Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-06-17

be no increase in the clerical force during the
next year.
THE BIDS for furnishing supplies to the Inte-
| rior department were opened yesterday. There
were G2 bidders, most of whom were from this
city. The awards will be made in the course of
a week or SO.
THE RAILWAY MASTER MECHANICS Con-
VENTION.-The railway master mechanics
convention met at Willards for their second
days session this morning and discussed the
reports and papers presented. At noon they
adjourned and called upon the President. They
will adjourn tomorrow and on Friday will go
to Mount Vernon.
GEN. HoRATIo GATES GIBSON, the new COM
mander of the Washington barracks, paid his
respects to the President to-day.
SECRETARY WHITNEY will go to New York
this afternoon for few days.
RULES FOR THE NAVY DEPARTaENT-Secre-
tary Whitney has issued the following rules for
| the transaction OF the business of the Navy de-
partment Reception of members of Congress
and all persons not officers of the department
between 10 and IL O'Clock. Reception of heads
OF bureaus and officers of the department hay
| ing business with the Secretary from IL until 3
O'Clock. From 3 to O'Clock all persons will be
excluded, and heads OF bureaus and officers of
the department are requested not to call in this
hour unless specially invited. On Saturdays no
visitors will be admitted except heads of bu-
reaus and officers OF the department.
CdAhGED WITH SCANDALOUS CONDCCT.-En-
sign Alfred Jeffries has been ordered to be tried
by court-martial at New York.on charges of
scanda!ous conduct in failing to pay to three of
the crew certain money due them while he was
In command of the coast survey steamer Bara-
Boyd, Commander H. b. .Robeson, Lieut.. A. B.
H Lille, Capt: T: G. Pope on. Co., Lieut.. j. T.
Sullivan, Lieut.. Geo. A. Calhoun and Capt. w.
s.. Muse on. CO., with Lieut.. ]. d. ]. Kelly judge
advocate
CANNOT RECEIVE TWO SALARIEs-The first
controller of the Treasury has decided that
Prof. c. V. Riley, entOmologist of the Depart
ment OF Agriculture, while drawing his salary
tor OF insects OF the National museum.
THE SEED ACCoUNT.-First Controller Dur
ham has approved the statement of the accounts
of Mr. Loring, late commissioner of agriculture,
as made by the first auditor, who disallowed
O,SO7, which was expended in seeds and in
payment ter labor in preparing them for distri-
s%nd br ahe cont decided m that the sum
prOpriated for the purchase, propagation and
distribution Of seeds, and not that Of the labora-
tory.
OFFICE SEEKERs,-There is no relaxation in
the demand for places under the government.
Chiefs of departments and bureaus find their
| time almost wholly occupied in considering
applications for appointments and the order
excluding visitors from some of the cabinet OF.
tense. TheSe officials found that they had to
exclude everybody at least one day in the
week in order to transact the necessary routine
business OF their respective Offices Though
| there does not seen to be a very great number
OF office seekers in the city there are enough to
engage the attention almost continually of
those who have places to dispense
A SURPLUS OF SUGAR BEET SEED-Chief
Clerk Nesbitt, of the Agricultural department,
says there are about twelve thousand pounds
of the sugar beet seed still on hand, and he
added: 1.-THE heap does not seem to get any
| smaller. Sometimes when look at it I think
it is actually growing larger. Several days ago
Georgia farmer wrote us that he was in great
need OF this seed. He had tried in various di-
reetons, but m &c couldn't get any In his extremity
the seed. He got 1t, and expect he was sur
| prised at our promptness. But there does not
seed.'' The great quantity Of peas and sorghum
| seed lett over and on hand at the department
feed, but sugar beet seed cannot be utilized In
this way or in any other.
THE ABsCoNDING POSTMASTER ARRESTED
IN CANADA.-Chief Inspector Sharp, of the
Post Office department, has received dispatch
announcing the arrest of Hits. the absconding
postmaster of Lewiston Idaho, who it is charged
| forged q large number of money orders The
| arrest was made in the British possessions and
Hits will, 1t is said, resist extradition.
PRESIDENT ZALDIvAR, ofSan Salvador, called
upon the President yesterday. Central Ameri-
can affairs were discussed, and President Zaldi-
var expressed gratitude Tor the moral support
| rendered by this government during Barrios'
| revolution. President Zaldivar Went to New
| York last night.
| THE CASE OF MIR. SANTOS, q naturalized
| American citizen, under arrest in Ecuador was
discussed at the cabinet meeting yesterday. 1t
was decided that MIR. Santos should be recog-
nized an American citizen, and as such Is
| entitled to the protection of this government
| It is understood that his release will be de-
manded.
THE GRANT TESTIMONIALS IN WASHINGTON
| Col. R. N. Batchelder returned to Washington
yesterday, bringing fifteen large boxes filled
| with Gen. Grants testimonials and presents
| which were presented to the government bV
| Mrs Grant. A list of the articles has been pub
| iished in THE STAR. The boxes containing the
presents have been stored In the War depart
| ment to await the acceptance of Mrs. Grants
gift by Congress There seems to be no doubt
/ that the memorials will be placed on perma-
nent exhibition In the National Museum.
THE CONSTELLATION, Commander c. L.
| Huntington commanding, with naval cadets
/ aboard, sailed from Annapolis roads on the an
nual cruise yesterday afternoon.
| TOBACCO DEALERS OBJECT.-A number of to-
bacco dealers have complained to the Postofi1ce
! department that tobacco firm In Ohio Is con-
Quoting gift enterprise in Offering to distribute
$3O,OOO among consumers of their tobacco, in
prizes graded In proportion to the amount con-
sumed as shown by the number OF labels that
are affixed TO each plug. They want the adver-
concern excluded from the mails. The matter
Is under consideration at the PosfOff1ce depart
ment 1
THE POSTMASTER GENERAL has decided that
| white meh who are members OF Indian Tribes
are eligible for appointment as postmasteyS.