The Portland daily press., 1884-01-02
WASHINGTON.
Forthcoming Work of the Appropriations
Committee.

WASHINGTON, Jan, 1.-The total receipts of
the government during the first half OF the fs-
Cal year ending yesterday have amounted in
round numbers to S17S,344,207 ss against $780,
001, lo7 for the corresponding period of last
year, "a falling off of abont S2S 456 000 The
Gust ams receipts are $l2, ,000 less than due
ing the first half of last year, and the Internal
revenue receipts less by about SIS 100000, or
az the rate OF twenty-five millions decrease for
Customs during The year and twenty-sx mil
lions for inteinai revenue, but it is probable
that the falling eff will not be SO large during
the latter halt of the year. In July, owing to
abnormal conditions, the customs rece pts were
nesrly one million larger than for July of last
year, In August the decrease was $4 TAT 900,
but since August the falling If has heea less
each month. IL September il was So 657 600
i October 81 S56 600. in November 81 CIT 600,
aUd in December 81 ,577 600. In other words,
the customs receipts each month since August
have been steadily approaching the monthly
receips OF last year. AT this rate the tariff re-
ductien this year will not be more than $20,-
O00,O00, aad the principal shrinkage iu receipts
Will be- in internal revenue. The payment uD-
on the debt has fallen off considerably Iu
1882 the reduction in six months was $81, ,370,-
000. This YEAR, reckoning that for Deceni Der
ut $11 694 600, it will he 1858 000,0 promising
reduction of ABOUT $S7 600 for the year
Tneexp nditures for six months have been
S127, ,560,0 0O0 compared With $129, ,75l, 1923 last
ysar. Tue ordinary expenditures have de-
creased five and half millions, aud The inter-
est three and halt millions. The calls from
| the pension office increased from twenty-three
| to thirty millions.
The Case of Fitz John Porter.
Gen. Ro ecIans, Chairman of the House Mil
itary Committee, says that he does not think
| that the Fttz John Porter bill will meet with
| any serious opposition in the House. The
| Mexican veteran members of the committee
| who have been interviewed express the opin-
ion that the greatest injustice has been done to
1 Porter
Land Frauds ON the Pacific Coast.
| Speculators in timber lands on the Pacific,
| coast are taking advantage of the act passed
| five years age for the benefit of settlers and
| have acquired possession OF large tracts of land
| by evasion of that law, accompanied by PERU.
| ry. Gen. Brow 9 of Indiana received a letter
| to-day from land officer on the Pacific coast
| saying that he believed that some officials are
| implicated.
| Railroad Lands to be Forfeited.
| The committee on public lands expect to fe-
| port number of bills when Congress recon.
venes next week, declaring forfeited the lands
| that have been granted to certain railroad com.
| panies. The companies most interested are
those in the Northwest and South, and the
amount of land involved is reported by the
| chairman of the committee, Mr.. Cobb to he
between so, 900 and 100 600 600 acres. The
| Texas PscIhc land grant, it is expected, will
| be reported as forfeited, and this grant alone
involves 100000 acres.
miscellaneous.
The committee appointed to prepare an i'm.
| proved an Tor carrying mails on railroad
routes have made a detailed report which ha
been presented TO Congress.