The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1875-01-26
WASHINGTON.


WAsHGNGToN, January 25.-The Navy
Department caught fire in the upper story
ut about half-past twelve this afternoon,
and is burning tercely, A general alarm
has been sounded, and fire engines from
all directions are in service, The flames
seem to be confined TO the rooms Just be-
low the roof, but are making headway,
and fears are felt that the building will
be consumed. The rooms on fire are gen.
orally stored with records, and are likely
to be destroyed. Rumors have it that
some persons are in the upper story, and
the tiremen are attemptingtO rescue them.
The supply Of water seems to be scarce,
The wind is blowing a moderate breeze
from the northwest, iu aR opposite direc-
tiOn to the War Department, which is
west Of the Navy Department buildings,
and there Is little danger OF that Depart
ment catching on fire. The fire originated
In the east end Of the main building.
At2P. NJ, the fire was still burning IN
the Navy Department, but It Is believed
now that the flames can be confined to the
upper rooms where they originated. No
lie was lost, AZ feared earlier, though
some Of the employees and officers Of the
Navy on duty In tho building were In
danger OF sutloCatiOn while attempting to
remove some valuable records. Tho up
per floors arenow completely flooded with
water, and many Of tho records will be ne
riously damaged. Nearly all tho bureau
officers and chiefs Of division have made
preparations for removing the books
and records from their respective offices
in the event Of spread Of the flames.
LATER,-The fire Is now completely
under control, and investigation shows
that the building Is as much damaged by
water as by the flames. ltls thought that
the fire originated from defective llues, as
the room In which II was first discovered
was unoccupied. Nearly oil the prperS
destroyed can DO resupplied, The Sec
retarys office proper in the wing Of tile
main building was not damaged, but
every preparation was made for removing
the furniture and official papers.
AWAITING RESULTS.
Gen. Garfield, Chairman Of the Com
mittee on Appropriations Of the House,
called on the Committee on Ways and
Means to-day and said his committee had
long delayed action on the Postotllce Ap.
preparation bill awaiting tho report Of
the Ways and Means Committee, and were
lesirous to have the benefit Of suggestions
In regard TO making appropriations for
the IaCifc Mail steamship service rs to
additional subsidy, for which no appro-
priatiOn was made last year. Gen. Gar
field said his committee had the opinion
Of the Attorney General that the contract
for II was still In force.
The Senate Committee on Railroads
met this morning. The session wis deyo-
ted 10 hearing tho argument Of Mr., Kibbe
In advocacy Of the bill to aid in the con-
struction Of double truck freight rail
road from New York to Omaha.
The Appropriation Commi ittee com.
pleted the POstolIlce Appropriation bill
Today, and gave $50066O TO the Pacific
Mail Co. for the China service, but no
provision was made for extra subsidy.
RUMoRs WITHOUT FOUNDATION.
The frequent publications that certain
members Of the Cabinet have threatened
to resign on account OF differences Of
opinion concerning the management OF
the Louisiana matter, and that in conse-
Quence the message Of the President was
changed In tone and language, are au-
thorilatively stated TO be without founda.
tion,
SECRETARY BRIsTow.
Secretary Bristow Is still confined TO
his room.
INCREASED DUTIES.
The Secretary of the Treasury this
afternoon sent the Ways and Means Com
mittee tnbnlated statements showing the
increase Of the amounts Of revenue that
could be provided by re.cnacting the
import duty on tea and coffee, by repeal
Ing the ten per cent horizontal reduction
on sundry articles, effected by the tariff act
Of 1872, and by imposing various rates Of
Of duty ON a number Of articles which are
now on the free list. In regard to the
latter Secretary BrisiOw makes no recon-.
mendations but merely enumerates Il
large number Of articles which are now
imported free TO aggregate the amount Of
some forty million dollars per annum mud
irOm which the Committee may select
with this detailed information now before
them, such as Cuu most properly, in their
opinion, be made to contribute 10 the |
custom revenue. The Secretary also
transmitted to the Committee similar
statistics and estimates prepared by tho
Commissioner Of internal revenue In re.
gard to the increase Of revenue that could
be secured by adding 10 The tax on whisky. |
1t Ia generally believed that II my III.
crease Is made Il will be to the extent Of
len cents per gallon.