, 1889-03-01
Washington Notes.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 28.-This after
noon Hannibal Hamlin was on the floor
of the senate. He seemed to greatly en-
Joy the congratulations Of the senators,
which were freely extended. The ten
minute executive session of the senate to-
day was devoted to the reception of mes
sages from the president and their refer
ence to appropriate committees.
The secretary of the navy has entered
into a contract with j.. n. III. Patrick of
College Point, l.. l., to furnish three
controllable automatic topedoes, the Pat
rick patent, for use in the navy. at a total
cost of 800, 900. Each torpedo is to carry
400 pounds of dynamite aud is guaran-
teed to run one statute mile at the rate of
twenty knots an hour. The first is to be
delivered within five months, and the
other two within seven months. .
The parcels post convention has been
concluded between the United States and
Norway similar to hat with Jamaica, to
go into effect the LIST proximo.
The stream of callers on President Har-
rlson continued to-day, among them Vice
President Morton. About / o'clock Har-
risOn went out lone for a walk.
Harvey Spaulding, claim agent of this
city. has brought suits Tor $4,000 0 dam
ages in Zach case against VIM. f. Villas,
formerly postmaster general, and Don Vi.
Dickinson, present head OF the post office
department. Spaulding alleges that a
large number of postmasters of the third,
fourth and fifth class put their claims
against the government for the ~readjust-
meut OF salary in his hands, and that af-
ter much labor and expense he secured
the passage OF an act by congress direct
ing the postmaster general to readjust
these claims. He charges both
Villas and Dickinson IN their
capacity as postmasters gener-
al with having assailed him
IN every possible way in the presen-
tation OF these claims, that they have
malicious intent to injure his business and
caused the drafts for payment of
postmasters accounts adjusted to be
sent direct to the spostmasters accom-
panied by a circular stating that no agent
was needed to prosecute these claims, the
purpose being to have the plaintiff IS
clients believe that he (Spaulding) had
rendered them no service and that they
were under no obligation to him for fee
as agreed upon.
The president has appointed Allen Il.
Morrison OF Perry, Ia, Geo, W. Bird of
Madison, WIS, Orlando u. Stealey of
Louisville, KY, Isaac M. Weston OF
Grand Rapids, Mich, John P. Irish of
Oakland, Gala. and Alex Gum of Cleve-
land, o., commissioners to examine a
portion of the Southern Pacific railway in
California.
1t is estimated at the treasury depart
ment that the public debt, less cash in the
treasury, has increased 81, O00, 900 since
February l. This is due to unusually
heavy disbursements during the month
for pensions. etc.
The conferees on the land grant forfeit
ure bills have agreed upon all points of
difference except that involved in the first
section, namely, the extent of the forfeit
ure. The conferees will report the result
to the respective houses. In the house
Payson will move hat that body recede
from its agreement on the first section
and accept the senate proposition which
involves the forfeiture of lands lying OBJ
posite those parts of the railroad lines not
completed at the date of the passage Of
the act. An agreement has also been
reached on the bill to protect the rights VI
actual settlers on public lands on the lines
of the house bill.