The Billings herald. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1882-1885, 1884-08-09
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
The Disposition Of the Relief Vessels.-A
Cloud on Republican Prospects,
Alabama Claims Allowed.
Decrease in Postal Revenues.-The Presi-
dent and Cabinet Officers II Alb
sent from Washington.
CATTLE QUARANTINE.

| CATTLE QUARANTINE.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 4.-Now that
the vessels composing the Greedy
relief expedition have accomplished
the purpose for which they were
purchased, considerable interest is
manifested among naval officers to
have them retained in the naval
service for special work. The
"Alert," one of the three vessels,
having been presented to this gov
ernment by the English govern
ment, it is maintained that the
only proper disposition to make Of
her would be to return her in the
same condition in which she was
received, with the thanks of the
American people. When the officers
of the relief expedition reach
Washington, where large number
of them reside, a brilliant reception
is expected. Aside from its local
significance it will commemorate
an achievement that has cast lustre
upon the American Navy. The
skill and courage exhibited by Com
mander Schley and his men will
ever be remembered as one of the
glories of the navy.
The "Thctis" and "Bear," with
slight alterations in their internal
arrangements, would be admirably
adapted for ocean surveys and the
corrections of the charts of the South
Pacific Ocean, where many dangers
to navigation exist, the location
and extent Of which are still unde-
termined.
The Navy Department has for
many years felt the necessity for
completing the surveys in the South
Pacific, as well as to locate or ex-
punge from the charts many report
ed dangers in the Atlantic. The
expense of fitting out the "Thetis"
and the "Bear" for the work will be
very small, as compared with the
benefits resulting to commerce.
The law, however, making the
appropriation for the Greedy Relief
Expedition provided that the ves-
sells should be sold when their work
was completed. 1t is not improb-
able, however, that Secretary
Chandler may submit to Congress
next winter the advisability Of re-
tanning the vessels in the naval SER
vice for surveying purposes. The
heads of some of the bureaus of the
Navy Department are strongly in
favor of this being done and will
urge upon Congress favorable legis
lation.
A CLOUD ON REPUBLICAN PROSPECTS.
There is no concealing the fact
that the Republicans are Il good
deal annoyed at the result of the
Prohibition Convention at Pitts
burgh. Their more cautious lead
ers don't admit this publicly, but
in private they acknowledge that
the action of the convention in
making nominations is very unfor-
tunate for the Republican party.
They admit that this result was
brought about through the efforts
of the Democratic leaders. The ef-
feet is likely to be very material in
several of the doubtful states. This
is essentially true of Ohio and In
diana, where the prohibition ele-
ment is strong. 1t may also mate
rally effect the general situation in
Iowa, where the prohibition ele-
ment is large and where Republican
majorities have been wonderfully
reduced in the past few elections.
This is also true of Wisconsin and
Minnesota. Should the action of
the Pittsburgh convention be fol-
lowed by nomination of Prohibition
candidates in Congressional districts
it will probably result very favor
ably to the Democracy in regard to
the National ticket.
ALABAMA CLAIMS ALLOWED.
The Court of Commissioners of
Alabama Claims have transmitted
to the Secretary Of State for his
certification list of awards num-
bering COG, in favor of claimants,
and 26O cases in which judgments
have been rendered for the United
States. The aggregate of the awards
to claimants is $2,719,193. The
judgments were promptly certified
by Secretary Frelinghuysen to the
Treasury Department, where the
awards will now be paid.
DECREASE IN POSTAL REVENUES.
Returns received at the Post Office
Department from 159 letter-carriel
post-otfces, which produce nearly
one-half of the postal revenue, show
that the gross receipts ending june
80, 1884, were SIS, 5,199,O52, or $3.50,
316 (5.7 per cent? less than the re
ceipts from the same offices during
the corresponding quarter of thu
preceding year. Upon this basis
the receipts from all post office:
during the quarter would aggregate
about $11, 100000, and the receipts
for the year would be about $4,000,
600 less than the receipts for tn
previous fiscal year. The diminu
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