The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-11-30

the owners for the loss of registered matter,
and as the provisions of the treaty are recip-
rocal in their operation, they bind only
those governments which have become par
ties to them Superintendent Bell also stat
ed that the statements in dispatches pur-
porting to give the aggregate value Of the
lost packages were merest guess work, as no
one could know the value of the packages
but the sender.
The Supreme Court.
In conversation today with justice of the
United States supreme Court, correspon-
dent learned the opinion of members of that
tribunal as to the possibilities of President
Cleveland's naming four or perhaps five new
members of this court before the expiration
of the present administration, which has
been frequently alluded to. The justice said:
Justices Miller, Field and Bradley are now
eligible for retirement with full pay, as they
are past 60 years of age, and have held seats
upon the Supreme Court bench more than 10
years. Chief Justice Waite will celebrate
his 10th birthday today, when he will also be
eligible for retirement. All of the justices
named appear to be enjoying excellent
health and not one of them has expressed
any purpose looking to retirement in the
near future. However, should any of these
lead a life of ease at $4,000 per year, it is
his privilege to do so. Mr.. Justice Woods.
who is now in New Orleans endeavoring TO
obtain relief from severe pulmonary affec-
tion, is not expected to participate in the
proceedings of the court during the present
term, and his friends fear that he win never
be able to resume his duties on the bench
He is not yet eligible foI retirement, other
wise he would gladly permit President
Cleveland to name his successor. Justice
Woods is said to be in only moderate circum-
stances, and therefore does not feel able to
give up his seat on the Supreme Court bench
so long as there is the slightest chance of re-
gaining his health
The New Cruisers.
The Secretary of the Navy today accepted
the following bids for the construction of the
new cruisers and gunboats:
Cruiser No. ., Charleston" Union Iron
Works of San Francisco, at 81 ,017, 800.
Cruiser No. 3, Baltimore" Crump & Sons
of Philadelphia; $1.325, 900.
Gunboat No. 9, "Columbia," Iron Works
and Dry Dock Company of Baltimore;
$247, 900.
In the case of Gunboat No. /, no decision
has yet been reached as between the bid of
Reeder q Sons of Baltimore, who propose to
construct vessel according to the plans of
the department., and the bid of Cramp q
Sons OF Philadelphia, whose proposal con-
templates the construction of the engines af-
ter their own designs, although the Union
Iron Works of San Francisco put in the low
est bid on Cruiser No. /. the Newark" yet
as the figures exceeded the maximum amount
fixed in the appropriation bill, the Secretary
was w dCCCpb tIlcll Dtt. 1lC Will
probably refer the matter to Congress with a
statement of the facts, and recommend that
the appropriation for the construction of
Cruiser No be increased, or that the gov
ernment be authorized to build the vessel at
one of the navy yards.
The New Dollar Silver Certificate.
Additional supplies of the one dollar sill
yer certificates are expected to reach New
York banks this week. 1t is stated that at
the United States sub-treasury, that large
amounts of old one and two dollar bills were
being presented for redemption. Many of
these bills are so worn and ragged that they
require to be handled with the greatest care
TO prevent them from falling in pieces. Tie
demand for silver certificates is far ahead OF
the supply.
The Interstate Commerce Bill.
Four of the conferees on the Reagan and
Cullom Interstate commerce bills, Senators
Cullom and Harris and Representatives Rea-
gan and Weaver. appeared at the Capital to-
day, but not altogether, and their conference
was put off till tomorrow noon.
The President Very Busy.
The President was compelled to omit his
usual afternoon reception ,day in order to
devote his attention entirely to his message,
and other matters to be submitted to Con-