The Portland daily press., 1885-03-20
WASHINGTON.


Want Their Orders Revoked.
WASHINGTON, March 19.-More than hun
dred naval officers have applied to the new
Secretary of the Navy for q revocation of the
orders assigning them to duty, which were
issued during the last months of Secretary
Chandier's administration of the Navy Depart
ment. They assert that they were, for per-
sonal reasons, assigned by the late secretary to
dlsagreeable positions, and they ask TO be de-
tailed for other duty Some Of the older Off
GERS declare that 'the boys'' in the service
have been recognized in preference to them
selves, and have been appointed to important
places.
Treaty with Egypt.
Il is reported that the Senate ia executive
session yesterday ratified treaty with the
Khedive OF Egypt and a convention relating
to the boundary lines between this country
and Mexico. In the absence of any rule af-
Tentatively providing for giving the fscts to
the public the Senators and executive officials
OF the body do not feel at liberty 10 answer
any questions or the subject.
Commissioner of Internal Revenue.
Joseph S. Miller received his commission as
commissioner of internal revenue this after
noon and took the oath Of office. He will
take formal possession OF the internal revenue
bureau tomorrow morning.
Tine Hazen Court Martial.
The court room, in which the general court
martial trying Gen. Hazen holds its sessions
was crowded with spectators when the court
convened this morning Many prominent ar
my Officers OF the army and many ladies Of the
first families were in the audience aud Gen.
Hazen's friends manifested their sympathy
with him, not only by their presence but by
loading the table at which he and his counsel
sat with baskets and bouquets OF choice cut
flowers, The argument was to have been COM
msnced today, bat tho counsel for the defense
asked leave to reopen the case for the intro
duction of further testimony, prior to the sub
mission OF which recess was taken. After
recess evidence was offered showing that the
despatch to the Chicago Tribune, referring to
Gen. HazsD'5 letter TO the Secretary of War
was published on the 25th, the same day that
Gen. HaZsn sent the letter to the Secretary of
War. Judge Mackey then opened his argu-
meRt for the defense.
Judge Mackey for the defence said, specifica-
tions in the charges recite that certain acts Of
the Secretary of War were Sin performance OF
his official d9ty", but the defence denied this.
he called attention to the facts that the order
to send the Greely party north was signed by
President Hayes and the order appointing the
commander OF the expedition was signed by
President Garfield, and adduced these in sup
port OF the theory that ali executive acts con-
nected with the expedition were charged per-
son2lly upon the President and were not part
OF the official duty OF the Secretary of War. He
contended that the prosecution having present.
30 evidence to show that the Secretary of War
was vested with authority in the matter of
sending relief expeditions, the allegation that
his decision was in the line of his official duty,
which hs said was the most important ailega
tion in the specifications, must fall to the
ground.
lie pointed cut that the decision of the Sec.
retary Of War; alleged to have been criticised
by the accused, was not an act Of military ad-
ministration, but related to a nautical ques-
ton. Coming TO the second specification, that
Hazer addressed and sent to the Secretary of
War letter concerning the decision of the
Secretary in the matter OF the reliet expedition
without having been authorized or requested
by the Secretary to send such letter, Judge
Mackey declared that there is no law requiring
the chief signal officer so obtain leave to ad-
dress 8 communication to the Secretary of War
before sending such communication, and the
Secretary could not make the action of Gen.
Hazen the ground of a charge of conduct
prejudicial to good order and military disoip-
lips.
Judge MackeY,in considering the third speci-
hcation took occasion to severely crtticise ex
Secretary Lincoln, but was stopped by the
court, who declined to permit anything more
IN that line. The court then adjourned until
tomorrow.
Investigating Labor Problems.
The Secretary Of the Interior has approved
the plans of investigation of the labor problems
to be pursued by the labor bureau as suggested
by Labor Commissioner Carroll D. Wright,
during the current year. The outline OF this
investigation embraces the question of individ-
ual depression, their character, causes and
whsthersthey are contemporaneous in the great
producing centres of the world, and whether
as to duration, severity snd periodically they
are alike in such countries. This also involves
the question OF the influences of the depres-
slons on the cost of living and on cost OF pro-
duotion produced through the use of machin-
cry; ON the difference in the rates of wages in
different localities of the United States; the in
hgence of climate on the rates OF wages and
cost Of living; influence of taxes on all matters
relating to living; and as to the industrial de-
preseions how lar s'corners' may be influential
in such matters; the influences of distribution
and trensk ortation of fc<eign immigration, and
employment of foreign contract labor in bring
ing about Expressions and the productivity OF
labor in various localities. It is proposed TO
employ three special agents from three to five
months ia Europe and eight or ten SUCH agents
from four to SIX months each in the United
States, ia tho prosecution of this investigation.
Facts ard Enmers.
The comptroller of the currency to-day de-
clared dividend Of 20 per cent in favor Of
creditors OF the Vermont National Bank of st.
Albans, Vt. This is the second dividend in
the case Of this bank. The first was a divi-
dend OF 12 IL per cent
Archbishop Gibbons OF Baltimore called on
President Cleveland by appointment this af-
half an hour the Archbishop took his leave,
receiving from the President cordial Invita-
tion to repsat the call
The regular meeting of the Cabinet was held
at noon today. All the members were PRESENT
1t is understood that the trouble in Central
America was considered.
It has been the boast of this administration
that it "gets up in the morning" But it was
TOO late today. The Presidents secretary az
rived at the capitol with list of nominations
but the Senate, after a session of nearly an
hour, had adjourned five minutes before.
The President, this morning, signed the
commissions of Edward D. Clark to be AS
siatant Secretary of the Interior and John G.