Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-02-05

| The TELEPHONE SUIT.-Solicitor General
Goode is engaged in preparing the papers neces-
sary to institute the suit to test the validity OF
the Bell telephone patents. He will not an
| Is ready TO file the bill.
AMONG THE PRESIDENTS CALLERS to-day
were Senator German and friends. Senator Nc
Pherson, with Jacob Crane and NJ. w. Wey.
burn, OF New York; G. w. C. Mccoy of Balti-
more more; Arthur NJ; Saunders, of Madras, East In:
Mes a M5s M GhaS R w. Rogers Of New York and
T WaIns sEo o.; Eldrsags. Bynum, Aecreary'
and Payson; Admiral Rodgers and Gen. Mefgs,
r. g. Guthrie, Titusvilhe; DR.. H. A. Page, Brad
hast Troy. n =, and F. Il. MarsS G Chicago al
INDIAN TITLE TO LANDS IN DAKorA.-On the
23d of January last. Commissioner Sparks wrote
TO the surveyor general of Dakota, in reply to
his request for authority to make a survey of
| lands situated in the region lying north and
west OF Devils lake, that in view of the claim
| and that the whole question will be submitted
10 congress for requisite legislation as to the
| regular extingufshment of the Indian title,
| lnaC surveys within the described district
| should be suspended. He is directed to award
| no more contracts embracing lands situate
| therein, and all such contracts now pending are
indefinitely suspended.
ARMY LEAvEs.-Leave Of Capt. William B.
|
disability; leave of Capt. F. T. Whitehead, com.
subst., extended six months for disability;
! leave OF Capt. Thomas j. Gregg, I'd cavalry, eX-
Tended three months for disability leave OF
months, disability; leave for two IN on tbs granted
| CCaPt. X. n. White, asst. surg, and I'd Lieut..
Z. A. Derol, 25th infantry; leave for six months
granted Maj. H. E. Brown. surgeon, for disa-
| bility; resignation by LIST Lieut.. s. E. Stuart fof
| his commission as I'd lieut., LIST artillery, &C
cepted by the President, to take effect Jan. 20.
CURIOUS LETTERS TO SECRETARY MANNING
| The Secretary of the Treasury has received two
curiousletters. One ofthem was from a woman in
| Massachusetts requesting to be furnished with
| the number of the 81, 500 conscience money re-
Gently received, as they may prove to have
| Deen the bills recently stolen from her father.
!eXas In reference to his bonds. It was lad-
dressed to 'The Honorable Secretary OF the
treasury. Most Worshipful and Distinguished
sir, ana the envelope was formed of two en-
VeiOpes turned inside out, which had recently
been addressed to him by the Treasury depart
ment.
REFUSING TO OPEN A LAND GRANT CASE
The Secretary Of the Interior declines to recon-
mend suit in the case of the Mexican grant of
Lazuna de Tache, in Fresno county, California,
wherein application is made for the United
States to bring suit to set aside the patent on
the grounds that the grant was fraudulent.
GENERAL ROsECRANs AND THE TREASURY
ACCOUNTS.-Gen. ROsecrans, the register of the
Treasury, has proposed a bill to facilitate the
business of the Treasury department. which, if
be submitted to Congress. The object of the
Dill Is to enable the books of the department to
pc balanced, which. General Rosecrans claims,
mas never been done, because accounts have
not Deen closed up by the proper debit or credit
entry, put have stood on the record assets of
the United States. The bill provides for an an
preparation account on the proper books of the
Treasury department to be known as the Gun
available balances account" to which all un-
lions shall be transferred by warrants.
THE BLAND RESOLUTION AND THE CAB1-
METAL the meeting of the Cabinet yesterday
all the members were present with the excep-
ton of Secretary Lamar. The main subject
considered was the answer to be made to the
treasury for information in regard to his past
and future policy on the silver question. The
PROPHECY and expediency of disclosing the
tion was considered at length. It is understood
that the conclusion reached was that the Secre-
Iary could best reply to that portion of the re-
soiutOn by q reference to the views expressed
Dy the PRESIDENT In his message to Congress
ana ny the Secretary OF the Treasury by his re-
| ment that their sentiments In regard to silver
| remain unchanged.
THE PRESIDENTS LETTER To A PRESS CIuR
The President was invited to attend the annual
ball OF the Buffalo Press club last evening" He,
however, sent letter regretting his inability
70 attend, in which he said: II remember with
much pleasure an occasion of a like character
Wh1ch II was my privilege to attend as the
guest OF the club, a year ago, and you may be
sure that if 1t were possible I should avail my
sell OF the opportunity which your invitation
affords to again meet some OF my good Buffalo
friends. But am obliged to say with real re-
greet that my public duties here do not permit
the acceptance of your invitation"
TRANSFERRED TO OTHER DUTY.-2d Lieut.
James G. Sanford, corps of engineers, has been
relieved from duty with the battalion of engi-
neers, Willet's Point, n. Y, and ordered to New
York for duty under Lieut. Col. d. c. Houston
corps OF engineers.
PERsoNAL.-Senator Camden, MIR. and Mrs.
w. X. Davidson, Mr.. and Mrs. B. X. PLAIN and
daughters and Mr.. Thomas Hassard, of Wash
ington, were among the arrivals at Jacksonville
on Wednesday.-Mr. and Mrs. H. L. Dodge Of
California, and Z. b. Stahlman are at the Eb-
oitt.~Coi. +; W. Dawson, editor of the Charles
yesterday, accompanied by his family.-J. O.
Barton, Of Washington, arrived in San Fran
cisco last acknowledgements Post has
tor oNeil at Eontrose, PsME s " Ku nlleS-
reys. of New York, and Edwin Stevens of Phil.
adelphia, are at Wizards .-Mr and Mrs. b. j.
McGrew, OF Washington, were registered in
Ward, of Pennsylvania, and Michael Jacobs of
New York, are at the Riggs.-Lieut. H, T.
STOCKTON sailed tor Europe yesterday from New
take trip south for his health.-Senator
Aldrich was IN New York last night.
The Attack on Captain Crawford.
WHAT WAR DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS SAY OF
THE MEXICAN REPORT OF 1T.
The account given by a Mexican officer of the
attack upon Captain Crawfords command ia
regarded norfv,,