The silver star., 1899-05-19

by the agricultural department to
Charles Parker Of Santa Clara for
sSa lsst. All seeds must be delivered
here by December J. and the distribu-
ton begin next January.
Assistan; Attorney General Boyd has
rendered Al the request Of the secre-
tsrr Of the treasury. decision which
has been approved by the attorney gen.
eral IN which be holds that trapsac-
tons known among stock brokers as
puts are not taxable under the war
revenue act. although calls are sub
jeci TO The tax
Cuba has been provided with a new
flag by the United States government
II Is designed for Cuhan-owned yes
sels engaged in the coastwise trade II
is not desired TO give these vessels
the right to use the American tag as
that would be step in the direction
OF annexation Dor Is II deemed ad-
visable TO allow the use Of the nag OF
the Cuban revolution
An order has been made by the
Navy Department for the Immediate
dispatch of the converted yacht vixen
10 Biuefields. Nicaragua. The vixen Is
now at Norfolk fitting out for a cruize
TO the Philippines via the Suez canal
II is said at the Navy Department that
no adrice> of late date have been re-
ceired from Blueields tending TO show
the existence of a crisis there.
Postmaster General Smith has pro-
mulgated an order limiting the use OF
signs bearing the words u 3 MaiI
TO such street cars as are actually at
the time carrying mail. and cars used
for no other purpose. The order also
sftss r-in
''U. :. MailT must not he painted on
or displayed from cars having street
letter boxes attached thereto. the box
es themselves being a sufficient indi-
cation that United States mail is car
ried on the cars.
The President has commuted to three
years the life sentence Of Clyde
Bennington. convicted in California. in
1s.'s of robbing the United states
mails. This Communication is granted in
consideration of the valuable aid rem
dered the government by the prisoner
in the prosecution Of his colleagues In
the case of Ellsworth 7. Defrance. con-
yicted in Nebraska in 1898 for high
way robbery of mail messenger and
sentenced for life. the President has
conmuted the sentence to fifteen years.
The Navy Department has issued an
official order detaching Admiral J. C..
Watson from command at the Mare
Island navy yard on May 18th. and
ordering him TO the Asiatic station on
the 10th TO relieve Admiral Dewey.
The Navy Department has already be-
gun a plan for the reception Of Dewey.
On his arrival in American waters he
VIII he met at sea by the North At
iantic squadron. under command OF
q .s<.xy 80.
New York harbor. Other details for a
rousing reception are being formed.
The postmaster general has issued
the following general order: Post
masters at presidential offices are re-
quired to give their personal attention
to the business Of their offices, and
must not absent themselves therefrom
for longer period than one or two
days without authority. granted upon
written application to the department.
A violation of this order will be deem
ed sufficient cause for removal" !"
Postmasters in some cities have been
leaving much of the actual adminlstra-
tion OF their offices to their assistants.
The government has been notified
that the Spanish government will sell
at public auction. at Havana. the float
Ing dry dock Of steel. which was there
when the peace protocol wns signed.
Recently the Navy Department bid
$3.50, 900 for the dock, but the Spanish
government believed that more money
could be secured II they offered 1t for
sale at public auction. Only two pri-
vate concerns ARE known to be con-
templating bidding. One OF these IN
the Simpson Dry Dock Company of
philadelphia and the other Is New
York firm. II IL not likely that the
Navy Department will bid.
II Is said by friends OF President
Mckinley that he is becoming as much
OF nm invcternte smoker as was Gen.
eral Grant. and that his present ner.
vous condition IL due to Over-indul.
gence In tobacco. A partial excuse IL
found on the ground that almost
every officer who has returned from
Cuba or Porto Rico or the Philippines
has brought the President n box OF
two OF cigars. They have been OF the
finest tobacco procurable and have
withstoOd. The President declares
also that smoking gives him relief
from neuralgia. from which he has
been suffering recently.
The secretary Of the interior has re-.
NeTScI uecisiOu VI tue HeuernI Iuu0
commissioner requiring the Marlpora
Mining and Tunnel Company OF Pueb.
10 TO show cause within sixty days
why the entry TO Cripple Creek claims
Nos. and 2 should not bc cancelled
Land Commissioner Hermann held
That IN Oregon ana California lead
claims Ind prior right. This stand was
takcn In the fnce Of decision OF tho
District court 0f III TnsO county. which
awarded the clnIms To the Mnrip0sa
Company. In reversing the decision
the secretary Of the interior snId the
lnnd department was not nj liberty t6
disregard the judgment Of court. nnh
is bound by Its rulings.
Secretary Long cabled to Admira
Dewey Tuesday that Rear Admirs
Watson hnd been given orders TO re
port to him and to succeed him II
command Of tho AsIatic station whsr
he determined TO return. He was dl
rected 10 come home on board his nag
Nhin the 01vinnln This cOsnn1atO~ ~.