Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1878-03-07
Washington.
OUT OLE CASH


OUT OF CASH.
Washington telegrams of the 2nd
inst. state that the following circular
letter was sent by Commissioner Will
hanson, of the general land office, to-
day, to 53 of the employees of that
bureau, including 90 ladies: Want of
appropriation to pay for necessary
clerical force has forced upon the hon
| orable secretary of the interior the al
ternatlve 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 appropriation as will enable
him to again avail the governm ment of
your services. The option cf saying
whether you will accept leave of alb
sence 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 let
ter to the commissioner that you relin-
quish all claim for pay during such
leave. 1t deeply grieves the honorable
secretary of the interior and myself to
take action imperatively demanded of
longer be avoided
THE AIINTS READY FOR BUSINESS.
Acting under instructions of the Sec
retary of the treasury and in anticipa-
ton of the silver bill becoming law,
the directors of mints have been en-
gagged several days making the neces-
sary arrangements for running the
mints to their fully capacity on the
new silver dollar in connection with
gold only will for some time be coined.
1t is probable supply of working dies
Will be ready In about ten days, and in
the meantime silver bullion will pass
through all the process of putting it
into shape for coming into dollars ex-
cept that of stamping and for which
particular operation, the capacity of
the mint is in excess of the other oper-
ations, so that in reality, but little de-
lay in coinage will be occasioned by
the dies not now being ready. II 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 silver coined at the mints
and different treasury offices. is suff-
clent to meet any demand likely to
arise for several months to come. The
mlnts are all in excellent condition
with skilled force of workmen, and
every thing in shape to meet the large
amount of coinage devolved upon them
by the new law.
KIDNAPPING NEGROES FOR CUBA.
Advices from Washington under date
of March 1st states that several weeks
ago the president received a letter
from q reliable source stating the writer
was in possession Of facts capable of di-
rect proof to the effect that colored
men citizens of Florida had been kid
mapped and transported across the Gulf
of Mexico to Cuba, and there sold into
slavery. The writer says the members
of families Of some of the enslaved cit
liens 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 tie American dignity
of procedure SO grossly in violation of
civilization times. The contents of the
letter occasioned much surprise to the
president. With a view Of ascertaining
the truth of the statement, he conclud-
ed to dispatch a confidential agent
to Cuba for that purpose. Such agent
was found in Judge Leonard, re-
publican member from Louisiana in
the house OF representatives d goratle
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 Wednes-
day last, carrying with him letter
from President Hayes to the captain
general, and also one from Senor Man
tilla, Spanish minister, addressed to the
same officer, to whom Judge Leonard
will make known the objects of his mis-
sion. 1t is not doubtful that the cap
tain general will afford him every facil-
/ ity for the accomplishment of his mis-
sion, besides extending his own investi-
cations in the same direction.
THE SILVER BILL
was to-day sent to the department of
state by the speaker of the house ofrep-
resentatives, 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.
THE BILL TO AUTHORIZE THE ISSUE OF POS
TAI cAyr>-r,c DoS-r>,
and for other purposes, introduced by
Representative Phillips, has received
the approval of 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 its pas
sage will be nearly unanimous.