The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1885-03-20

directed the Land-Ofhce, however, To SuS-
pend all p, oceedings relative to patenting
land to the New Orleans Pacific Road UNI
| til fur.hern0tice.
United States Senate Friday in regard to
the committees of that body. A new Com
! mittee on Coast Defenses was created Mr.
| Sherman d, clined to serve on the Finance
Committee. Mr.. ingalls, offered re Olu-
| ton calling upon the President for nforma-
| ton relating to the Occupati0 OF Oklahoma.
The Pres dents message asking Tor the re-.
| turn of the Ncaraguan, Dominican, and
| Spanish treaties was laid before the Senate
The treaties were returned to the Executive
| ut once.
Foreign affairs are likely to claim the at
tention of the Senate. this week. Several
minor treaties are to be considered relating
to the rectlfcation of the Mexican boundary
and the rehabilitation of the Well and La
Abra claims. The complications in Central
America Will doubtless come up for discus
sion, but 1t Is believed that the important
treaties recen tly withdrawn by the Presi-
dent will be held until the regular session.
Friends of the Nicaragua treaty insist that
Secretary Bayard has made great mistake
in not embracing the opportunity for inter-
ference offered by the recent pronuncamen-
to of President Barrios.
The Post-Office Appropriation bill recent
ly passed by Congress makes the fol owing
important changes: The weight of all sim
gle-rate letters Is increased from one-half
an ounce each to one ounce. All newspa-
pers sent from publication offices or news
agencies, including sample copies, are en-
titled to transmission at the rate Of one
cent per pound. Any article in q newspa-
per or other publication may be mark, d for
observation, except by written or printed
words, without increase of postage. A
special 10-cent stamp is also to be issued,
which, when attached to letter in addi.
ton to the lawful postage thereon, will in
sure its immediate delivery by special mes
senger at any time between Ia. IN. and mid
night.
Notwithstanding the failure of congress
last session to make an appropriation for
the rivers and harbors, the engineers in
char e OF the improvements will be able to
continue work for some time. or the $14,-
000, 900 appropriated at the close of the first
session of the last congress- there was about
So 600 balance in the treasu Y the latter
part of February. This appropriation was
not made until July, 1884 and 1t was not
until August that 1t was available. AT
that time but short period remained dur
ing which work could be accomplished.
Especially was this the case in the north.
A considerable portion of the SO, 600
made, and under which contractors will
work during the coming season.
President Cleveland appointed Joseph s.
Miller of West Virginia TO be Commissioner
Of Internal Revenue. Ex-Congressman Phil
Thompson was backed for the place by
Speaker Carlisle, Senators Beck and Black
burn, and number of CJngressmen. Mr..
Miller was supported by ex-Speaker RAN
dali and the West Virginia Senators. Mr.
Randalrs opposition to Thompson's candi-
dacy was attributed to spite, Randall hay
whisky Interest, which Thompson sup
ported, had contributed largely to his de-
feat in the Speakership contest. The
Presidents decision against Mr.. Thompson
is, however, supposed to be due entirely to
Commissioner of Internal Revenue from
State which was largely interested in the
distillation of whisky.
Gen. Hancock presides at.the court-mar-
tial convened in Washington TO try Chief
Signal-Officer Hazen. Gen. Hazen demur-
red to the specification of the charge against
him which alleged that NJ criticised the ac-
ton of the Secretary of War in refusing to
send sealing steamer to the relief of the
Greedy party after the failure of the Pro-
teus expedition in 1883. The demurrer was
overruled and the accused made formal
make certain admissions, pending the prep
aration of which the court adjourned. At
Thursdays session the acc IS admitted
that he had criticised the action of the Sec
Tetary of War regarding the Greedy expedi-
ton, and that he had said that if a sealing
party might have been saved. He dis
claimed, however, any intentional d sre-
spect to his superior officer. The court
martial adjourned, the st nographer having
struck for higher wages.
Mr.. Van Wyck's "Bl ckbone' Railroad
land-grant resolution was laid before the
Senate Monday. Mr.. EuStis denounced the
grant as illegal and fraudulent. The Back
bone" Company, he said, was nuisance
and disgrace. In l o. by one of the most
extraordinary proceedings OH record, this
defunct company had made an assignment
to the New Orleans Pacific Company, and
It was upon such title that the latter based
void and illegal. Mr.. Teller defended his
course, falling back upon. the opinion of
the AttOrney-General and the House Judi
ciary Committee. Mr.. Van Wyck replied
in sarcastic, speech. Referring to Okla
hOma, he said that the Federal bayonets
hardy pioneer, but there were no bayonets
to drive out the cattle syndicates or to de-
stroy the fences Illegally inclosing millions
Of acres of public property. In the exuber-
ance of his sympathy for Gould and Hunt
ington Mr.. Teller had fastened to issue the
patents, fearful lest the next Congress and
the next Administration might not be
sufficiently subject to corporation control
FOREIGN.
The Car has assured Emperor William
that the peace of Europe has not been
threatened by the Afghan question.
The British cabinet, after a long session
Thursday, decided 10 warn Russia that En-
gland is bound to protect Afghan territory.
1t Is said that the Chinese lost 1900 men
during the defense of Kelung. The French
captured immense quantities of military
stores.
England is collecting in the Thames an
enormous fleet of transports, and temper.
airy buildings have been added to the arsen-
al at Woolwich.
The French Government is said to be
convinced of the necessity of marching
upon Pekin, and grant of 8 600 will
shortly be asked for to send $4,000 men to
China.
1t is said that the Madhi has evacuated
Metemneh, fearing an invasion Of the Sou
dan from Abyssinia. Osman Digma Is con-
centrating large force at Tamanieb to OPP
pose Gen. Graham's advance toward Ber-
Der.
Zebehr Pasha, whom Gen. Gordon desir-
ed to make governor of Khartoum, has
been sent on board British frigate at Al
exandria, documents having been found in
his house establishing his completely with
the mehdi.
The London papers publish private tel
egram from Suakim announcing the fall OF
l.. Il /. H.. A...a .v.