Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-05-24

hat the United States steamer Boston
will be sent to Hayti carrying commits
sion under authority of the State Depart
nent to ascertain and report upon the |
condition of affairs in Hayti, whether
there is disposition upon the part of
any European governments to interfere |
in Haytian matters, and what, if any,
action is required in behalf of the United |
States. Blaine declines to talk on the
subject.
BRACE OF FINE GUNS.
The Ordnance Bureau OF the Navy
has completed two of the
l0.inch steel breech- loading rifles for the
monitor Miantonomah. These are the
largest and most powerful guns yet
turned out for the navy. One of them
has been fully tested, with the most graft
flying results, as it compares favorably
with the best products of the renowned
European ordnance works. The muzzle
velocity attained was 1000 feet per Sec
ond. The range could not be determined
owing to lack of sufficiently large prov.
ing grounds, but it is estimated at ten
miles.
Soon after the contracts are awarded
for the construction OF the new 2 500 ton
gunboats, preparations will begin at the
Washington ordnance yards for the man
ufacture of three peculiar pieces of ord
mace, which are to be made up entirely
of rapid fire guns of extraordinary cali
bres, as compared with guns of this type
now in use on our naval vessels. The
largest guns of this kind will be six
inches in calibre, but owing to the SIM
plicity and compactness of tber mechan-
ism and construction, they will not mater
tally exceed in weight the six inch Iifies
of the kind now in use, although they
are fully equal to them in range and &C.
curacy, and are vastly superior in offen-
sive power, by reason of their rapidity of
fire.
SHORT COMMONS FOR PENSIONERS.
The Pension Appropriation act for the
current fiscal year appropriated $50, ,400,-
600 for the payment of pensions, and
S8,000,000 more was also appropriated
for the same purpose to meet the threat
ened deficiency, making a total appro-
priation OF $SS, 100000. This whole
amount will be necessary to meat the
demands of the pensioners, and it may
be that there will be deficiency; but it
is said at the Pension Office that there ia
no truth ia the statement that $105 ,000,
600 will be expended for pensions during
the fiscal year. II. G. Bell, Chief of the
Agents. Division OF the Pension Office,
who is entrusted with the duty of seeing
to the expenditure of the pension appro-
priations, says that the appropriation for
the next fiscal year, $50 400 600, is too
small, and that there will be a deficiency
of about $15 100000 General Black, he
SAYS, did not ask for enough money to
prevent deficiency even on the basis of
the expenditures then existing.
MOST SENSIBLE MOVE.
The United States steamer Boston,"
now at New York, will be ordered to
Hayti in day or two. Secretary Tracy
says the order is in pursuance of his
policy of relieving frequently the vessels
on the West India station, where they
are exposed to yellow fever. He added
that If any one connected with the State
was going on the Boston, he
did not know it. The officials at the
State Department were equally ignorant
of any intention to send representative
to Hayti.
THE BEHRING SEA BUSINESS.
Secretary Whitney today signed the
sailing orders for the revenue steamer
Rush, directing that she sail Immediately
upon receipt of her instructions, to
Alaska, and then to cruise diligently in
Behring Sea, warning all persons
against entering such waters for the pur-
pose of violating Section 1856 of the
Revised Statutes, and arresting all per-
sons and seizing all vessels found to be,
or to have been. engaged in violation of
the laws of the United States therein.
Section !, 1856 Of the Revised Statues, re-
ferred to above, provides that no person
shall kill any otter, mink, martin, sable,
or fur seal, or other fur bearing animal
within the limits of Alaska Territory, or
in the waters thereof, and every
person, guilty thereof, shall, for
each offense, be fined not less
than 5000, nor more than
81 ,0G0, or imprisonment for not more
than six months, or 10th, and all yes.
sells, their tackle, apparel, furniture or
cargo, found engaged in violation of this
section shall be forfeited, by the Secre- |
tary of the Treasury shall have power to |
authorize the killing of any such mink,
martin, sable, or other fur-bearing ami. |
NAL, except fur seals, under such regula-
lions as he may prescribe, and it shall be |
the duty OF the Secretary to prevent the /
killing Of any fur seal, and to provide for
the execution of this section until it is
otherwise provided by law, no shall he
grant any special privileges under this
section. The commanding officer
of the Rush is also furnished
with copy of the act of
March 2, 1889, and the Presidents PROC
of March 81, 1889, regarding
,he protection of the seal and salmon
fisheries of Alaska, and is instructed to
enforce their provisions. The Rush is
now at San Frar cisco, ready for sea, and
will sail immediately upon recent of her
orders, which were mailed at Washing
;on this afternoon.
The revenue steamer Bear, which is
now fitting out at San Francisco for the
expedition to Point Barrow, Alaska. has
.lso been designated to assist in the pro-
ection of the Alaska fisheries, and will
ollow the Rush in a short time. Her
,rders are now being prepared at the
treasury Department.
GROWTH AND MANUFACTURE OF FLAX.
Since the recent publication in these
dispatches of the letter by the Assistant
secretary of Agriculture respecting the
xistence of a machine that will take fax {
ibre from the stalk without wettipg. the
nail department has been burdened with
etters on the subject, showing national E
L..