The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-01-26

"I don't know, said General Superiptsnd-
ent Thompson, "what is to be done about the
fast mail service for the coming year OF course
we have no money on hand with which We can
inset these demaDds for general Increase OF
fast nails or for increased facilities at any
particular point. There is less than two hum
dred dollars OF last years appropriation yet
unexpended or unprovlded for, aud OF coarse
we could do nothing until Congress would
make an appropriation. I am frank to sag
that ia the Interests OF satisfactory mail SER
vice should be- glad 10 see Congress author
ize fast mails between all the great cgtiss and
the important sections OF the country. / don't
think OF any road on which very fast time
could DOW be made between st. Lodis and
Minneapolis though there might bo marked
imprDvemsnt over the present rates, l pre-
sume, il Inducements we're offered. 1t all de-
pends on Congress now. Whatever that body
sees fit to do Ia the way OF making appropriA-
tions for fast mails this department Will be
glad to carry out"
fAnd what do you think OF the prospects Of
increased appropriations for this purpose, Ar.
Thompson"
'I regret to reply that am not very hopeful
Indeed, 1 am not at all sure that We shall be.
able to keep up our present fast system from
Maine to Florida. I recommended in my re-
report that this be continued, making the APP
preparation for the coming year the same as
that of this year. see, however, that the
Postmaster General has omitted it entirsly
from his estimates, and Congress is not noted
for increasing the amounts recommended bv
the departments. The fact is, l am not at all
hopeful about being able TO even continus the
present system Of fast mails, TO say nothing
about increasing it."
M'cooK AND woRTHINGroE.
The fortdnes of civil life are as strange a.
those OF war 1t is curious that two mon asso-
ciated in the defence OF their country on the
Oattle-felds Of the late war. so closely associ-
ated that one was saved by the other, when ho
lay bleeding and helpless on the battlefield,
should be tnrown again together in the service
OF the country, this time in the civil, instead
OF the military service. This Ii said to be true
of Secretary McCook, OF the Senate, and the
new District Attorney, Col. Wortningion, re-
Gently appointed to succeed Col. Corkhill. It
is said that Worthington, who lost leg at the
battle of kenesaw Mountain, when sherman
marched through to the sea, was saved to life
and the further service OF his country by Gen.
McCook, who, finding him lying bleeding on
the battlefield, picked him up, and took him
to point of safety, where by the aid Of a
skilful surgeon, his life was saved. WorthinK-
ton is an excellent man. q fayorite with the
lawyers OF the District, and will be an honor
to the position.
PLEURo-PNEUMoNIA AMONG CATTLE
The evidences of general desire to SEQ
pleuro-pneumonia, which has been giving the
stock growers OF the country so much uneasi-
ness, wiped out and shut ont, accumulate.
From the prsiries of the West and the rugged
hills ot New England come in appeals for ma
tional legisla ion on the subject. MinDeso%a,
ars snxioas on the subject, while all
the east coast, from Maine down
TO Maryland and Virginia is especially inter-
ested, because of the fact that the disease thus
bounded by Maine, Virginia and tha Alegha-
Uies 1t is believed by those who make the
subject study tbat the spread of the disease
to the Western herds will be prevented by
measures likely to be adopted by this Congress.
The latest suggestion on the sRbject comes
from citizen of Pennsylvania, VINO sends .
communication to Congress proposing Law
which will require all cattle to be properly
oranded With the owners initial or other mark,
aud that each animal be taxed a certain sam
for the purpose of creating fund for the en-
ployment OF commissioners, whose duty IL
shall be to inspect and waIch over the condi-
tion OF the stock of the country, with power 10
quarantine diseased or suspected herds and TO
slaughter and safely dispose Of diseased ami
mails.
THE MEXICAN TREATY.
1t is whispered that . new contingent OF op-
ponsnts to the Mexican treaty hiss arrived
here, and thst the war upon it is to be carried
on more fercely than before, II that wsre
possible. The feeling on the part Of the
House that the consideration of the subject by
the Senate with closed doors ia an un warranted
interference with pterogative of the House a.
regards the question of tariff and revenue. Ia
being quietly encouraged, and the stories that
| the treaty is in the interest OF Grant,
| Gould, Huntington and other railway inventors
and man ayers are being industriously fostersd,
rhe opposition of the sugar growers, and of
| the one interest that has now the right to inn
port sugar free OF duty continues, and al
together the treaty will have pretty hard
| fight il it gets through the Senate. Senator
Cnckeriil, who is one of the frnest friends OF
the treaty in its broad sense OF giving US closer
business relations with Mexico, is rather hope-
| ful, however, as the change of a single vote
from the negative to the Affirmative would
rotfy the treaty provided the 80 supporters
who voted for 1t on Friday last stand firm.