The Somerset reporter., 1888-02-08
AT WASHINGTON.

Representative Boutelles bill, to relieve from
the charge OF descrtion, enlisted and appointed
men in the navy and marine corps, who served
faithfully until the expiration of their terms OF
enlistment, or were prevented from completing
their term of service by reason of disability con-
tractcd in the SERVICE or by absence fiOm their
command at the time they were eatitled to dis
| charge, has been reported favorably by the
House committee on naval affairs. This meas
ure will cover eases now pending in Congress,
where relief is sought by private acts. 1t au-
| thOrilcs the Secretary of the Navy to remove
the charge of descrtion in the same classes of
eases in the navy that the Secretary of War may
remove the charge in the case of soldiers.
Senator FRYE has introduced bill authorizing
and requesting the President to invite the mari
time Powers to marine conference in WASH
ington to begin Oct. |, 1883, the purpose of which
conference shall be to amend the "Rule of the
Road at Sea" and the international code Of
flag and night signals, and to discuss other kim
bred matters of interest to seamen.
A. Z. Gould, Esq. of Thomaston, who was
taken violently i'll, on the ears, while en- route
for Washington, has recovered and appeared
in the U. S. Supreme Court as counsel in
Maine case with General b. +. Butler upon the
opposing side 1t was the renewal between the
distinguished counsel, which began years ago in
the Maine courts, upon question involving a
large quaint ty Of ice.
The Senate committee on military affairs has
made favorable report upon bill which is of
interest to a very large number Of volunteer sol
diers of the 1t proposes to give bounty
of 800 to all soldiers who, prior to July % 1861,
were enrolled or enlisted for a three years term
of service. The officers Of the treasury are di-
rectcd to reconsider the claims of all soldiers or
their heirs, who have been denied this bounty
under previous constructions Of the act April -,
1872.
The U. S. Treasurer, Friday afternoon, issued
a circular to the New England National Banks |
and others, saying that he is prepared to issue |
one and two dollar silver certificates in redemp-
ton of mutilated United States notes.
On Thursday in the Senate. the presiding
officer announced a special committee on the |
Pacific railroad, Senators Frye, Dawes, Hiscock, |
Davis Morgan, Butler and Hearst. A bill was
passed to increase the pensions Of certain SOL
ders and sailors, utterly helpless from injuries
received or diseases contracted while in the SER
vice, to $72 per month. There was tariff tilt
between Senators Sherman and kenna' The
House passed bill intended to prevent the
through the mail as second class
matter of cheap literature, and requiring it to be
transmitted as third class matter.
As revised by the commission and promul-
gated by the President, the civil service rules are
more specific and stringent than ever. Dis
nissal is made the penalty for official interference
with elections, for interference in any manner
whatever with the payment of money for politi-
al purposes, for rendering political services or
or prejudicng the standing of applicants or of
subordinate officials for political reasons. APP
pointing officers allowed to make objections
n writing to the names Of persons certified to
hem. Privileges to soldiers and sailors and
heir widows and orphans are enlarged and
made more definite. The age limit in the Gus
oms service and to the grade OF clerk in the
'ostal service, is abrogated, while the maximum
ge for letter carriers is raised from 81 to 40
ears. The minimum age in the postal service
5 raised several years, and the minimum grade
{ eligibility is raised from 65 to 70 per cent.
The new rules go into effect March |.