The Daily Tombstone., 1886-03-16
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON. March 8, 1886.

Ol lllt IOGIldIG IO SIlIIG HIS llllOTIldIlOll upon which changes in the civil ser vIce have been made. The second was a message from the President, in which he condemns ill the most de- cided and explicit terms the outrages committed on Chinese upon the Pacific coast, and urges Congress to reimburse the victims for their pecuniary losses. The remaining document is decided letter from Secretary Manning on the silver policy of the Administration in which he shsws no disposition to compromise with the silver element of his party.
 There was rumor current here early i'll the week to the effect that the Chinese Minister had received in structions from his government to de- mand from the United States the total disavowal of the recent outrages against the Chinese residents of the Western States, the punishment of the offenders, and pecuniary in- demnity to the sufferers for their losses, and that if the United States refused to comply with the demand, the President was to be informed that the Chinese government would imme. diately proceed to collect the indemni- ty from American citizens in business in the Imperial Territory, and with draw its protection from them; and 1t was further said that it was this circumstance which led to the pro mitigation of the Presidents message to Congress upon the subject. In recent interview of the Chinese Minis ter by an Associated Press representa- tive, the Minister said that while he had information that China Is greatly eXcit' d over these Uutragcs, and that retaliation had in some instances been threatened by the excited people. he has received no iuStI Ic!ions to make any formal demands upon this gov ernment, nor had he any such in formation tIi. such demands are contemplated.
 The project Of bringing the various nations of the American continent in to closer commercial and political re- laliOns, has much to commend it to tine serious consideration which it is now receiving from Congress.
 Senator Frye has introduced a bill in the Senate "authorizing and direct ing the President to invite, on behalf of the government and people of the United States delegates from each of the republics of Central and South America, including Mexico, San Dom ingo, and the Empire of Brazil, to as- semble in Washington on the 1st day of October, 1886, to consider and de- eide upon such questions IS shall be of mutual interest and for the com mon welfare of the American people
 There are many questions of mutual interest, which would be discussed by Congress, among the most important of which would be tine extensionsof trade relations and common silver coinage. A friendly conference of the nations of the continent would probably accomplish much towards bringing about an understanding On these matters.
 The first annual report of the Bureau of Economic Ornitholugy, about to be issued, will contain much interesting and valuable information relative to the destruction of grain and other crops accustomed by the ravages of birds. It has been found that the English sparrow, which has during the past few years wonderfully increased Tn numbers, nntil it is now found in every State and Territory in the Union, is by far the most deslruc- tive of any of the feathered tribe, as there are few crops, either of grain or fruit, which wholly CSC: pes its atten- ton. The damages done by the rice4 bird in some localities has been found to be so great as to be almost incredi- blu. The annual loss occasioned by the ravages of this bird alone is re- ported to exceed tive millions of dol lars Tn sOna Of the rica DrpduciDv