Evening star., 1870-01-12


EVENING STAR.
Washington News and Gossip.
INTERNAL RKvKSUK-The receipts to-day
from this source were s36s y326.
GES. BANKS returned here this morning, and
aftee being sworn in, occupied his seat in the
House to-day.
FIRST ASSISTANT ENGINEER JOHN PURpy,
JR., Of this city, has been ordered to the iron
clad Saugus, at Key West.
CONFIRMAT1oN-The Senate in executive
session yesterday confirmed Henry w. Blodgett
to lie Judge Of the United States District Court
for the northern district of Illinois.
THE FIRST ONE Of the Circuit Judges who
win hold court under the new law is Judge
Woods, of the Alabama district. His court
meets this week in Mobile.
A MEETING OF THE PosTMAsTERs OF the
principal cities, summoned here by the Post
master General, is being held to-day at the Post
Office Department. The subject under conside-
ration is understood to be the free delivery ser
vice.
THE HOUSE COMMITTEE ON ELECTIONS will
tomorrow call up in the House the contested
Pennsylvania election case Of Covode against
Foster, and after that the New York case Of
Van Wyck against Greene. The other cases
will follow as soon as they shall be prepared.
The WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEES have at
present under consideration the coal question.
The Nova Scotia coal interests have been rep
resented before the committee, urging a reduc-
tiOn of the duty on this article, but the committee
while they have not made any decision, seem
averse to reducing the tariff.
Our NAVY TO BE REINFoRCEp.-The House
Naval Committee has been discussing the sub
ject Of iron-clads, and cOntemplates preparing
bill to authorize the construction of some iron
vessels to compete with those Of France and
England in all respects. 1t will be remembered
that the Secretary of the Navy made a recon-
mendation in regard to this matter in his last
annual report.
The ANAcosTIA BRIDGE.-Mr. Harlan pre-
sented in the Senate this morning a petition
signed by DIR. Chas. H. Nichols, A. X: Johnson
j. Fenwick Young, T. o. Berry, and three
District Of Columbia, protesting against the
removal or change OF location Of the bridge
across the Anacostia, near the navy yard. Re
ferred to the Committee on the District of Co
lumbia.
CHARGES AGAINST THE CONGRESSIONAL
PRINTKR.-The intimatiOns afioat that charges
would be made in Congress of mismanagement
by the Congressional Printer were confirmed to-
day by the introduction, by General Negley,
in tie House Of bill having for its object the
repeal Of the presers law under which the Con-
gressional Printer is elected by the Senate, and
providing that he shall be elected by the House
and Senate Jointly.
The bill went to the Printing Committee, and
1t is understood that the committee will be
called upon to investigate various charges Of
Encouragement at the Government office; mis-
appropriation Of the public moneys to the extent
Of $4,000 to $500 900; tyranny over employees,
&C., &c.
The friends Of Mr.. Clapp allege that this de-
monstration against him is influenced by parties
who hope to be benefited by his removal.
Gen. Negley disclaims any other motive than
that Of public duty, and states that all he pro-
poses Is to have fair, open investigation Of the
charges.
The PLAN OF THE NEW STATE DEPARTMENT
BuLDING.-The plans for the new State Depart
ment building, prepared by Messrs. A. b. Null
lett, Supervising Architect Of the Treasury
Department, and Edward Clark, Architect in
charge Of the Capitol Extension, have been
approved by the commission, consisting of Sec
retaries Fish, Belknap, Cox and General Mich
ler, appointed to examine the same and select q
site for the building. 1t has net yet been deter
mined Of what material the new building will be
constructed, though it is probable that granite
will be selected. 1t will have front OF 200 feet
and depth Of Is, and be of the French
Rendissanee style. The general design consists
of center pavilion, with wings three stories
high and Mansard roof. At each corner Of the
building there will be a pavilion Of three inter-
columniatiOns, and a carriage porch on either
end. The extreme height Of the building
in the center will be 95 feet; to the
main cornice it will be IS feet; and
to the top Of the attic story IS feet. A terrace
balcony will extend along the main front by the
suite Of rooms for the Secretary ON the second
floor. The centre pavilion will be crowned
with pediment having sculptured COM
position in the tynpanum. There will be about
fifty rooms in the building besides q number OF
rooms IN the fourth or attic story for files and
number In the basement for heating apparatus,
&c. There will be two halls in the building,
one lengthwise with stairs at entry end, and the
other crossways. An octagonal rOtunda Occu-
pies the centre and around this will be grouped
the water closets, bath rooms, &C.; ample ven
tilaton for which will be secured i'm the support
ing piers of the rotunda. The building will be
entirely fire proof with tile floors iron roof and
slate covering.
WIPIN6 OUT THE NATIONAL DEBr.-Although
ba nf fha Tro obn
that the public debt on the LIST inst, principal
and interest, less amount in the Treasury, was
s2,44s ,746 ,95331, the actual obligations Of the
Government viii fall below this sum about
s5s ,C0o,c00 at present, which amount daily in
creases. Of the first series Of fractional cur
rency, the old postal currency, q, ,S34 93S62 are
yet outstanding, and it is fair to presume that
ut least one-hah Of this amount has been worn
out, burned. or in some way destroyed. OF the
second issue, 8 AZ, 1881 yet remain out, and
at least one-third Of this amount will never be
presented for redemption. or the third series,
s16, 91s,2f355 Is yet standing upon the books,
fourth of which in aSfivn tod In docfrovod