The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1871-12-14

Wouts hnu Tue expenditure OF ap /
preparations for the public buildings,
grounds, and aqueduct Of Washing.
ton has been wisely placed under
their control.
The condition Of the army, it,
high state Of discipline and effect
iveness, 10 justly q subject for
graduation. Many and delicate
services have been rendered in the
insurrectionary districts, and the
regular troops have never given
needless offence to the inhabitants.
The reference in the Secretary's re-
port to the subject Of enlistments
should command the attention Of
Congress. The Secretary presents
some interesting facts about our ma
tional cemeteries ; and the condition
of the one in Mexico, where rests
the, bones of q brave volunteers,
calls for instant attention. The
signal service and the new metcoro-
logical telegraph system reflect much
credit upon the scientific corps sc
necessary to every army.
West Point receives proper notice
in the Secretary's report, and its
present condition reflects credit upon
the management. The Chicago CO
lAmity isdwelt upon, and the services
of Sheridan and his troops properly
complimented. The sysssm Of in.
spections for the checking If frauds
cannot be objected to-for, az Gen.
Belknap remarks, "lntegrity does
not object to test. It invites scruti-
n.y. Careless conduct upon the
part Of those in charge Of public
moneys can admit of no excuse, and
We are glad this view has impelled
the head of the War Department to
take early and wise action.
We conclude our brief mention Of
the Honorable Secretary Of War by
requesting q representatives TO ex.
anime the absolute necessity for ap-
preparations to secure safety for the
invaluable records of the War De-
partment. The rented buildings, as
the Secretary remarks, are scattered,
and IRE most incOnvinient and unsafe.
The public interest, a. well % public
honor demands proper buildings ade.
quate for Offices, and for records of
the greatest historical value. The
changes in tho clerical force, by nm
wise rotation in Office, also call for
attention /; and il nowhere else, let
Congress obtain some sort OF securi.
ty for clerical officials so necessary to
keep affairs in proper order at the
War Department"
IOWA ASSOCIATION soCIABLEs.
The committee of arrangements
for Iowa Sociables during the coming
! winter is composed OF the following
named persons: Hon. {. G. Stevens,
Col. Alexander Lynch, W. W. Uttx,
A. D. Mowbray, Hon. 81. W. Tabor,
Hon. Hawkins Taylor, Col. Geo.
Cowie, J. r. G. Poulton and H. w.
jackson At q meet of this commit.
tee, held last Thursday evening, at
the Continental Hotel, the following
sub-commitlees were appointed
Reception Committee-Hon. Sam.
uel F. Miller, Gen. Elliot w. Rice,
| Colonel VIM. Penn. Clarke, Hon. @.
@. Stevens, Col. Willis Drummond,
Col. A. G. Cameron, Hon. John Boyd,
w. 8. Graf, Esq, Il. 8. Thomas, Esq,
Col. Geo. Cowie, Capt. John Carson,
and Col. John A. Graham.
Committee on Hsll-Hon. G. @.
Stevens, Col. Geo. Cowie and A. D.
Mowbray, Esq.
Floor Msnagers--Samuel Kendrick,
John Cowie, Capt. d. W. Cleaver,
Lieut.. Reigart, w. W. Uttz, ]. d.
N~ightepgale, 81. J. Harrison and
Capt. F. B. Banks.
COMMITTEE on Music-Col. A.
Lynch, House of Representatives
w. W. Uttz, Internal Revenue Blu
reau, and Hon. Hawkins Taylor.
Committee On Printlng-Col. Geo.
Go vie, w. W. Uttz and J. r. g.
Poulton.
PERSONAL.
Governor Stone is here stopping
at the National Hotel. He informs
me that he will probably stay here
oil winter. To those of our Iowa
citizens who have never seen Sena.
tor Fenton, of New York, l will say
that when they see Stone they see
the latter. They are as much alike
a. two peas. However there is quite
q difference, in q respect: Fenton
don't take any stock in Grant, while
it is understood that Stone is on very
intimate terms with the President,
and that part of his mission here
this winter is to add to the Presiden-
tial strength of Ulysses in 1872.
J. II. Beatty, Esq, Of Fairfield, has
been promoted Chief of the Finance
Division of the Registers Office, at
q salary Of $4,000 per annum. Mr..
Beatty is competent and has labored
so faithfully and efficiently as to
fully deserve what he got
A