The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1886-09-17
WASHINGTON NEWS.
Treasury Statement Showing n Materia
Reduction OF Public Obligations.

heuuctiOn OF PUBLIC obligations
The latest warrant for the payment of
Alabama claims has been signed by Acting
Secretary Fairchild, who affixed his sigma
ture to 1,063 documents of this class.
President Cleveland replied to Queen
VictOria's cablegram that her expression of
sympathy for the earthquake sufferers
awakes grateful response in American
hearts.
A. G.. Sedgwlck, special agent of the
United States to Investigate the Cutting
case, has gone to Chihuahua, with permits
sion from the Mexican government to ex-
anime all the records.
The Philadelphia mint is now over
Whelmed with work. In addition to clean
ing up the minor base coins at the rate of
$50, 900 each week and keeping up with the
demand for dimes, the regular monthly
purchase of silver bullion must be coined.
1t is estimated that $4,000 600 of bullion
will coin 2 500, 600 silver dollars. The EN-
ployes at the mint are now working from
8 o'clock A. Nj. to midnight every week
day.
Chief Clerk Youmans, who has Just re-
turned from visit to Secretary Manning,
says: mo one would imagine to look at
him that he had any trouble, for his color
is good and there is 10 perceptibe decrease
in the fullness of the face. But it is when
he attempts to walk that the extent of his
malady is manifested. My opinion is that
the secretary will not reconsider his de-
termination to retire from the treasury de-
friends and his family are averse to his
picking up the reinS again, as it will only
increase his feebleness, and do not think
his physician will allow it, either"
Acting Commissioner Stockslager, of the
general land office, holds, in q decision in
the homestead case of Daniel u. Rogers of
Missouri, that the Atlantic and Pacific
Railroad company is not entitled to the re-
served odd-numbered sections within the
limits OF the grant OF even sections to the
decision involves lands on the line of road
between Springfield, Mo-. and the western
boundary OF the state, o distance of ninety
miles. The South Pacific railroad received
the even sections and the Atlantic and Pa
cific claimed the odd sections, both COM
panes thus claiming a solid block of land
under the two grants, though but one road
was constructed. Assistant Commissioner
StOckslager holds this claim untenabe and
awards the tract in controversy in the de-
cided case to the homesteader.
BOND INVITATIONS.
United States Treasurer Jordan is of the
opinion that the plan of calling in the 3
per cents by invitation instead of by COM
pulsion will prove successful. Already the
amount received in response to the Invita-.
ton Is about S1,000,000. "Thls," said Mr..
Jordan, "in round numbers puts as much
money into actual circulation as IL bonds
to the amount of $500, 600 had been call
ed" The calls bring bonds mainly from
the banks, and the operation of bringing
them into the treasuryis in great measure
no more than transfer Of accounts and q
different bookkeeping way of stating the
account. Mr.. Fairchild agrees with Mr..
Jordan IN this opinion. Whether bond in.
vitations will continue as the policy OF the
department Is not yet determined. 1t is
not yet clear whether the whole amount
invited to be presented by Sept. Ii will be
received. 1t Is not now expected that so
large an amount will be rendered, and il
may be doubted whether many more bonds
there should be q married. change In the
condition of the money market. But,
whether the involuntary or the call system
shall be continued, it is the impression in
the treasury among those who are the best
informed Oh this subject that all of the out
standing 3 per cents will be brought into
the treasury, by call or invitation, In the
course OF next year.
POWELL DIFFERS FROM M'GEE.
Major Powell, chief of the geological
survey, speaking of Professor McGce's
displacement theory to account for the
view: THAT is simply theory which has
no scientific value at this time. l am snr-
prised that Professor MCGEE should have
published such q theory, but am glad that
lie states IL merely as an idea. The people
down there are i'll state OF excitement
and will accept almost any explanation.
This one should not have been promulgated
by a scientist at the present time, because
it is valueless. There may be some basis
of truth in it, however, which further In.
quiry will develop" Major Powell thinks
there Is nothing 10 show volcanic action.
He doubts whether there is any truth in
the stories about the streams of hot water
bubbling up through the assures OF the
earth. 10 some, he says, the throwing up
of blue and yellow mud and the presence
of sulphurou5 smells would be evidence
enough of the volcanic origin of the earth
quake, but 1t does not necessarily follow.
The mud might easily enough have been
thrown up by the contractions or expan-
sions of the earth, under the influences OF
the ''seaward Slip" described as passing
all along the coast. From Richmond
through North and South Carolina tile
waters beneath the surface are strongly
impregnated with sulphur
Another scientist connected with the sur.
vey thinks there may have been 'slide"
at Charleston, but such q supposition
would not account for all the effects which |
are said to have been produced. The de- |
scent of the land to the bottom of the sea |
is much more sudden at Cape Hatteras than |
at Charleston, and the slide, lie thinks, |
would therefore have been more likely to |
have occurred at that point than where |
Professor McGee places IL.
JORDAN WILL STICK.
Mr.. Jordan, United States treasurer, has |
returned from the Hot Springs of North |
Carolina much improved in health. He |
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