Year: 1878

CtiFtu DIT tHe war department ellleT colutiH-
ing or denying the report that Mackenzie,
with $50 men at his back. has crossed the Rio
Glande into Mexico. That he had done so
would not create any surprise in the depart
ment. Notwithstanding the fact that eight
hundred men is double the number of U: s.
troops that have previously gone over on sim
liar expeditions. MackenZie'S raid seems TO
be the initiative of the more vigorous policy
10 De pursued in dealing with Mexico, Whlch
was determined upon during General OrdS
recent visit here, as stated in THE STAR at the
time.


LETTERS RECEIVED HERE FROM GENERAL
BANKs' DISTRICT indicate that he will have a
hard time to secure denomination to Con-
gress. The cause seems to be that he has
neglected his constituents, or at least they
think so, inasmuch as he did not promulgate
among them Patent office reports and garden
seeds, as most members of Congress do.


POPULARIZING THE SILVER DoLLAR.-The
attempt OF Secretary Sherman to force the
distribution of the standard silver dollar by
exchanging the same with national banks for
their disbursements in lieu of small notes.
shows every indication of being a successful
move on his part. Thus far but few of the
western banks have responded to his circular
requesting req such exchange, but it is believed
from desire on their part to cooperate with
the Secretary in getting the silver dollar into
general circulation, so much as it is that the
them. In the west there is always a scarcity
of small change, and the greenbacks Of the
smaller denominations in use in that section
the belief is that the banks will gladly ex-
change the dilapidated notes for the bright sill
yer dollars of the dads.


EX-ATTORNEY GENERAL COOKE, of Florida
who was member of the Florida returning
board, has written an open letter. in which he
attempt to contradict Minister NOyeS testimN-
ny before the Potter investigating committee,



SHORT WEIGHT GOLD CoIN.-The statement
has been made recently and pretty generally
circulated that the other day person who
wished to purchase some per cent. bonds
procured the gold therefor from a banking
concern in this city-the same gold having it
was stated, been procured at the Treasury on
the same day by the concern in question--but
that When the person presented the gold at
the Treasury for the payment of his per
cents some OF twas thrown out as light weight
com Such a transaction would be impoS-
slbe. Since the passage of the act of '73 fixing
the amount of gold abrasion at half of one per
cent below the standard weight, every teller
in the Treasury has been furnished with
pair OF scales, very correctly adjusted, and
required to weigh every piece of gold taken IN
over the counter. In addition to this, all the
gold IN the Treasury at the passage of that act
sent to the mint to be recOined. Since then
no shorl-weight gold has been taken in except
at discount, and such has been Immediately
sent sen to De recoined: It is therefore diticultt to
Treasury, 1t may, however, be stated that
firm in this city has frequently sent to the
Treasury, through parties to whom they have
sold it, a certain amount of $40 short gold
pieces, which have been invariably thrown
out. This coin has become so familiar to the
Treasury tellers that they now refuse it with
out going through the form of weighing.


ARMY ORDERs.-Leave of absence for six
months is granted Captain C. C. Rawn, 7th
Infantry.


THE VANDALIA was at Smyrna, July 5th,
and expected to sail July 9th for q cruise
along the coast of Syria, and thence to Villa
Franche.


The U. S. S. TENNESSEE was put out OF COM
mission at the New York navy yard yesterday
The Tennessee recently returned from the
ASiatic station.