, 1886-05-18
Washington Notes.

~ 'toi'tt hthtfo h'ih o.
months to bring suits in the United State
circuit court for the district of Orego
against all persons, firms and corporation
claiming 10 own or to have an interest i
lands granted to the state of Oregon b.
various acts of compress to aid in the con
struction OF military wagon roads, to de
terminc the question of seasonable ant
proper completion of the roads. in accord
ancc with the terms of the granting acts
and authorizing the court to render judy
ments declaring forfeited to the United
States all of such lands where roads have
not been constructed in accordance witt
the requirements of the granting acts.
When the telephone investigation com'
mittee met to day, Manager Warren, oil
the Western Union Telegraphic company,
was placed on the stand and requested to
produce certain kilograms sent and re-
ceived by Mr.. Young and other gentle
men connected with the Pan Electric and
National Telephone companies. The
witness declined to comply with the de-
nand for the reason that the subpoena
was in the nature OF a drag net or search
warrant; that it did not specifically de-
scribe any particular messages, but sought
to discover whether any messages had
been sent or received by certain parties.
The witness remarked that the scandalous
use made Of messages produced by order
of the congressional committee in 1877
ought to satisfy the committee that no
such demand should be made. 1t was
decided to consider the subject in secret
session and witness was excused pending
a decision of the question whether the
committee would insist upon its demand
for the kilograms.
The president has vetoed the bill to es-
tablish a port of delivery at Springfield,
Mass. In his message the president says;
1t appears that the best reasons urged
for the passage of this bill are that Spring
field has a population of about 10000.
That the imports to the section of country
where the city is located for the last year
amounted in value to nearly $4,000, 900;
and that importers at this point labor un-
der a disadvantage in being unable to go
to New York and Boston for their goods,
which are frequently delayed. The gov
eminent is now subjected to great loss of
revenue through the intricacies of the
present system relating to collection OF
ustom and through the frauds and
e%vasions which that system permits and
invites. 1t is also the cause Of much of
the delay and vexation to which an honest
importer is subjected. | am of the opin-
ion hat a reform of the present methods
which have been lately earnestly pressed
upon congress should be inaugurated, in
stead of increasing the number OF ports
where the present evils may be further
extended.
The president has transmitted to con
gress the report of the secretary Of state,
with accompanying papers. in respect to
the location of the frontier line between
Alaska and British Columbia. Mr.. Bay.
ard says the British government is pre-
pared to take part in the preliminary in
vestigation of the boundary question, and
that nothing now delays action but the
want of an appropriation by congress to
enable this government to take part in the
survey. I'm view of this TACT" he says,
that important and grave international
questions Of jurisdiction may at any time
arise owing to the circumstance that great
mineral wealth exists in the territory
which is traversed by the boundary line,
the secretary of state has the honor to
recommend that congress be requested to
enact a law to authorize n survey and to
appropriate the sum of 100000, or so
much thereof as may be necessary to de
fray the EXPENSE of a preliminary sur
vey."
The president in his letter of trans
initial says; in view of the importance
of the subject, | recommend that pro-
vision be made by law for a preliminary
survey of the boundary line in question,
by officers of the United States in order
that information necessary for a basis of
treaty between this country and Great
Britain for the establishment of a def
mite boundary line may be obtained.