Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1886-04-23

49,
boundaries Of the Deadwood district;
Senator Mitchell's bill to establish
an additional land district in Oregon,
and Senator Blackburn's bill, fixing the
price on exempt letters of patent or
papers of record in the general land
Office to parties in interest at fifteen
cents per hundred words, and thirty
cents each for photo-lithOgraphic
copies of township places.
The finance committee held an ex-
ecutive meeting and nearly cleared its
calendar, ordering favorable reports
upon all but three or four of the nom
nations referred to it.
The treasury department has been
informed that the Canadian govern
ment has enacted an additional duty
of u per cent. on sugar imported in
Canada through the United States.
Mr.. Trenholm, the newly appointed
comptroller Of the currency, has re-
turned today and will assume the duties
of his new Office Monday next.
DR.. Hamilton said today that there
was asteady Improvement in Secretary
Manning's condition. He sits up for
several hours every day, and has re-
covered the free use Of his limbs. He
is gradually gaining strength and will
soon be able to walk. He is also very
cheerful in spirits, and frequently
chats and jokes with his attendants.
Among the presidents callers today
were the cadets from the Michigan
military academy, who were .accompa-
MED by Senator Conger and Represen-
tative Wymar. They were received in
the East room by special appointment.
1t is expected that another bond call
for $10,O00,000 three per cent. bonds
will be issued next week.
The posmaster-general has written
to a member of the house committee
on p~ostotiices and postroads a letter
urging that congress definitely and
u~nmistakable declare the purpose and
intent Of the so.called Spalding act for
the reimbursement Of the salaries of
postmasters who served between 1864
and 1874. When this act was passed
in 1888 its true intent and
meaning was a matter of great
doubt and perplexity. Postmaster
General Gresham studied it carefully
and wrote an elaborate opinion
upon it. He also called upon Attor-
ney-GenerAl Brewster for a construc-
ton Of the law. The Interpretation
placed upon the law by the attorney
general formed the basis Of the mode
of ~readjustment adopted by the de
%partment. This mode has given great
dissatisfaction TO most of the $4,000
ex-postmasters, who supposed the law
to mean u thing, while the officials
construed it to mean another. They
are pouring their complaints into
congress. demanding that the methot
of REIMBURSEMENT be changed. Post
m lster General Villas has thus ia
pursued the method adopted by hi
predecessor. He did not feel author
lied to change the rule, in view of thu
fact that the Forty-eighth congress
appropriated nearly a quarter of a
million to pay the readjustments under
the rule adopted. Up to March 18th
some 24,875 cases bad been reviewed
of this number 1859 claims wert
allowed the aggregate of allowances
being $548,874; claims disallow'
ed amounted to $l5,5l8, and the
claimants mostly claim that IN
der their Interpretation of the act
something would be found due them
All the members of the select CON-
mittee on labor troubles, except Mr.,
Stewart, of Vermont, who is on leave
of absence, were present at this after
Moons meeting. After a short dis
cussion of the best means of pursuing
the inquiry, the committee resolved to
subpoena Messrs. Gould, Hopkins
Powdtrly and Mcdowell. The
committee is anxious to secure
all of the correspondence pass,
ing between these gentlemen in
relation to the Western strike, and will
begin its investigation here Tuesday
with the examination of Messrs. Pow.
derby and Mcdowell, who will be fol
lowed Wednesday and Thursday by
Mr.. Jay Gould and Mr.. A. L. Hopkins
On Sunday next the committee will
start for st. Louis, and after taking
such testimony at that point as may bt
deemed material, it is probable that thu
members will divide into two sub
committees, one proceeding to
Atchison, Kansas, and the Other
to- Fort Worth, Texas, tC
collect information relative tC
the strike at those places and along
the lines of route. The committee is
disposed to report at an early day, but
1t is determined to make the investiga
tion thorough and impartial.
WASHINGTON, April 49, The presi'
dent has signed the act authorizing
the erection Of a building for the con.
gresSional library.
There is a rumor that Gen. W. F
Rogers, of Buffalo, a member of thu
last congress, is to be appointed public
printer, in place of Mr.. Rounds. Gen
Rogers is a practical printer and {
successful man Of affairs.
Assistant Secretary of the interior
Muldrow has requested the attorney
general, if in his judgment he shall
deem it for the interest Of the United
States, to institute suits against thu
hrnn Of Ordmnn Wnidlnr {. Co anf