate the senate passed
the bill to construct the steel cruisers by IL
vote Of - yeas To II nays. With the eXcep
ton of an amendment allowing competing
contractors three months in which to pre-
pare for the work, and imposing the same
restrictions as are placed on the contracts
for the vessels now under construction, the
measure is practically the same aS it came
from the committee. II provides for one
cruiser of 40 tons displacement, one cruiser
of 5000 tons, one dispatch vessel Of 100,
two heavily-armed gunbOatS of 100 tons
each, one light gunbOat of 80 tons. and one
gunbOat not to exceed 900 tons, 10 be built
on plans and specifications furnished by Adj
miral Porter and under his supervision and
direction; one steel ram as recommended by
the Naval Advisory Board in November,
1881; one cruising tOrpedO-boat and two har-
Dor tOrpedO-boats recommended by the pres
ent board.