The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1885-12-31
FROM WASHINGTON.
The PhlIIips. Me-. Post Office.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 30.-Prominent Demo-
Gratis claim they have clearly shown the de-
partment that the Democrats of Phillips,
Me-, do not want B. Emery Pratt commits
stoned as postmaster at that place, but want
another man. Pratt's record during the
counting OUT fraud is against him, and it
is probable that he will be defeated
A coIored Man Selected by the Civil
Service Board.
The employees of the First Assistant Post
master Generals office had genuine sur
prise Monday morning, when John L.
Morton of Arkansas presented himself In
response to notice that he had been select
ed for 81, 900 appointment through the civil
service board Morton was one of four
whose names had been sent to the POST
master General by the commissioner to NIL a
vacancy. His papers showed that IN the
examination held he had been graded 73, and
that he was a school teacher. Nothing more
was known about him, and when this morn
ing a cOlored man presented himself every
body was surprised. He is the first cOlored
man in that office. Civil service retormers
say that the civil service law is Delng carried
out to the letter.
Duties on Liquors.
The Treasury Department has decided that
in cases of the importation of liquors an
allowance can be made for loss by leakage
or breakage, and that duties shall be charged
upon the amount landed only, and not upon
the quantity invoiced
ReassenbIing of Congress.
Congress will reassemble next Tuesday,
when Speaker Carlisle will announce the
House committees Tuesday and Wednes-
day will probably be occupied in a. call of
the remainder of the States for bills for
reference. Only fourteen States were called l
on Monday of last week. Maine will be the
first State called, when bills will be present.
ed and referred. The week will be occupied
in holding preliminary meetings OF COM
mittees.
One of the first bills to come up will be one
to remove the sentence of the court martial
from Fitz John Porter and place him on the
retired list. The bill will again pass, as It
did last winter President Cleveland will
sign the bill, and Porter will stand before
the world Justified so far as act Of Congress
can do 1t.
Work of the Alabama Claims Court
The Court of Commissioners of Alabama
Claims sent to the Department OF State to-
day certified list of judgments and de-
cisions in cases of the second class, rendered
since the organization of the court in 1882,
together with certified list of judgments
and decisions in cases of the first class not
heretofore reported. There are nine cases
of the first class in which judgments ranging
from two to three thousand dollars are rem
dered in favor of claimants, and 81 cases IN
which judgment is for the United States.
Those of the second class fill several large
books, and the awards to claimants are In
amounts ranging from one hundred TO eignty
or ninety thousand dollars. They VIII pc
certified by the Secretary of State to the
Secretary of the Treasury for payment ac-
cOrding to law.
Crops of 595.
Estimates of the Department Of Agricul-
ture for the principal cereals are computed,
and the aggregate bushels are as follows in
round Millions Corn, 1886, wheat, So;
oats, 629. The area of corn is 100000
acres, of wheat 34,000,000, of oats 23,000,000.
The value of corn averages nearly 80 cents
per bushel and makes an aggregate OF $685..
100000, five millions less than the value OF
the last crop. The decrease in the product
of wheat is 80 per cent, and only II per cent.
in valuation,i which is $275,000, 900 The
tion in wheat is mostly in the valleys Of Ohio
and in California. The States Of Ohio, In
diana, Illinois, Missouri and Kansas last
year produced 170,000,000 bushels, and this
year S0,000,000, a reduction OF 9O,0O0,O00
bushels. The production of all the cereals is
So bushels to each inhabitant, and the aggre-
gate volume is larger than any former year.
Increase in the Public Debt.
Treasury officials express the opinion,
/ founded on fact, that the receipts have been
very light during the month, while pension
payments have been made to considerable
amount ON account of last month, and that
the debt statement will show an increase of
nearly $2,000,000 in the public debt during
| the current month.
Minor Matters.
General Sheridan and Secretary Whitney
have issued orders to army and navy officers
| to assemble in full uniform on New Years $
| day to pay their respects to the President of
| the United States.
Treasurer Jordan expects to go to New
| York on the 31st to assume charge of the
| United States sub-treasury.
Edwin B. George of Massachusetts,, chief
| of the stamp division of the Post Office De-
| partment, has rendered his resignation, to
| take effect tomorrow.