The Portland daily press., 1888-01-04
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.
Some Matters That Are of Interest
to Maine People.
The President Claims Some Land
Which Texas Also Wants.
Why the Revenue Marine Should be
Transferred to the Navy.
Especial to the Press.l

eHtct Until special agent SnOuiu nave III |
vestigated the condition of affairs. The |
Department plainly begins to see that it has |
acted far from wisely in the matter.
One of the items in the urgent deficiency |
appropriation BILL probably the first that |
will pass Congress, is SAT, 900 for the Angus |
ia public building.
The special agent Of the Treasury sent to |
report on erecting lighthouse on the Chan |
mel Rocks, reports in favor Of light house, |
but prefers locating it on Goose Rock in |
stead.
The Government VS.. Texas.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 3-The President has |
issued a proclamation declaring that the |
title to all the territory lying between the |
North and South Forks Of the Red River |
and the 16Oth degree of longitude, and the |
Jurisdiction over the same, are vested in the
United States. it being part of Indian Ter
ri.ory, as shown by surveys and investlga-
tion made in behalf Of the United States
and by the government commission recently
appointed. The State of Texas also claims
title to and jurisdiction. over the same, the
commission appointed by the State Of Texas
refusing to concur in the report OF the gov
ernment commission. The President warns
all persons against selling, disposing OF or
attempting to sell, or dispose Of, any Of said
lands, and from exercising, or attempting TO
exercise, any authority over them. He also
warns all persons against purchasing any
part Of said territory from any person or
persons whatsoever.
The Nations indebtedness.
The total debt. less cash in the Treasury,
January 1st, was 81, ,525, ,59S. .4o1.99, showing a
decrease during December of S14.584,6 $50.
The decrease since June 30th was S53,S3O,-
333.03
Lightship In Danger.
Commander Barker, inspector of the Sec
ond District, reports to the Lighthouse
Board, that every effort will be made to
afford relief to the South Shoal lightship in |
Woods Hol. He does not anticipate any |
danger to the crew from starvation, as the |
ship was supplied with rations sufficient TO |
feed the crew and the extra 27 shipwrecked |
men from the steamship Newcastle City un- |
til the 18th inst. SuccOr can certainly be |
given before that date.
Soldiers Of Long Ago.
Senator Hearst, of California, win shortly
after the reassembling of Congress intro
duee a bill to increase the pensions Of the
surviving soldiers Of the war of 1912 from IS
to S25 month. The statistics furnished to
theSenator make interesting reading. They
show that while the list Of the veterans has
decreased to 1909, their widows aggregate
the respectable number Of 1881. This de-
cided difference in the sex Of the pensioners
apparently indicates that the women are
longer lived than the men. AS matter Of |
fact, the veterans late in life married young |
women, and in the majority OF cases have |
long passed over to the silent majority.
The pension records shows that 1913 OF the |
soldiers and 1859 of their widows reside in |
the State Of New York; in Massachusetts
the number IS 6S soldiers and sos widows IN
New Hampshire, A soldiers and 446 widows;
in Pennsylvania. 81 and 100; in Ohio, 81 and
945; in Illinois, SO and 1853; in Indiana, 80
and 465; in Iowa and Nebraska, 23 and
1895. The number for the entire Southern
States aggregates 214 soldiers and 2,542
widows; while the Pacific slope contains
but 12 soldiers and 70 of their wives.
The rapid death te among the veterans
is shown by the fact that while an excess OF
S2OO0O 900 was paid to them in pensions in
1873 the disbursements for the present year
amounted to only 100000. At the present
rate of mortality only score or more will
be alive five years hence.
The Revenue Marine.
Another attempt will be made during this
session Of Congress to secure the trans
fer Of the revenue marine service from the
Treasury Department to that of the Navy.
According to Senator Chandler's plan, there
dIt oOllc CACClCHb lCdoOno WY tnio ouOuA0
be done. In the first place, the revenue ma
rine officers of today. although they are to
all intents and purposes naval officers, have
no tstandinglas such. They haye no retired |
list, and after 30 years CT more Of active or |
faithful service, In which they encounter as |
many dangers and hardships as the regular
navy, they are simply dropped from the
rolls, to rust out In private life. Again, the
navy is anxious to take charge of the reve-
nue. marine service, and the revenue marine
officers are also without exception, anxious
for the transfer. Perhaps the most import
ant argument in favor Of the change is the
fact that the naval academy at Annapolis
annually turns out more graduates than can
be accommodated with places in the navy,
while the revenue marine service maintains
a schoolship at great cost, in which the
officers are trained.
CarllsIe's Committees.
New YORK, Jan. "a Washington spec
ial to the World today says that 1t is doubt
full If Mr.. Carlisle will announce any of the
committees Wednesday, except the appro-
priotions and the ways and means. The
speaker SAID last night: Il see the news
papers have decided the composition of the
committees and also state that l will an
nounce them Wednesday. They are having
much easier time than l am"
President Cleveland to Decide.
President Cleveland has before him mat |
ter of Importance that must be disposed Of |
In the course of month or more, the result |
of which will be interesting to two coun- |
tries. In July last, in response to the solicit |
tation of the Ministers representing the Gen. |
tral American republics of Nicaragua and |
Costa Rica, he consented to become the ar |
bitrator between those two governments for |
the settlement of a long pending dispute. |
For nearly 80 years a treaty between Nicara- |
-. H. -
touching the respective "limits' Of the two |
countries. A contention has arisen as to the |
validity of the treaty. Neither Costa Rica |
nor Nicaragua will yield to the proposition |
of the other. 1t is for the purpose Of reach |
ing a permanent understanding that both |
governments have placed the controversy in |
the hands Of the President, agreeing to be |
bound by his decision.
Maine Matters.
The following Portland and Deering pa
tents were granted today;
Edward b. Allen, heel loading machine.
Edward Fletcher, machine for forming tackle
block straps.
:. Edward ". Robinson, c. II. o'Brion and H. NJ.
Breen, electric exercising machine.
WilliamP. Stevens, Deering, machine for form
ing pulping cylinders.
William r. Mason was today appointed
postmaster at Swanville, vice e. II. Nicker-
son, removed.
Maine Pensioners.
The following Maine pensions have been
granted;
Hartley c. Dodge alias Thomas Sherman, Port
land
Richard +. Ballard, Cape Elizabeth.
MEXICAN WAR.
Elyira, widow Of David c. Crocker, New Har-
Dor.
ORIGINAL.
David X. Bolster, Augusta
REISSUE.
Hendrick A. N. Dutton, Windsor.
Justus 4. HUFF, Topsheld.i
CANADAS ARMY.