Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-11-25
THE EVENING STAR.
Washington News and Gossip.

washington News and GOSSIP.
CALLED ON THE Acknowledgements
Durham. Surgeon General Barnes. Representa-
tive elect Butterworth, General Wetzel OF Gin
cinnati, senator Davis OF West Virginia and 4
large party OF Virginia eXcursiOniSt5 called on
the President to-day.
SECRETARY MCCRARY is in no way connected
with whatever fight or controversy there may
be between the officers of the army and the In
terror department and Indian bureau concern
ING the mana cement OF the Indians He IS only
a loOker-on in Venice. He doesn't seem to care
whether the Indian bureau is transferred to the
army or not. He may have views on the
subject. but no one has ever heard him express
them. II the bureau is transferred to the army
he would institute the new orderOf things and
get them in running order. but he does not take
any part in the controversy, nor does he in
tend tc.
ARMY COURT OF INQUIRY on COL RENO
The President. on the application OF Maj Reno,
L. S. A, has ordered court OF inquiry to con-
vene at Chicago, Ill. On the second Monday of
January next to inquire into Major RenOS con
duct at the battle OF the Little Big Horn. June
25th and 26th. 1876. This was the fight with the
Indians in which Custer was killed. The Off
GERS detailed for the court OF inquiry are CDi
John II. King, 9Th infantry: Col. Wesley Mer-
rilt. 5th cavalry; Col. W. Il. Royal, Sd cavalry.
has been charged that Major Reno was ar the
battle OF the Little Big Horn, ana was rcn:Ss i'll
carrying cut orders.
PERsoSAL.-Majo jor Ben: Perley Poore and fam
fly have returned from their summer residence.
Indian Hill Farm, in Massachusetts. ana To-
Gated for the winter at the Chase mansion cor
ner OF 9th and Z streets Mr.. webb c.
Hayes and Col. Crook, OF the Executive man
sion. have returned from their hunt down in
Virginia. "A letter received TO-DAY by Nj
White, Speaker Randall private secGe AIRY, an
nOunceS that tie latter will arrive in WashiDr-
OElr ! a
Willis. OF New York, called on Secretary
Thompson to day. ....D DR.. j. VI. Toner has re-
turned from the funeral, OF his eStim9b.e m0tner.
who died in Western Pennsylvania last week,
at the ripe age OF -.
INVESTIGATION Of MINISTER SEwAHD.-Repre-
sentative Springer. OF Illinois chairman OF the
committee on expenditures in the State depart
ment. has been here week. trying to Get a
quorum of his committee together and the ne
ceSSary witnesses to proceed with the inyeSti-
CATION OF the charges against Minister Seward
lie has succeeded at last and tomorrow the in
Vestigation will be resumed.
THE ALMOST UNANIMOUS SENTIMENT OF the
members of Congress who have arrived In the
city is that there will be no extra session OF the
4eth Congress. The estimates are pared down
TO the lowest possible limit. and there will 0a
little antagons1n to any OF the appropriation
bills. Not few OF the democrats assert that
they will pass bill in the House to repeal the
existing law which provides for the appoint
n3ent of Federal election supervisors While It
may be possible TO get it through the House as
adifect proposition it Will hardly be passed b.
the Senate. The only real danger OF any OF the
appropriation bills falling would be brought
about In case the supervisor law cannot be re-
peaied by the passage OF a bill to accomplish
that purpose. When there might possibly be an
effort to tack it TO one OF the regular appropra-
tion bills.
TEMPORARY TREASURY EMPLOYEES DIS
Within hp CT fayx 1oV-
charge OF between GO and 20 employees in the
Treasury department has been made Most OF
lneSe discharges were females and Oh the roll
CT Temporary clerks They We're paid out OF
an appropriation CT s25, 900 made at the last ses-
sion OF Congress for temporary clerk hire. The
appfopl1at On being exhausted the employees
had TO be discharged. II is the custom OF Con-
greSS annually TO make small appropriation
for temporary Clerk hire in the Treasury and
every year when exhausted the clerks are dis
charged. Secretary Sherman has become con-
Vlnced that the uncertainty OF the places given
undef thlS appropriation causes as much dis
ueSS as II there was no apprOpri ition OF the
kind at all. 1t also causes a great deal OF tr0u-
ble to the department. For these reasons he
Will not recommend TO Congress as usual a re-
neWal OF the appropriation.
NEW SUPERINTENDENT OF RAILWAY MAIL
SELvICE-Mr. Theo. n. Vail, the efficient and
popular superintendent OF the railway mail
service, to-day resigned that position. This ac-
t1on by Mr.. Vail has been expected for some
time. and has been postponed by the influence
OF the Postmaster General as long as possible
Every one who had dealings with Mr. vain viii
regret to hear that he has finally withdrawn
from his official position.
Mr.. W. b. Thompson, the newly-appointed
general superintendent, will doubtless prove an
the superntendency of the ninth railway mail
division, which has its headquarters at Cleve-
land His new position will be one of greater
responSlbility and honor than that which he
nf(t (tnr
gresS hardly so desirable a one pecuniarily.
Mr. thompson served as an officer of a Michi-
gan cavalry regiment. At its close he was ap-
pointed to the lowest grade of railway postal
clerkship, and has now worked his way up to
the position OF general superintendent 1t is
remarked that in the ten years Of Mr.. Thomp-
sons Official service he has never received CEN
sure, and that his reports and recommenda-
tons as assistant superintendent have ALWAYS
received favorable attention. The appointment
OF Mr.. Thompson as his successor was favored
by MI Vail. and the new superintendent is
highly popular with his subordinares.
Mr.. W: G. Lowell, Chief head clerk of the rail-
way mall service. stationed at New York has
been appointed 10 fill the vacancy caused by
the promotion of Mr.. Thompson The resigna
ton and the two promotions viii take effect
from the 1St Of December.
THE HOUSE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
to-day had reported to it, completed, the Mill
tary Academy appropriation bill, which has
been in charge OF Mr.. Durham and Will be re-
legislative, Executive and Judicial appronria-
t1on Dill has been referred to Chairman Atkins.
Mr.. Foster, OF Ohio, and Mr.. Hewitt, of New
YORK. Chairman Atkins is hopeful that this
also Will be reported on the first day of the ses-
sion. The Fertilization bill has been referred
to Mr Baker, OF Indiana, and the Pension bill to
Messrs. Hewitt, OF New York, and Durham. of
Kentucky: Mr.. Atkins said to-day that he
thought all the appropriation bills would be in
the House by the middle OF January.
OF THE THIRTEEN letter carriers at Memphis.
all stood at their posts during the epidemic.
eleven were attacked by the fever and two
dled. Among the live substitutes appointed
there Wcle two additional Deaths
FOUR CANDIDATES FOR MAYoR-The Proyt-
dence Or. ~ democratic city convention have
nominated Alfred W. Fisk for mayor The pro-
hibltionistS have nominated Edwin Metcalf. the
greenbacbers Christopher A. Day, and the anti
Doyle republicans Charles p. Robinson, The
election occurs tomorrow.
THE TEN-MILE TROTTING RACE at Oakland