Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1854-12-29

on general politics for Buncombe, or to
actual legislation on such subjects as the
one in question. There are, at least, one hun.
dred important business questions before Con-
gress, all Of which must be neglected, to the
injury OF the public service, whenever the
time of either House is dedicated to Buncombe.
The Pacific Railroad. distant readers
may set it down that this subject will harily
be touched during the remainder of the session.
It will be debated, perhaps, by halt. a-dossn
gentlemen, whose constituents are supposed to
be immediately interested in tho subject;
though it is we'll understood here that nothing
practical is to be done in the premises The
next Congress will probably, continue the dis
cussion, and the next, and the next, and the
next, But there is no earthly prospect that
the General Government will move in the mat
tor seriously, until after settlements shall have
been made along the greater portion of son.
one Of tho proposed lines.
aumbugs hom Washington-The reader
will please class tho story Of an alleged cor
respondsnce between this Government and
that Of Ecuador, with reference to tho transfer
Of the Galapagos Islands to the jurisdiction of
the United States, under this head. We are
certain that tho subject has not entered into
the negotiations Of this Government; indeed
that it has mover beer dreamed Of here. Son.
ator Bsnjamin's mission, in the direction of
Ecuador, was entirely private operation. He
is, doubtless, anxious to secure those islands
for a private American company, under the
belief that they contain valuable deposits of
guano; while General Villamil, formerly Ecu.
adorian Minister at Washington, who is the
proprietor Of ono of them, is doubtless anxious
to pocket his price for 1t in American gold,
A gentleman in London, former Ecuadorsan
Consul-General there, and now agent for the
English Eeuadorean bondholders, is probably
interested with Mr. Senator Benjamin in his
proposed purchase. This is the foundation
for the story. We know that the pro tenn.
representative from Ecuador atthis point knows
nothing in the world-oficial from his Gov
ernment-with reference to the matter This
is tho age of humbGgs, and Washington is the
point from which they radiate.
Capt. Gibson.-The correspondent of the
New York Tunes is not correct when he saws
that tho President had prepared a me,sars
"suggesting more forcible arguments against
the Dutch than diplamotio notes, which he
was constrained to withhold at last out of def
erence to the views Of his Cabinet" This
story too comes fairly under the head of
"Humbugs fro Washington.''
An army fen'i" TO-. egsns Appointsa.-Al.
''i' ~reenlesf, Esq Navy Agent a. this
point, has hesn appointed by the Secretary of
tho Interior to be army pension agent las we'll
as navy pension agent, to which post we an.
nounced his appointment some days ago. vice
Robert W. Latham, resigned.
The sleop War Jamestown, now at the
Philadelphia maynard, is being fitted out
with all possible dispatch to join the So uadron
on the west coast of Africa. She is expected
to be ready for sea by the first of February
next.
ihe Secretary Of the Treasury. We are
glad to learn that this gentleman's health is
becoming better, He was able to be in his
office day before yesterday, and to attend
Cabinet meeting yesterday.
The Current Operations Of tho Treasury
Dspartraent.-0n yesterday, the 18th of Dec
the1e were Of Treasury Warrants entered on
the books OF the Department
Fo- tho redemption of stock. 800. sS5, 81 OF
For paying Treasury debts. ...... 1885 ~
Hor tho Customs. ................ 1900 OF
For the War Department. l9, 429 TO
For repaying in the War Depart
ment .....-............... $3.50 10
For the Navy Department. ....... lao. 5s7 OF
For repsying in the Navy Depart
ment. ................. s97 %
fof 'ce interior Department. 3l,9O2 81