Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-02-03

on his way to Washington, so the reports of his
serious illness seem to be unfounded.
THE WHITE HOUSE, CLOSED TO VISITORS
On account of press of routine business the
Presidents office was closed against all visitors
to-day except members of the Cabinet.
OUR DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR SERVICE
The Secretary of State has prepared bill, which
is now in the hands Of the House committee on
foreign affairs, readjusting the salaries Of our
ministers and consuls abroad
UTAH TO BE INvEsTIGATEp.-The Secretary
of State and Attorney General had an interview
with the President this morning relative to the
appointment Of a commission TO proceed to Utah
and investigate the affairs of that territory.
GOVERNOR OF DAKoTA-The legislature of
Dakota having requested the President to re-
move the present governor of that state, Gen.
Burbank, the republicans of Georgia are
urging Col William Markham, Of that state, for
the position.
SWELLING OF THE CUIRENcY.-The House
banking and currency committee win soon re-
port a bill authorizing the issue of five millions
additional currency each year for five years 1t
will probably be offered as a substitute for Mr.
Aonroes bill to issue s25 600 900 Immediately.
PURCHASE OF BONDS AND SALE OF GoLp.-
The Secretary Of the Treasury has authorized
the assistant treasurer at New York to purchase
one million of bonds on each Wednesday, and
sell one and a half million of coin reach Thurs
day during the month of February.
COMMENDED FOR HERoIsM.-JOhn C. Colwell
and George Stoney, the two cadet midshipmen
who tried to rescue Mr.. John Richard Arnold
from drowning ct the risk of their own lives.
have been highly commended for their heroic
conduct In general order issued by Admiral
Worden.
THE CIVIL SERVICE SYsTEM.-By invitation
Of the President, Mr.. George William Curtis,
and other members of the advisory board of the
civil service, met the Cabinet during the past
week at the Executive Mansion for the purpose
OF 1nterchangfng views as to the operation of the
civil service rules. The testimony of all thu
Cabinet officers was unexpectedly favorable.
CLERICAL CHANeEs.-At the recent COMPETE
tive examination for promotion in the general
land Office, Mr.. c. w. Holcomb, of CRANKY,
Conn.,, was promoted to third-class clerkship.
W. X. Mendenhall, head of the railroad diyis-
ion, general land Office, has resigned his position
to accept a situation in the employ of the North
Pacific railroad company.
PERsoNAL.-Gen. Francis A. Walker, for
meriy superintendent of the ninth census, and
subsequently commissioner OF Indian affairs
has been in the city for several days past. The
venerable Mr.. Dent, Mrs. Grants father, has
been quite sick for several days past, and is
under medical treatment. ..''Vice President
COlfax made temperance address in Baltimore
last evening.
TIE Posi- OFFICE DEPARTMENT BUILDING.
The House committee on public buildings and
grounds have inspected the Post Office depart
ment building, for the purpose of further con-
sdering the plan of raising the building one
story. The supervising architectOft the Treasury
estimates that the expense OF raising and putting
q 800 600 A Chicago firm proposes to raise the
building for $50 Geo.
THE Jos. B. STEWART who is now figuring so
conspicuously at Washington was formerly a
lawyer in this city. He was a man OF great en-
ergy, but, while here, was chiefly distinguished
for his superabundance of brass and poverty OF
brain. He is emnently fitted for Washington
lobby practices, and will always be certain to
exact a liberal commission for any disburse-
ments he may be employed to make. The noto-
riety ne has Just achieved d viii make him SUI
he courts martyrdOm if it will make him con-
spieuOus before the public.-Louisrilte Coariey-
Journal
WHY HIS REPORTS WERE BEHIND TIME.-A
collector of internal revenue not far from the
Ohio river, being little behind time in forward
lug reports for the month of December to the
department at Washington, submitted the fol-
lowing explanation as to the cause of the delay:
Left home OH the 18th to attend to official
business. Ohio river blocked with ice and was
per previous arrangement, on sd, to a very
handsome young Christian lady, (and she's
proud of me YETI Frolicked on the 2ith, and
pitched into Office work on the 25th. Hence,
please conclude that some delay was Unavoidable
Don't let it count against my Office. Our bride
joins in the request.
The kind-hearted commissioner decides that
the excuse is admissible.
vIcE-PREsIpENr CoLFAx was not absent
from the Senate last week, as enormously stated,
having presided more or less every day. He
denies the telegraphed statement that he expects
TO prove his deposit of June % came from
Messrs. Shoemaker, G. III. Stuart, or III. B.
Bowen, but expresses confidence i'm his ability
10 fully vindicate himself. He also states that
after McComb first testified last winter about
some letter he had from Ames as to some of his
rulings asSreaker, he (Colfax) addressed let
ter to fhe6hairman of the committee, asking
that McComb be required to either produce the
letter or to point out the ruling so that il could
be examined by any parliamentary expert as to
the committee the very day Mr.. Ames returns
to the city, their conflicting statements having
been given thus far in the presence of both.
b COMMAND OF THE MARINE CoRPs.-It is
reported that General Burnsides aspires to the
command of the United States marine corps,
and it is generally believed that, desiring it, he
will certainly get it; The command embraces
between two and three thousand men, more
than half of whom are serving in foreign seas,
and being an dependent anu popular organi-
zaton 1ndispensab to the naval eSta blisl ment,
which IL antedates, its leadership is much sought
after. The present chief, General Zeilin, is sew
eral years beyond sixty-two, the customary re-
firing age, but Is retained in command by the
President, who legally has discretion i'm the
premises. The bill recently introduced by SEN
atcr Logan, compelling the retirement of army
and marine officers at sixty-twO years of age, as
Is now done in the navy, is likely to become n
law, and will thence vacate this position, even if
II should not be done sooner.
THE PRESIDENT AND CABINET GOING TO
MAKE Tour or THE SOuTH.-The Georgia
delegation, heretofore mentioned as having a
petition to present to the president in favor of
the selection of Senator Pool for a Cabinet posi-
ZION, saw the President this morning, and after
a very satisfactory interview on tile subject of
the petition, had Q long talk over southern
affairs generally, and those of Georgia In
particular. The President expressed himself
pleased to understand that the republicans in
Georgia were once more thoroughly united, and
are putting their very best men In the lead.
The President alsO informed the delegation that
IT was his intention TO make . tour through The
southern statee, starting from here shout the
10th Of March, via Richmond, Raleigh, Column
bia, Charleston, Savannah, Montgomery, Mo-
bile and New Orleans. and viii be accompanied
by his entire cabinet.
The FARRAaur STATrE.- Quite a crowd of