Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1854-06-13
WASHINGTON NKWs AND GOSSIP.


ing tho newspaper accounts, saying thatJapan
had acceded to the proposition of the United
States, and that Russia had not forestalled rs,
as has been said for q month or so past.
An Imuortaut Misunderstanding Corrected
There seems to be Misunderstanding in some
Quarters as to the action recently taken in
Withdrawing lands from market for railroad
and other purposes, at the instance of gentle
men in Congress representing wholly, or in
part, the States in which such lands are stu.
ated. The impression is, that those withdraw
ais szetade the lands from presumption, and
thus hinder the settlement of the land States.
On examining the Presidents proclamation,
and making inquiries at the proper Depart
ment We have ascertained that in all cases
where lands are withdrawn from market, in
anticipation Of a grant from Congress, it is
only on the express condition that such with
drawal will not interfere with the settlement
of the lands, and that in all cases the actual
settler will be protected. In all cases where it
can be done legally, the President is very evil
IDENTIFY anxious to favor the actual settlers
those hardy pioneers by whose labor and pri-
vations, value has been given to the public do
main.
New York Assay 0fdce.-We understand
that the Treasury Department authorities are
now momentarily in expectation of receiving
the report of their inspecting officer announcing
the completion of the New Y ork assay office,
so as to allow the proposed operations of that
establishment to be forthwith commenced.
The wet weather in April and May last, and
the addition Of another story to the building,
have prevented it from being finished up to
this time.
The Bonds Of Public Depositories. We un-
derstand that the Secretary of the Treasury
! on account of the considerable increase of the
public funds in the hands Of these officers, and
| also because, in many cases, their bonds usually
have BET too smallfor the amounts ofmoney in
their keeping, has directed that conside era.
BILE majority Of them shall be called on to
give additional Cumulative bonds, which are
now said to be in course of preparation in the
Office of the Solicitor of the Treasurer
Col. Gates, q. S. Alt appears to be un
derstood that the War Department will hardl,
again devolve a command upon Col Gates
1t win be recollected that his regiment wa
sent to California, not long since, without him
That is, under the command of its junior Ma.
jor, Brevet Lieut. Colonel Nauman its Lieut.
Colonel and senior Major being sick.
United States Post Office and Court Houses
We are inclined at present to believe that tn,
bill to purchase sites for and to erect suitab!
buildings for post Offices and United State
courts purposes in New York, Boston, an,
Philadelphia which Mr.. Cutting proposes t
report from the House Committee on the Judi
ciary, will hardly pass at the present sessi on
: though there is not the slightest doubt that
would be eminently wise, prudent, and reall
economical to make permanent provision fo
the purposes above mentioned in those cities
with the least possible delay. In all three o
them the United States courts are themselve
"Fugitive;'' having no fixed locations. Room
are hired here, there, and everywhere to hol
court during the term, and, as matter @
course, at a much higher cost to the Treasur
than the interest on tho money required I
construct suitable buildings and their repair
1t usually requires two years urging to in
; duce Congress to authorize any such expendi
lures any where, and then they are authorize
only after the friends of the measure hay
clearly demonstrated not only the absolut
necessity for such acco mmodations, but tn a
the path Of extravagant expenditures is in re
| fusing to make them.
The Private Scheme for the Wa:hingto
I Water Works.-We call the attention of tb
, " ashington public to the fate of Mr.. Salomon
petition for a charter for private company
build and own the Washington Water Work
$ only in order that they may congratulate
themselves on the fact that that make-weig Oh
, against them is now faily out of the way Th
f District Committee very properly moved t
lay it on the table, and the House very unce,
9 enormously complied with their suggest n
This speculation, though its success inv I've
3 throwing the whole cost Of the work CT tn
/ people of the District of Colum bia, FUN
many advocates in the lobby among men VIII
even pretend to be identified with the d. ..ric
. of Columbia. 1t was for the benefit Of tn
= parties who hoped to make money out { thi
8 scheme that all sorts Of aspersions were th row
not only upon the plan adopted by the Gov
+ eminent, after mature and very careful inyes
) tigation, but on those charged with conduc in
the work. Ninety-nine in every hundred Q
our fellow citizens will agree with US il wri
ting that the petition above referred to ha
met its deserts, clearly. Y, of the Balti aor
.SEn, seems to have got an interest il thi
scheme, judging from his letter of this laorn
ing-Committee Clerk though he is.
The q. 8. sloop-of-war Decatur haa ha
sailing orders forwarded to her at the No, ;ol
, Navy Yard. So, to day or tomorrow, she vii
i probably sail from thence to join the Pa.ifi
squadron.
: A Observation-Disclosures Question iis
posed of-On the decease of a clerk in sre c
the Departments, his widow applied fer tb
amount due for his services, alleging that 10 lei
tiers of administration had been taken out-
that deceased was not owing any debts in thi
! District or elsewhere-that he left but On
child, and property to the amount of about
thousand dollars-that no person would b
likely to take out letters of administration O,
his estate unless she did, and to avoid the OK
IL.