Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-04-21

The VoKEs FAMILY had a crowded aud dis
tiDguished house last night at Ford's. Presi-
dent Grant, Senator Stockton and others OF
prominence occupied private boxes The en-
thusissm ELECTED by the iuimitable and utterly
IL describable performances of this famous
troupe was something tremendous. For grace,
eprlehti1ness and the very incarnation of &C.
centric fun without coarseRess, the Vokes fam
lily certainly surpsss any performers ever be-
fore the Washington public.
NAVAL ORDERs.-Surgeon ID. Kindleberger,
ordered as a member of the retiring board on
22d instant; Capt. E. X. Calhoun, detached from
the command of the Hartford, Asiatic station,
and ordered to return to San Francisco and re-
port for the command of the Richmond; Com
mander Bancroft GherardI; temporarily de-
tsched from command of the receiving ship In
dependence at Mare Island. California, and or
dered to command the Richmond until the
arrival of Captain Calhoun, when he is to re-
sumo command of the Independence; Lieuten-
ant Commander Ed. Walker, detached from
the Lancaster on the LIST instant, and placed on
waiting orders.
NAVAL DIsP ArCs Es.-Dispstches have been
received from Rear Admiral James A. Strong,
commanding the U. s. naval forces on the
South Atlantic station, dated at Rio de Janeiro,
M arch oath, on beard the flagship Monongs-
hela These dispatches contain nothing of
general interest. The health of the squadron
continues good. The Wasp was Off MontevidiO
March 10th. The surveys on which she had
been engaged were about completed, and the
results were being worked up. The Powhstan,
at Key West, has been ordered to Hampton
Roads, and may be expected about the 1St of
May: The Wschusett sailed from Key West
April 1ith on cruise.
The DISTRICT REFORM SCHOOL FUND.-In
the House, to-day, Mr. Clarke, OF Missouri,
offered resolution, which was adopted, that
the committee Oh expenditures in the Depart
ment of the Interior be instructed to in1uire
rpnOrf nrIs VIII o. fam
OF money, IL any, have been drawn from the
treasury under the provisions of section OF the
act OF Congress, approved May ID, 1872, en-
titied IAN act relating TO the reform school of
the District of Columbia" which section au-
thOrIZes the Secretary of the Interior to pur-
chase new site for said school, to be selected
10y himself and the board of trustees, and ap-
pr0priating sl00, 0C0 for that purpose; that be-
fOre any part .of the appropriation is drawn,
Plams and specifications OF the new building
shall be made by the architect OF the Capitol and
approved by the Secretary OF the Interior; and
that she amount expended shall not exceed tue
sum appropriated. The resolution iustructs
the committee 10 report by whom, and when
sad money, If any, was drawn, and what has
been done with it. IL said section of said law
has been violated they will report how and by
whom and author; yes the committee to send
for persons and papers.
WHAT CANE OF BEING A"CAPIrAL~ED1ro
Pro TEM.-A quiet little Gaming affair touk
place at the Capitol yesterday. Mr.. George q.
fifth district of Mississippi, feeling himself ag-
grieyed by an article which appeared in Tie
C0pftdt OF Sunday last, styling him spOilsm
and legislative pumpkin head, called at the
Office of The Capital yesterday afternoon
ABB ut O'Clock, and inquired for Col. Piatt.
de was told by some person in the Off &c that
the Colonel was absent, and that Mr.. John Jas
Piatt, relative of the former, was in charge OF
the paper during his absence. '.Is he in?'I in.
quired Mr., Mckee. "He is not; but you will
hnd him at the House library, of which he is
librarian w h. aa M.
mediately proceeded 10 the House library, In
the Capitol building, and inquired for Mr..
Piatt. The latter came forward when Mr..
Mckee asked him if be was the responsible
editor of the Capital during Col. Piatt's
absence. Mr.. Piatt answered in the aft rmative
when Mr.. Nc kee asked If he wrote the article
IN last Sundays Capital assaliDg him as a
pumpkin headed legislator. MIR. Mckee said
he d. d not, but admitted that he read tue proof.
Mr.. Mckee theTeupon said "Then, sir, sin :e
you allowed II TO goin, you are responsible; take
that Tor it, and with that struck him a severe
blow across the face with rattan cane, perhaps
half an inch thick. Mr.. Piatt, who seemed
no resistance, and Mr.. Mckee left, sayiag that
he now considered their account as squared.
Excepting swelled lip Mr.. Piatt bears no
traces of the blow. Mr.. Piatt is a poet of soma
repute, and Is an exceedingly quiet and uuas-
Stunning gentleman. 1t is rather hard uoOn
him to have 70 take the canings that belong to
the truly wicked writer's on the Capital.
The ARKANsAs MIDDLE A SUBJECT OF Ca
MET CoNsULTATION.-The members OF
Arkansas delegation in both house. OF Go Z
gress, In company with the democratic Gu .
testants for seats IN the House of Representa-
tves, Col. Gunter and Messrs. Gsnss and Bell,
were at the Executive mansion to day, in con.
sultation with the President and cabinet con-
Corning tie situation of affairs at Little Rock
ana the policy which the government has de-
termlned 10 observe respecting the tangled
condition of political matters in tn at CITY, There
is no difference between the Arkansas Congress
mth ana the administration upon the point of
The preservation OF peace, and there is har.
mony respecting the propriety as well as the
necessity OF submitting the case to the courts or
grsphed from here to the contestants az Little
ROCK. The visit Of the delegatian to the White
House seems to have been more with a view
question than for any other purpose
The strife must ultimately be settled by the
courts, for 80 long as government troops occupy
a position between the warriors of Brooks and
Baxter they will not be allowed TO get at each
other. The latest telegraphic advices to the
government, which are from Captain Rose
Commanding the post of Little Rock, were re,
ceived last night by the Secretary OF War and
contain information that the L. S. troops are
posted in condition to prevent hOstiIities
Generally the situation was unchanged. The
subject was under discussion at the Cabinet
e,eting to-day, but no new features of interest
general aspect pronounced ITS decisions on the
telegra ms sent by the President personally and
through the War department and Department
OF Justice. These will not be departed from.
TIE CIVIL SERVICE REPoRT.-The report
of the civil service commission for the year
1873 4 was yesterday transmitted to Congress
by the President accompanied by a message
commencing it to their special attention. The
President says:
at sustained by Congress, have no doubt
the rules can, after the experience gained, be
so improved and enforced as to still more ma
teriaIly benefit the public service and relieve
the Executive, members Of Congress, and the
heads OF departments from influences prejuai-
cial to good Administration.
1.-THE rules g. they have heretofore been
enforced, have resulted benefcially, as is shown
by the opinions Of the members Of the Cabinet
and their subordinates in the departments, and
in that opinion 1 concur, but rules applicable
to officers who are to be appointed by and with
the advice and consent OF the Senate are In great
measure impracticable. except in 80 far as they
may be sustained by the action OF that body
This must necessarily remain 80 unless the
direct sanction OF the Senate lie given to the
rules.
81 advice for the present only such appro-
priation as may be adequate to continue the
nr0 nf f.rrr nd mil laow IN