Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1878-03-06
Washington.
OUT OF CASH.


circular letter was sent by Com.
missioner Williamson, of the general
land office, to-day, to So of the en-
ployes of that bureau, including &c
ladies': Want Of appropriation to pay
for necessary clerical force has forced
upon the honorable secretary of the in
terror the alternative of dismissing or
granting leave Of absence, without pay,
to very large percentage of the force
OF the office till such time as it may
please congress to make such appro-
avail the government of your services.
The option Of saying whether you will
accept leave of absence without pay, or
be discharged is unfortunately the only
one that can be offered Those of you
who accept leave will be required to
state IN a letter to the commissioner
that you rellnquish all claim for pay
during such leave. 1t deeply grieves
the honorable secretary Of the interior
and myself to take action imperatively
demanded Of us under existing laws,
but it can no longer be avoided.
THE MINIS READY FOR BUSINESS.
Acting under Instructions of the secre-
tary of the treasury and in anticipation
of the silver bill becoming q law, the
directors of minis have been engaged
several days making the necessary ar
engagements for running the minis to
their fully capacity on the new silver
dollar in connection with which
gold only will for some time be coined.
1t is probable a supply Of working dies
will be ready in about ten days, and in
the meantime silver bullion will pass
through all the process of put
ting it into shape for coming
into dollars, except that of
stamping and for which particular
operation, the capacity of the mint is
In excess Of the other operations, so
that in reality but little delay in coin
age will be occasioned by the dies not
now being ready. It is thought by the
middle of April the coinage of the
silver dollar will be at the rate Of three
millions five hundred thousand per
month. The supply of fractional sill
yer coined at the minis and different
treasury offices, is sufficient to meet any
demand likely to arise for several
months to come. The minis are all in
excellent condition with skilled force
of workmen, and every thing in shape
to meet the large amount of coinage
devoived upon them by the new law
THE SILVER BILL ...
was to-day sent to the department of
state by the speaker Of the house of
representatives, with endorsements of
the clerk of the house and secretary of
the senate to the effect that the bill had
passed notwithstanding the veto of
the president r.
THE BILL TO AUTHORIZE THE ISSUE OFPOs-
TAI SAVINGS BONDS
and for other purposes, introduced by
Representative Phillips, has received
the approval of a majority Of the house
banking and currency committee, and
will be finally acted on by the commit
tee next Tuesday. A prominent mem
Der says the report in favor of it's pas
sage will be nearly unanimous.
THE PUBLIC DEBT STATEMENT
for February shows decrease in the
debt for the month Of 81, 25O, 237, and
the following balances in the treasury:
Special fund for redemption of frac-
Special dcpos of legal tenders for
redemption of certificates of deposit 3S, sos, 900
Including coin certificates .... 49, 456, 600
Outstanding legal tenders 348, 618, 024
KIDNAPPING NEGROES FOR CUBA.
Advices from Washington under date
of March LIST states that several
weeks ago the president received let
ter from a reliable source stating the
writer was in possession of facts capable
of direct proof to the effect that color
ed men, citizens of Florida had been
kidnapped and transported across the
Gulf of Mexico to Cuba, and there sold
into slavery. The writer says the mem
bers of families Of some of the enslaved
citizens had received intelligence from
Cuba from their relations stating they
were held in bondage there, and the
matter was communicated to the chief
executive of the United States for such
action as might be deemed best calcu-
lated to vindicate the American dignity
of a procedure SO grossly in violation
of civilization times. The contents of
the letter occasioned much surprise to
the president. With a view Of ascer-
tanning the truth of the statement,
he concluded to dispatch confidential
agent to Cuba for that purpose. Such
agent was found in Judge Leonard, re-
publican member from Louisiana in
the house Of representatives, a gentle
man discreet, cautious, and familiar
with the Spanish language. 1t was
thought advisable to pursue this direct
course instead Of making the subject
the basis of diplomatic correspondence.
Judge Leonard few days ago obtained
indefinite leave of absence from the
house, and left New York for Havana
on the steamship Columbus on
Wednesday last, carrying with him a
letter from President Hayes to the cap
tain general, and also one from Senior
Mantilla, Spanish minister, addressed to
the same officer, to whom Judge Leon
ard will make known the objects of his
1t is not doubtful that the cap
tain general will afford him every facil-
i+v for tho COCOON, nj cbpo ont Of bic ~, ic