New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-07-13
CURRENT TOPICS AT THE CAPITAL.
NEW NAVY REGULATIONS.

WASHINGTON, lhufsfal, July L. 1917
The Secretary OF the Navy has issued circular modify
ing the regulations Of the Navy regarding purchases
az follows: When pubic cxigency requires tho imme-
date use OF articles not hand or prOcuraDe under
existing the c0mmandant Of the yard will make
rcquIsitOn the purchasing officer for the same, and
transmit It % the proper bureau for approval, with
a statement OF the circumstances and nature Of the
exigency The VIII then decide TO the necessity
OF the open purchase, and If it approve will return the
requisiuon SO approved the purchasing officer who will
procure the articles in hemanner prescribed by law The
Department directs that when public exigency exists
all articles not otherwise exempted by law shall be pro-
cured after public advertisement. In another circular
the Secretary that paragraph twenty OF
the Navy gulatOns Of 1876 not in accordance with
section I7s Of the Revised Statutes. II provides that
communications orders ETC. OF a bureau shall Doe signed
by the acting chief OF such bureau specially appointed
by the President etc. by the Secretary OF the Navy
etc" TINS would imply that in the absence OF chief an
acting chief should be appointed by the President where
as Section 176 the Revised Statutes provides that in
assistant deputy or II there be none
then the chief clerk of such bureau, shall perform
the duty OF eh!ef unless Otherwise dlrec Ell Dy
the Pr, sident." " In OF the actual absence
Of chief ~ bureau, tie COMMUNICATIONS, ORDERS
b1ls, acquisitions and papers required t9 ne sighed
by him shall be signed by the acting chief OF such
dent bu none such shall be- appointed then by the cnet
clerk OF such bureau" IN anoter circular the Secretary
directs from and after tine LIST of july 1871 the
percentage paid by officers and sate-room funi-
sna No percentage PAID Dy officers previous
to that date will be- refunded New regulations pre-
scribns the responsibility or officers IN using these
articles Will be issued soon" Hitherto the Department
has eXaced from officers OF per cent upon the n-
voice price OF tine goods which been covered into
Treasury but the secretary does not TANK proper
that ucn tax should be levied and therefore orders It's
abolition.
A SUPPOSED ASSASSINATION EXPLAINED.
j. b. Williams Jr., of Alabama, now in
Washington. written a card to The Erenrng Star in
regard in Alabama, reported
day or two ago by the Secret Service officers OF the
Treasury Department The report he refers to in The
star is Identical with that published the previous day IN
THE TRIBUNE. RoferrinS 70 it, he says:
You say. few days after Mr. Thomas Maxwell, an
Well. to that, will say that Mr. maxwell. whom
knew well. and haVc soid goods I" Tor twenty years
bought stryclnne Saturday evening Al one ~
the drug stores. aud on sunday morning went 10 his
store. did not get dinner I'll three o'clock, when
reply was mad been very busy at the store. He re-
rud 10 Lis store Immediately after dinner when late
in the afternoon passing heard grOans IN the
store. one clerks VINO had key coming
an the street and. upon being told OF this noise
oeued the door aud found lr NJ IN the ast Iouies OF
dca.h lie an ola merchant and most estimaDle
CITIZEN on his desk were found i've letters, his
wife two To ms daughters his clerk.
to the surgeon OF me asylum ocaed ~ Tuscaloosa all oil
which indicated going To take his own life"
POSSIBLE RESTORATION OF CROGGON.
The case of Mr.. Croggon, who for many
years has had charge OF the safe in the Treasury contain
ng all the bonds Of National Banks. and who
moved a short time ago because he had brother IN the
Department has pat shape tor placing IL before
the President. with OF securing his restoration
Gen Smith, Appointment Clerk, assured Secretary sner
man. before he left Washington that Mr. Croggons
wees mad been Of such a character make them
weight gold and that tne order IN MS case should
be revoked. No action was taken. The matter VIII be
paced the President case requiring II neces-
sary, his sOnal uerpostIon on the ground OF real
CIyu Service reform.
COLLECTOR FREELAND RETAINED
A rumor has been prevalent in Washington
II n
after all be early day and that his place
would filed either by the appointments Of Gen. Hayes
or Deputy Collector Slas Booth. Acting upon the
thought this matter not settled prominent
Republicans OF New-York have been writing the Sc
retrv OF the Ireasuy subject but may be said
snip the Fourth District will DO made, for the present
least.
AGENT WEEKS WELL RECOMMENDED
George d. Weeks of Brooklyn recently ap-
pointed TO be special agent who has yet been
assigned to post has been in Washington to-day. Severe
criticisms upon the administration for hs appointment
nave been published In answer TO these II Is asserted
nj the Treasury Department that Mr.. Weeks a
candidate for special agency during the administration
OF Secretary Brisow and that that time he brought
excellent recommendations from Stewart l. WOodfOrI
and Others In addition to letters then placed on the
files OF the Treasury Department he has recently pro
duced others recommending MIN very highly. Among
the writers Of these are congressman > T. Crtttndtn,
prominent republicans Of New York and BROOKLYN The
authorities The Treasury believe the appointments TO
be- good one.
WORTHLESS SURVEYS TO BE STOPPED.
1t is announced at the Interior Department
that a new departure the matter OF surveying public
lands IN the Territories be made Tho Secretary
SAYS that finds great number surveying contracts
FOR dividing lands. which the whole country knows to be
utterly worthless and which must always remain
These are tne sage and AlKa Deserts OF the Interior
Most OF these given tits asserted po
liiica ayorites The plan announced probably TO
.doped will be oppose any future Appropriation for
WORK his class, aud 10 recommend general reduc
ton IN surveying force and the abandonment OF any
subdivision Of desert regions into townships and
lions under the present system The Interior Depart
feut's estimate OF III the expenses OF
offices and surveys by this proposed change Is one million
dollars.
MR.. MATA INPATIENT
senior AIata to-day called the Department OF State
to inquire OF Secretary Evarts whether
ote accompanying copy OF his credentials Minister
might soon expected, he wished to send such reply
to the Mexican Government by the mail OF this week.
The Secretary received Mr. Mata in friendly spirit and
informed him that he yet prepared TO furnish
reply TO the note, but that there should be
ry delay in dong So Mr. Mata. in the OF cou-
ver.atlon to-day with friends said that as Mr.
Marisca. his predecessor as Minister had protested
against the Executive order OF the United States Govern
ment authorizing our troops to pursue marauders on
Texas soil into Mexico with view To their punishment.
He did not As yet whether his Government would
direct him to enter protest against
ytsion OF Mexican soil actually made since that
time in accordance with the order. During
the time between Mr. Mariscal's protest and
the recent invasion, Mr.. Mata has been here
awaiting recognition the Minister of that country.
with mil powers enter into arrangement
ron for the protection Of the Rio Grande border.
and therefore he says 1t Is matter OF regret That an OPP
portunity has afforded him for that pui pose.
lie saws that the French intervention IN the affairs
az Nrxlco neither In gland has been dipO-
matte relations with that country. No difficulty
N