The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-08-28
FROM WASHINGTON THIS AFTERNOON.
ESPECIAL DISPATCHES TO EVENING TELEGRAPH. ]
WASHINGTON, August 28.
General 9iCLIeS, Position,

ESPECIAL DISPATCHES TO EVENING TELEGRAPH.l
WASHINGTON, August 2S.
General SicIxIes' Position.
There is authority for stating that Major
General D. E. Slckles commanding the Depart
ment of the South, has not authorized the use
of his name in connection with the Cleveland
Convention, and declines while on duty in his
present command to take part in any political
movement
superintendent of Public Printing.
Cornelius Wendell has been appointed Super
intendent of Public Printing, vice Defrees,
removed. The position was offered to General
Steedman some time ago, but not accepted.
To Applicants for Pensions.
Claimants for an increase OF pension under
the law granting to widows So per month add
tional for each child under sixteen years of age
will be required to prove the dates of birth of
such children, in the manner required in the
case of an application on behalf of minor chill
dren, as prescribed in previous forms and in
structons. This explanation is now published
by authority of the Commissioner of Pensions,
lest the instructions under the act of July 25,
1866, should be misconstrued, on account OF the
omission OF this requirement from said lnstruc-
tions. ........ .....
Public Land Operations.
Complete returns of cash sales, locations with
bounty land warrants, agricultural scrip, etc.,
from all the different land Off ces in the United
States up to the close of the fiscal year ending
June 80, 1885, have been received at the General
Land Office. Eightythree patents issued op old
donation settlement claims, under the act of
Congress approved September rs, 1850, have
been transmitted to the Register of the Land
Office at Roseburg, oregon, for delivery to the
parties entitled to them. The area embraced
by the claims comprises 23, 78l acres.
II. Sc GnH,
j. W. Alvord, Esq, Inspector of Schools and
Finances of the Freedmen's Bureau, has sub
mitted to the Commi ssloner his semi-annual
report of the condition of the Freedmen's Schools
in the United States. 1t represents that the
total number of schools, exclusive of night
schools, Sabbath and private schools, in all the
districts of the Bureau, is s75. The total number
OF teachers employed is l4O5; and the total
number of pupils receiving tuition is 9O,77s.
The State of Virginia is in advance of all the
others in Freedmen's Schools the number
reported being 1913 schools, 200 teachers, and
ll,784 scholars. The Inspector says in re-
ference to the subject:-''Amid all the embar-
rassment of these past months, the schools have
steadily gained in numbers, attainments, and
| general influence. This Is true, with good
degree of sameness, over all the States except
Louisiana, where special causes have tempo
rarily paralyzed our efforts. Teachers generally
are becoming more apt and ski lful in their in
| strpctions, and the rapid progress of pupils
| hitherto noticed, continues. The Associations
| Of the North are increasing their patronage and
| funds, and concentrating their means in Central
| Agencies, which promise greater economy ana
| efficiency, and all are now ready. with fresh
hope, to cooperate heartily with the Bureau"
| .ng From Pittsburg. .'aas
| PTTsBURG, August rs. The adherents OF
| President johnson held a mass meeting last