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


hearing appeals in customs cases. He says
that the time required to visit and hold ses-
sions at the ports mentioned would not ex-
ceed three weeks, and that the plan would
result in facilitating the general business of
the board, besides giving much satisfaction
to the Collectors and merchants generally.
1t would also, he said, be an act OF justice to
the claimants. Acting Secre tary Spaulding
to-day approved the recommendation, with
the understanding that such detail of gen.
eral appraisers hereafter be made only on
the approval of the department, and shall
not in any way interfere with the due and
orderly course of business at New York.
THE Postmaster Gen eral has received a
letter from Crawford, Miss, signed by w.
M. Brooks, President, and II. P. Lawrence,
Secretary, saying: "The colored people
want to emigrate to Africa. We want to
know whether we could get any aid from
this Government or not: We are holding
meetings every month. We would be glad
to hear from you soon. Ten thousand of us
want to emigrate" The letter has been re-
ferred to the Superin tendent OF lmmigra-
tion.
TAE equanimity OF the few members and
loungers in the hall of the House this after
noon was rudely shaken by the explosion of
a steampipe. A rush was made for the
doors as soon as the report was heard, the
first belief being that some crank had at
was Immediately restored. however, though
n volume of steam continued to pour into
chamber for many minutes.
ATTORNEY GENERAL MILLER has determined
to test the right of railway companies to is
sue free passes. The question to be decided
is whether the Issue of such passes is q viola
tion of the interstate commerce law. He
will shortly bring suit against one of the
New England railroads known to have is
sued passes-probaDly the Boston and
Maine. The suit will be instituted in New
Hampshire, and a special attorney will be
appointed to conduct the case. The Gov
ernment is eager to obtain q judicial con-
struction of the act upon this point, and the
issue hangs upon the question OF whether or
not there is prohibition against passes in
cluded in the clause providing that no rates
shall be given either more or less than the
fixed schedule of the road In many cases
the roads issuing passes claim there Is no le-
gal restriction on such issue, and it will be
one of those roads against which the suit
will be brought, so that the question will
not be one of fact. but of lew, thus simplify
ing the proceedings.
IT Is expected that a bill prepared and in
dorsed by Secretary Tracy in his annual
report to increase the efficiency and per-
sonnel of the officers of the navy will soon
be introduced in both Senate and House,
embodying the recommend dations made in
the report of the so-called Stagnation Beard,
of which Captain Phythian was President.
The bill will include the suggestions made
in the report to prevent the stagnation in
promotion which has existed in the service
for many years, and which promises to be
continued unless some preventive measures
is taken by Congress. so modified as to meet
the views of the Secretary of the Navy and
1,n
recommendations of the board regarding
the selection of officers for promotion to the
grades of commander and captain, and of
retirement of officers after serving certain
number of years in one grade, with the rank
and pay of the next higher grade. Senator
Chandler will probably introduce the bill in
the Senate next week.
THE joint resolution introduced yesterday
by Senator Call, authorizing the President
to open negotiations with Spain, is identical
with one introduced by him last session, and
provides that the President be requested to
open negotiations with the Government of
Spain for the purpose of inducing that Gov
ernment to consent to the establishment of
ike Island of Cuba as free anh indie
pendent republic, such consent to be given
upon the payment by Cuba to the Govern
ment OF Spain of such a sum of money as
may be equivalent both to the value of pub |
lie property belonging to Spain in the island
and to the REIMBURSEMENT of her sovereign
rights, and also the securing by treaty of
such commercial advantages as may be
stipulated.
OFFICIAL correspondence was made public
this afternoon, setting forth the details of
the reciprocity arrangement entered into
between the United States and Germany,
whereby the sugar of the latter secures con-
tinued free admission into the United States
and sundry American products, named in
d,,1a
sion into Germany at the rates agreed upon.
This table shows q reduction in German
tariff duties on wheat of 80 per cent; rye, 30
per cent; oats, 371l per cent: corn, 20 per
cent; butter, l5 per cent; salted and picked
pork and beef Is per cent; wheat flour and
cornmeal, 80 per cent. The arrangement was
submitted to the German Reichstag on the
7th instant, and if approved by that body
consists of lengthy letters that
passed between A. Won Mum, Charge d.
Affa1res of Germany, and General John W.
Foster, Plenipotentiary Extraordinary of
the United States
The Board of Control and Management of
the Government exhibit at the Worlds Fair
held meetings yesterday and to-day, prim-
arily to discuss the division of floor space
between the departments. A tentative al
lottment of floor space was made a year
ago, but in the absence of any common
of measurement as to the neces-
sites of the several branches, it was impos-
Sible to make the allotment permanent.
The matter. was discussed at great length,
and resolution was adopted to the efect
that the remaining data necessary to the
final allotment of space shall be filed with
the Executive Committee during the next
four weeks, and that the board will re-as-
semble at an early date in February and re-
main in session until the matter is adjusted.
THE Bureau of American Republics is in
harbor of Coatzacoalcos, Mexico for which
a contract has been made with the Mexican
Harbor Improvement Company, of Illinois,
will be under the charge of Engineer E. L.
Corthell, so long associated with the late
Captain Eads in his many important works.
Mr. Corthel1 expressed great confidence in
the success of the enterprise, which will
save a,400 miles of distance in the traffic
from New York and New Orleans that now
goes by the way of the Isthmus of Panama,
as the Tehuantepec Railway will connect
to build breakwater for the pro-
lection of the shipping, the depth Of water
being ample there although it is now but an
open roadstead. The depth Of water at the
coalcos is from 13 to Is feet and as the river
is a very large one, no trouble is anticipated
in obtaining channel for the passage OF |
vessels OF the greatest depth, the harbor it. |
self within the shore line having ample ac-
for the largest fleets. Ar
for the commencement of the |
jetties are expected to be made at once,
A BULLETIN issued by the Census Office to- |
day shows that during the ten years ended |
in 1889, in the States of Virginia, West Vir- |
ginia exclusive of that portion north of |
North Carolina and South |
the increase in railroad mileage was |
about $500 miles, and during the same |
period the increase in passenger transporta-
ton was about 1000 600 and in freight trans |