The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1893-10-13
FROM WASHINGTON CITY.


Ex-Representative George Il, Durand
Of Michigan has been selected by the
Attorney-General to assist in the prose-
cution OF Federal officials and others
implicated in the charges Of opium and
Chinese smuggling on Puget Sound and
vicinity,
1t is intimated that the Treasury De-
partment is actuated in ordering the
revenue steamers Grant and Perry to
the Pacific Coast more by the condition
Of the Chinese and seal-tlshery questions
than to aid in the prevention Of the
smuggling Of opium in Puget Sound.
The Secretary of War has awarded a
medal Of honor to Captain Ernest A.
Cardington OF the Seventh Cavalry for
distinguished gallantry at Wounded
Knee creek, s. D., during the Sioux war
Of the winter OF 1901" Captain Car
dington was badly wounded in the bat
tie.
The Committee on Ways and Means
has begun consideration Of the new tar
lit bill. There is an intimation that the
Secretary OF the Treasury favors an in
crease in the internal-revenue tax on
whisky, beer and tobacco as the best
means Of raising the additional revenue
necessary to meet the increasing deficits
Of the government.
| In consequence OF the new restrictions
for conducting the official trial trips OF
naval vessels contractors will find II
more difficult in the future to earn pre-
miums for an excess OF speed, Begin
ming with the Montgomery, soon to be
tried, the contractors will not be permit
ted to maintain pressure above ) per
cent in excess Of the standard pressure,
Heretofore the contractors carried steam
to dangerously high pressure.
1t is highly probable that the Com
mittee on Territories will report a bill
for the admission Of Utah TO Statehood
soon, Joseph, member Of that com
mittee, said that such bill will be re-
Iported, and added that before the close
Of the present session bills for tSs ad-
mission Of Arizona, New Mexico and
Oklahoma will be reported favcrably
from his committee, He expressed great
confidence that all four will become laws.
In response to resolution Of inquiry
the Secretary OF the Interior sent to the
Senate statement tconcerning tie discon-
tinuance and consolidation Of land offices
showing the following among the con-
solidations: California, Independence
with yisalia; Nevada, Eureka with Car
son City; Wyoming, Lander with Buf-
falo. This statement said the reason
for the consultations was the inadequacy
OF the appropriation and to prevent /
deficiency.
The Postofiice Department has &C.
cepted the offer Of the North American
Navigation Company to carry mails fol
Mexico and Central America. The new
arrangement il not contract, but des
ignation Of the company as the oflicia
mail carrier under the general laws. Ac
cording TO the offer the steamers will
carry mails once in twenty days to thos,
ports at which they are compelled tt
stop by provisions OF the company's con
tracts with the Central American States
leaving the postmaster to fix the com
pensation.
Secretary Herbert has given to tn,
press the correspondence relating to th,
removal Of Captain Higginson from tn,
command Of the Atlanta. The state
ments that Secretary Herbert apologizet
to Captain Higginson for removing hin
from duty and offered to restore him t,
his command on his own application ar
not borne out by the facts, and are espe
cially denied, Captain Higginson is en-
titled to the credit Of having disclosed t,
the department the condition Of the At
lanta when the vessel was ordered t'
sea. The letters embrace the full his
tory Of this wel-known case, and th
conclusion Of the matter is that Secre
tary Herbert accepts the apology an,
explanation Of Captain EIigginson, an'
says his connection with the matter viii
not be permitted to prevent his bein
assigned to such duty as his rank enti
ties him to perform, when the opportu
nifty offers.