Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-12-10
LIVE WASHINGTON WAITS.

him. but he is not able to set up in bed ye
1t will be at least week before he is able t
leave his room. He sees no one. DR.. Hami
ton said to-day that Secretary Fosters ten
perature is normal, his appetite good, an,
that his gradual recovery is now confidently
anticipated.
THE United States Supreme Court to-da,
heard argument in the case of Charles Coun
| selman, brought here on appeal from a de
cision by Judge Gresham refusing to gran
| him writ of habeas corpus. Counsemal
| refused to answer questions put by th,
I grand jury, in Chicago, which was engaged
/ in an investigation as to alleged violations
| of the interstate commerce law. Counsel
| man was asked if he had received rebate.
from any railroads and refusing to answer
on the ground that an answer would Grim
| fnaue himself. was adjudged guilty of con
tempt and sentenced to pay fine of $500, il
| default of payment of which he was to be
| kept in the Marshal's custody. His present
effort is nominally to obtain his release, but
| the effect of a decision in his favor. it is
| said, would make the interstate commerce
law practically Ineffective. John n. Jewett
argued the case for Counselman and G. NJ
Lambertson for the Government.
LESS than % members of the American Bal
Association were present at the annual
meeting to-day. The Secretary read a re
port from the Committee on international
Law, which urged the formation of a con
gress of international lawyers at Chicago
during the Worlds Fair. At the session this
evening an address Of welcome was deliv'
cred by Mr.. Justice Harlan, of the Supreme
Court.
THE third annual conference of the Chief
Postoffice Inspector and inspectors in
charge of divisions, which has been in ses.
sion in this city for the past two weeks, has
adjourned A large number of topics relat
ing to the postal service than were consid
cred at any previous meeting were taken
up and discussed and acted upon. In regard
to free delivery service, the inspectors rec
commended that the delivery of mail by car.
rier be extended to include towns of 5000
mum. In the matter of salaries and the
clerk hire allowances of postoff1ces, it was
recommended that in all cases where ad.
ditiona clerk hire allowance could
ployes, the salaries of the lower grade
clerks should be first increased, so as to
recognize, in a substantial way the merits
of this most deserving class of Woodworking
employees. In regard to the registry system,
it was recommended that postoffices be kept
open more hours than at present, so as to
ness with this department of the postoffice
outside of their regular working hours. In
relation to the money order system, the
sion OF hours for business for the general
public was made, as in the case OF the regis
try system, and for the same reason. The
postal note system is recommended to be
modified by the issuance of money orders in
lieu thereof for the same price charged for
postal notes of equal amount under the
present plan. provided that the maximum
amount at what are now postal note offices
be fixed at $40. 1t was suggested that all
postmasters and custodians of postoffice
buildings should be charged with the duty
of keeping the American flag suitably dis
played.
THERE were 10 new developments to-day
in the case of Major Overman, of the Engi-
neer Corps. While the investigation of his
accounts is not closed, it is already known
gregate 800. Acting Secretary Grant said
this afternoon that it is expected that Major
Overman will give n satisfactory eXplana-
tion of the transactions under investiga-
ton.
THE Navy Departments to-day made the
fourteenth payment of cruiser No. 16 to the
Union Iron Works, OF San Francisco,
amounting to s53,ss5.
COMMISSIONER CARTER, of the General Lind
Office, to-day recommended to the Secretary
of the Interior that all the desert lands en-
braced in the so-called Norway survey,
around Tulare Lake, Cal, embracing about
103, ,0O0acres be certified to the State of Cali
fornia as swamp and overflowed lands un-
der the net of Sente,ober Is 1850 This case
has been before the office FOR several years
on the question of the character of the land
and the integrity of the surye%.
THE Republican Senatorial caucus COM
mittee was at work this forenoon endeavor-
ing to arrange the committee membership.
Fair progress WAS made, and while the task
was not completed the committee feels
confident that it will be abie to make a re-
- :. t;.a.to - ,,.,1 III ., p,,:
can Senators. The only contest likely to be
expected IS one relating to committee OF
minor importance - that on the Library,
where at least three Senators, Stockbrldge,
Michigan: Dixon, OF Rhode Island, ana VOL
colt, of Colorado, are anxious to succeed the
late Chairman, ex-senator EVarts A strug-
gle Is possible, however, over the vacancy
on the Appropriations Committee caused
by Senator Farwelrs retirement, 1nasmuch
as a place on this committee IS supreme in
tne mater & vi en9einultuae t .. ui .he pubic
viii nrob, hIy Go to one Of the new fnr-W West,
ern Sena tors there is no visible determine
tion. Senator Mitchell, who has been Chair
man OF tne haliroau Commletee Tor Two
terms, eXpects 10 MI senator spooner-s
plrce as chairman OF the Clalms committee,
ana ne is likely 10 get 1t without much op-
position. senator Mchiillan, or Michigan,
Will probably assume the chalrmansh1p or
the Committee on the District OF Columbia,
vacated by sepator ingalls,, but this may re-
qulre hlm to reilnqulsh ms present chalr-
lnanshfp on the Manufacturers' Committee,
which Will naturally pass 10 senator quay,
SENATOR GoRMAN, Chairman of the Demo-
cratic caucus, has appointed the following
con,nittee To nrenare a LIST of Senators to
. a., =; -. - - 60. - w
represent the minorlty on tne Sehate Com-
mlltee iop lne pTeseiis session: SENIORS
Sockreli, h'thSoIn, Noorhees' hafris' butler,
blachourh anu Aehha'
s.,.,, ,,,,.,., - ,, .,,-..
EA-SPEAkEH REED mas peen t'tlkinS ABOUT
the duties of the O1lice he nlled in the last