The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-01-15

Secretary Robeson will not Notice Ex-
Secretary Welles-The Latter Pre-
pairing a Second Blast-The
President Hopes the House
Virginia Bill may Pass
the Senate-Naval
Affairs.
Investigation of thu Wall Street Gold
speculations.
FROM W:ASHLNGTOJV.

Salaries Of Paymasters' Clerks.
Special Despatch 10 The Evening Telegraph.
WASHINGTON Jan. 15.-In the annual report
of Paymuster E. 7. Dunn, U. s. N, Chief of the
Bureau of Provisions and Clothing, Navy De-
partment, he says, in regard to
Salaries of Clerks to Paymasters
at the navy yards, that ~ deem IT. proper to
renew the recommendation of nay predecessor
in Office for an increase of the salaries of the
clerks to ,paymasters OF navy yards aud sta
tions, and to paymasters aud inspectors in
charge of provisions and clothing at navy yards
and stations, so as to place them, in regard to
pay, on an equality with other clerks in navy
yards, whose duties are not more ardu0us or re-
sponsible than theirs.
"The recent order of the department requiring
semi-monthly instead of monthly payments to
the mechanics and others employed in navy
yards has greatly increased the labor of pay
masters clerks.
OUTFIT FOR SAILORS
"The policy and indeed justice, of supplying
sailors on their enlistment in the navy with an
outfit of clothing, free of cost to them. has been
before so forcibly represented to the depart
ment that only deem it necessary to allude to
it. The necessity of making some provision of
this kind for the sailor is daily becoming more
apparent, and most earnestly recommend the
measure to the favorable consideration of the
department rs one well calculated to promote
the best interests of the navy"
The Coffee Ration.
1t is proposed to issue to the crews of vessels
on some of our foreign stations coffee in the
berry, in lieu of the ground coffee generally in
use in the navy. But as coffee, in the process
of roasting, loses considerably in weight, /
would suggest that the ration of coffee, when
issued in the unroasted berry, be increased to
one and one-fourth ounces, the ration of ground
coffee being one ounce per day for each person.
Coffee-roasters, it is believed, can be attached
to the galleys of vessels with but little expense.
Fitting of Navnf Vessels.
The machinery is to be taken out of the
United States steamer Chattanooga and placed
in the Connecticut, Cormerly the Pompanoosuc).
AT the Charlestown Yard. The Chattanooga is
now at League Island, and will be towed to Bos-
ton for that purpose.
The machinery of the Autietam will be placeu
in her at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, and
prepared for sea service by Merrick Il Sons, of
Philadelphia.
1t is found that it costs the Government far
less to have the work done by outside establish
ments than to have it done by the Navy Yard
forces. Orders have been issued to have the
United States steamer Swatara, now at New
York, fitted Immediately for sea service.
MIR. Spencer's Naval Rank Bill.
1t is the general belief here among naval Off
GERS that Mr.. Spencers bill, introduced a few
weeks since WILL with perhaps some very slight
notifications, become q law.
The weIies-Robeson Imbroglio.
Special Despatch TO The Euentrg Telegraph.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 15.-The Secretary of the
Navy declines answering the letter of his pre-
decessor, Mr.. Welles, concerning the question of
injustice alleged to have been done the latter in
the recent report of the Navy Department. Mr..
Welles, it is said, will write another letter, de-
Tending his course as Secretary during the eight
wears he occupied the office.
The Virginia Question.
A careful canvass of the Senate shows ma
iority in favor of the bill to admit Virginia with
out conditions. 1t is the purpose OF Senator
Trumbull to move on Monday the House bill as
substitute for that now before the Senate.
The President to-day took occasion to con-
gratulate Judge Bingham on the success OF hs
resolution in the House yesterday. He hoped it
would pass the Senate in the same shape.
The Late Gold FURRY.
The Banking and Currency Committee is in
session to-day investigating the Wall-street gold
speculation and panic of last September. Several
! witnesses have arrived among them Jim Fisk
| and General Butterfeld.