The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1884-04-11
WASHINGTON.
the world

The public debt decreased S14, as, 32s dur
Ing March. Deducting the cash III the treas
try, tho fetal Indebtedness is 81, 4ey, 262, 500
In the second trial Hallett Kilbourne was
awarded damages OF $4,000 for false inn
prlsonment by John q. Thompson, eX-ser-
geant-at-arms of the house of representa-
tives.
The house river and harbOr committee in
tends to recommend an appropriation of S.
DOC, 900 for the Mississippi and its tributaries
and will limit the remaining items to So,
000, 900.
The house committee on postofiices has
decided to report favOrably on the bill CIV
ing letter-carriers of free delivery offices
leave of absence for fourteen days in each
year without loss Ofpay.
During the first eight months of the pres
ent fiscal year the internal revenue receipts
were $7S, 0003 800, q decrease of S14, 4Sl ,260 as
compared with the corresponding period of
1883. The aggregate receipts for February
were S2,O 40, S62 less than in February, 1883.
The house. committee on labor has unani-
mously agreed to report bill forbidding the
leasing of the labor convicts confined in
any prison for violating the laws of the
United States, under penalty of fine and inn
prisOnment.
With the additions made by the senate
committee on appropriations, the naval bill
calls for $50. 7S6,676 This includes $1,000
Voo ioI coHllllulllS WOIk OH lllc uOuDlc-JuI-
reted MONITORS and 81, 500 600 for additional
steel vessels.
A recent report by special agent of the
land-otfice, that a tract of 10000 acres of
public land i'm Colorado had been fenced by
parties without the slightest authority, has
attracted the attention of congress. Com
missioner Mcfarland recommends that the
fencing of public territory be made penal
Otfense.
The committee Oh banking and currency
is considering the propriety of SO amending
the national bank laws that examinations
may be made more frequently and directors
be held to an accountability for irregulari-
ties. This is the outgrowth of the failure
of the Pacific National bank of Boston.
For the past nine months the receipts of
the government were 49,, 204, sos in excess of
the expenditures. When compared with the
preceding period it appears that the GUS
toms payments have decreased SIS, 500,C 900
and the internal revenue receipts nearly
$2l 100000. But the expenditures also show
falling off of over S1S,500,0O0.
President Arthur on Wednesday sent to
congress special message advising apprO-
pratiOns toward commencing the cOnstruc-
ton of three steel cruisers and four gun
boats, to cost 81, 2S3, 000 The executive thinks
it imprudent to delay work on these vessels
for one year. He also urges the apprOpria-
ton of S2,000,000 for finishing four double
turreted monitors.
Minister Sargents transfer from Berlin to
st. Petersburg, for which the preliminaries
have been completed, will take the country
by surprise. The views of the adminstra-
ton are clearly stated by Secretary Freling-
hysen, who cabled Mr.. Sargent that his
course in the Lasker matter was approved,
and that the change was prompted only by
regard for the minister's personal feelings.
The house committee on invalid pen
CiOnQ has 1QpiIp1 tn ranNrt a cnbcfi-
tute for the Robinson bill, which will give
pension to any eX-uni0n soldier who was
confined in confederate prison and is now
found by the board of surgeons to be suffer
ing from any disability. The measure also
provides for pensioning the widow of any
confederate prisoner of war who died from
the effects of confinement.
Minister Sargent sent to Secretary Ere
q cablegram expressing his graft
tude for substantial Endorsement, but de-
Ginning to accept transfer to st. Peters
burg. In reply to q second communication
from Washington, Mr.. Sargent stated that
Ill health caused him to take leave of alb
sence, after which he would formally an
nOunce to the German government his
resignation.
The river and harbOr committee has near
ly completed its consideration of the pro-
posed river and harbOr bill. 1t Is understood
that the aggregate Of the bill will not eX;
be appropriations for the Mississippi, Mis-
souri,, and Ohio rivers, and the great har-
b0rs on the Atlantic, Pacific, lake, and gulf
coasts. To the Mississippi and tributaries
about $5,OOO,0OO will probably. be appropri,,
ated;: The committee has not yet decided
what part of that amount shall be ex-
pended upon the Mississippi itself. Mem
bers of the house are being invited before
the committee to make such statements as
they see proper concerning the improve
ments of their respective districts and states.
The bill will be reported to the house not
later than April 20.
SMALL NOTES.
From various parts of the country petit
tons are coming to congress asking that the
issue of 81 and 81 bills be discontinued, and
other petitions that the coinage of silver
dollars be suspended. The secretary of the
treasury recently called the attention of con-
gress to the fact that the printing of notes
below the denomination OF So would have
to be stopped unless more money was ap-
for that purpose. The silver adj
vOcates I'm congress say that there is not the
least probability that this congress will stop
the silver coinage, but they will take this
opportunity to give the silver dollar chance.
by preventing any, appropriation for print
ing VI and W bills. They claim to have
committee Is in sympathy with them with
respect TO the small notes, and that the sun
dry civil bill will not only contain no appro-
priatlOn for printing them, but will contain
q provision that no part of the appropria-
ton for the work Of the bureau Of engrav-
Ing and printing shall be used for that pur-
pose.
HoMEsTEADs FOR SOLDIERS.
Following Is the text of bill recently in
troduced by Congressman Thomas j. Wood:
BE 1t enacted, etc, That any soldier of
the late war who has been honorably dis
charged from the army or navy, and who
served In the army or navy for any period
not less than fourteen days OF more than
one year, shall be entitled to eighty acres of
public land, and If he served I'm the army or
navy over one year and less than two years
he shall be entitled to one hundred and