Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1877-08-15
WASHINGTON.
HOW ARMY OFFICERS GET THEIR PAY.

a Washington telegram of the 9TH
inst. says: Morgan, Drexel d CO.,
bankers of New York, are advancing
money to officers of the army in the
absence of the regular appropriation
for their pay, and charging them inter-
est on the sums advanced at the rate OF
8 per cent. per annum. The Paymaster
General acts as indorser, and holds the
pay-rolls as security. When an appropri-
alton is made by Congress, each officer
being in debt to Morgan, Drexel & Co.,
will make his pay-certificate payable to
their order.
SPANISH INTEREST.
The Spanish Government on Saturday
deposited with the Secretary of State
$4,000, it being the interest on the
invested amount of American claims
on the Spanish Government, and a dis
tribution will be made to claimants by
the Secretary of State.
A WOMAN IN IT.
b. f. James, for many years a princi-
pal examiner in the patent office, has
resigned. 1t is understood that his re-
signation was enforced on account of
charges affecting his moral character.
The friends Of Judge James assert that
he will be able to prove the utter falsity
of the accusations against him to the
satisfaction of the commissioner of
patents and the secretary of the inte-
rior. One of the female clerks of the
office is said to have been summarily
discharged on the same day that Mr..
In mas ppt hiS uo1kinu rnpars
II SAMOAN ISLANDS.
At the cabinet meeting on the Sth
inst, Assistant Secretary Seward pre-
scented a communication from the
president of the navigation, or Samoan
Islands, requesting the United States to
take them under its protection. 1t
seems that the German Empire has
been looking that way, and is making
an attempt to secure the islands as II
colony, which is not favored by the
present government of the islands. No
decision was arrived ut in regard to the
matter, but members of the cabinet ex-
press the opinion that they are too far
distant to make an alliance with them
of any benefit to the United States.
These islands are the scene of the ex-
PLOTS of an American named Steinber-
ger, who went there as consul Of the
United States, and succeeded in getting
the government into his own hands.
UNITED STATE TROOPS.
The cabinet also considered the pro-
priety Of removing the United States
troops from the points where they were
sent to protect property during the re-
cent strike, and it was decided that they
should return to their respective garri-
sons, except in cases where in general
opinion their service was still necessary.
The president and other members ofthe
cabinet congratulated Secretary Nc
Crazy upon his recent developed militia
ry genius, and it was the unanimous
opinion that the military were handled
during the strike with unusual prompt
ness and skill.
PINE LANDS.
Land Office Commissioner William
son will soon make a report to Secreta-
ry Schurz Of his recent visit to the Wis
consin and Minnesota lumber regions.
Commissioner Williamson found abund-
ant evidence during his trip that vast
quantities Of logs have been cut from
the government reservation in the vicin-
ity of Minneapolis and Saltwater, and
driven down the st. Croix and Missis-
sippi river. The pioneers or lum-
her scouts in the employ of the
land office have measured all the
lumber stolen from the government res
ervations at the principal points, and
the United States marshal has been in
structed to seize the equitable portion
for the government ofthe logs from the
RATS of the parties charged with stealing
them. \ few seizures have already
been made, and many more are expect
ed. With the seizures the supervision
of the matter on the part of the interior
department ceases.
II MORMON COUNTRY.
The condition of affairs III Utah has
engaged the attention of the cabinet to
some extent at one or two of their late
meetings. The rivalry between the
Gentle and Mormon population of that
territory seems to be increasing in bit
~terress, and n number of new iudict-
ments against Mormons for polygamy
and other oilenses have recently been
secured. Some of the Gentlles in the
territory have been apprehensive that
trouble might grow out of these pro-
ceedings, bat the administration does
not fear a disturbance of the peace