Los Angeles daily herald., 1885-12-27
Ma.hington Netes.

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tary Manning received the following
dispatch from Senator Fair. dated San
Francisco; '.1he American whaling
bark Amethyst. Of this port. is supposed
to have been lost on her way from the
Arctic ocean. The last ship to arrive
thinks that she got dow to Behring Sea.
The Amethyst has ON board a crew of
forty men. If the ship has been lost the
crew may have gone ashore on some of
the islands of Behring sea, in which
case, unless assistance is rendered imme-
diateIy, they will all freeze to death. A
petition from owners and masters of the
whaling feet has been forwarded to you
by mail, imploring you to send up re-
lief and search party. Will you send
sach party Immediately? In case the
Amethyst arrives we will telegraph you
promptly, so that you can countermand
orders" Promptly upon receipt Of the
dispatch at the Treasury Depart
ment, kilograms were sent to each
experienced officer OF the revenue
marine at San Francisco, asking for in
formation as to the probable condition
of the ice in Behring Sea, but answers
have not yet been received. The pre-
vsiling opinion among treasury officials
is that it would be impracticable to
send out a search party at this season
as there is no vessel in possession of the
Government strong enough to battle
with Arctic ice in winter. The revenue
marine steamer Corwin. that has here
tofore been remarkably successful in
Arctic work, is now at San Francisco,
and IL it is feasible to make search she
would undoubtedly be selected for duty.
Ii advices received from San Francisco
are favorable to the undertaking, the
matter will be laid before the President
for his decision.
Commissioner Sparks Of the General
Land Office has written letter to law
firm in Kansas in which lie discusses the
contents of circular purporting to have
been issued by the parties addressed.
The Commissioner says the circular con-
tains false and misleading statements in
regard to the rights of soldiers of the
late war to public lands, and allows the
alleged authors of the circular thirty
days in which TO make satisfactory ex-
plnnation. Failing in which they will
be disbarred from practicing before the
department. Among the statements in
the circular to which the Commissioner
takes exception is that the Government
owes each soldier and sailor farm Of
l60 acres. This, says the Commission
er, is statement that soldiers and sail
ors of the late war are each entitled to
100 acres, which is not true. The wild.
ows and orphans of deceased soldiers
and sailors can make entries and secure
100 acres OF choice land without resi-
dence, The Commissioner considers
this assertion misleading.
The official programme for the Preai- |
dents reception on New Years Day
does not differ from that of former years |
The President will be assisted by Miss |
Cleveland and the ladies Of the Cabinet. |
Mics Cleveland's weekly Saturday after
noon receptions from 3 till . O'Clock will |
begin Saturday, January 9th, and con
,inue through the season.
The President has approved the bills
granting pensions to Mrs. Grant, and re-
moving the political disabilities of Gen.
Lawton, of Georgia.
John Bigelow, who was recently ap-
pointed Assistant United States Treas
urer at New York and confirmed by the
Senate, has resigned his office.
General Atkins, Commissioner OF In
dian Affairs, says the government has no
official information of an attack upon an
Indian camp near FL Paso, Texas. in
which eleven Indians are reported to
have been killed.
The thirty days mourning for the late
Vice. President Hendricks have expired
aud the departments and other public
buildings were divested OF their mourn
ing drapery. A hook and ladder force
were required TO remove the black cloth
from the tall pillars of the White House
portico.
On the LIST Of July the Postmaster
General made twenty. two appointments
OF postoffice inspectors to serve during
the remaining six months of the year,
with the understanding that il their ser
vices were satisfactory they were TO re-
ceive permanent appointments, at 81 600
per annum, 1t is said that the whole
number will be reappointed January LIST.
Examinations will soon be held to fill
the twenty vacancies now existing.
The Star this evening says; 1t is i'm
possible to judge of the strength or
weakness of either side of the silver
coinage question in the House. Many
members, it says, are in doubt. and the
opinion is pretty generally expressed
that neither side has majority as it
now stands, but that the balance of
power is held by those who have not
yet made up their minds. The fight
will be to win these doubtful votes, and
some compromise measure is likely TO
come in for pretty strong support.