The Portland daily press., 1886-11-15
FROM WASHINGTON.
The Report of Internal Revenue
Commissioner Mills.
Suggestions in Regard to Enforcing
the oieomargarine Law.
The Pacific Railways Accounts
with the Government.
A Scheme OF Commander schley's
Regarding the Naval Apprentices.
New Appointments for Maine.

WASHINGTON, Nov 13.-The Postmaster
General has appointed the following named
fourth-class postmasters J. HI. Piper.
Newburgh Village; L. NJ Sawyer, North
Yarmouth.
our Army Roll.
Secretary Of War his animal report. From
the report 1t appears that at the date of the
last returns, the army of the United States
consisted of 2,102 officers and q, GAG men, dis
tributed as follows: General officers, IS
general stan, 575 oihcers and 1,214 men; ten
regiments of cavalry, All officers, 6.942 men;
five regiments artillery, 272 officers, 2.473
men; twenty-five regiments infantry. S36 Of
fees, 10,72l men; Indian scouts, 595 men de-
tatchments. recruiting parties and zoos men,
Indian Confederation.
The interior department today received
copy Of the fourth annual message Of Hon.
u. w. Bushyhead, principal chief of the
Cherokee nation. Indian Territory to the
national council sitting at Tahlequah,
Nov. 2, 1886. The most important feature of
the message is the recommendation that the
30 Indian tribes in territory form a cOnfed-
Grafton for the purpose Of anticipating and
resisting the passage by Congress of an act
creating territory out Of mo Mans Land"
and portions of Indian Territory.
Free to Navigation.
The Department Of State has received a
copy Of the decree, made by President
Blance of Venezuela, under date of October
25th last, opening the 0rinoco river to free
navigation.
Demands Two Months Pay.
At the last session of Congress Represen-
tative Belmont, as chairman of the House
Committee on Foreign Affairs, appointed
Mr.. Harry Spofford, son Of Librarian Spot
ford, clerk to that committee with an annual
salary of $1,000 During the recess Mr.. Spot
ford went to Europe and remained abroad
for two months under the impression that he
was still the clerk to the Committee on For
eign Affairs.
In the meantime Mr. Belmont removed
Mr. Spofford and appointed New York
friend to the vacancy, to date from Sept. 80.
Capitol to draw the salary he supposed was
due him for the months of September and
October, but learned that he had been dis
placed and that there was but one months
salary to his credit. Mr.. Spofford claims
that his removal should not have been made
during the recess without the sanction of a
majority of the members of the committee,
and therefore will claim the amount of his
salary for the months Of October and No
vember. He has presented his case and sub
mtted it to the first comptroller of tie treas
ury for decision. Mr.. Spofford does not
question Mr.. Belmont's authority to remove
him while Congress is in session but insists
that the rules of the House will not sustain
his action in the present case.
Commodore schiey's Scheme for the
Naval Apprentices.
Commodore w. S. Schley, who has charge
OF the training squadron in connection with
his other duties, favors the passage OF law
which Will enable our naval apprentices
every year to compete for admission to the
Naval Academy.
If Commodore Schley's idea is carried into
effect an incentive viii be offered not only
for enlistment of still better class of boys,
but 1t will spur them on after enlistment to
surpass THAR fellow apprentices in order that
they may be chosen to represent the squad
ron IN the annual competition Of the Naval
Academy.
The plan is to send every year four of the
apprentices having the highest degree of
technical and general knowledge. and whose
physical condition is good, to the Naval
Academy, and allow them fair competition
with candidates designated in the ways now
prescribed by law. In the event of their
passing, admit them to the Academy with
all the rights.and privileges Of naval cadets.
Silver Dollar Circulation.
WASHINGTON, Nov 13-The total amount
OF standard silver dollars in circulation Noy.
10 was SCI, 1853, 240, out of a total coinage of
SPA, ,765, 1856. The amount outstanding Nov.
Z, 1888, was $40, AZ, ,0S9, out of coinage of
S163, ST, ,342. The Treasury Department has
tried to increase the silver dollar circulation
to So, 100000. but it is now thought that it
will be impossible to reach that figure as
the present tendency is in the opposite direc-
tiOn.
The net gold holdings of the Treasury.
coin and bullion, now amount to Sl59, ,S6S, $40,
against $142, 23S, ,5S9 on Nov. /, 1886.
Pacific Railways Accounts.
Charles Francis Adams, Jr, president of
the Union Pacific Railroad Company, had
interviews yesterday and today with Seere-
tary Lamar relating to the adjustment of
differences between the government and the
railroad company on current accounts.
sediment entirely satisfactory to both par
ties is in fair way of being reached. The
amount determined on will be Immediately
liquidated by the company and the accounts
closed.
Internal Revenue Report.
Joseph S. Miller, Commissioner of Inter-
nal Revenue, says in his annual report that
the total receipts from all sources cf internal
revenue taxation for the fiscal year ended
June 80, 1886, were S116,902 ,SS9, against
$112, ,421, ,121 in 1885; $121, ,590039 in 1888; and
S141, ,523, ,273 in 1882. The statement of with
drawals for consumption during the past
year as compared with the preceding year.
shows large increase in all articles Of taxa
tion except snuff, of which there was de-
crease of $195,747. The principal increase
was in cigars, cigarettes and spirits distilled
from grain. The cost of collection during
the year was S4 299, ,485, about SO per cent Of
the amount collected, against 81, 4,455, ,430 in
1885, or about 3.9 per cent of the amount col
months of the present fiscal year were S2S,-
0Od 9O4 an incraaSa of GO2Q 1d1 ovar tho re