Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-01-10
KNOTTY QUESTION.
The Hospital Sow and Her Nine

pital Service" has just been printed. The regu-
lations make good-siZed volume Of 146 pages.
One of the. new regulations is that numbered
$3.50. 1t is as follows: Receipts accruing from
the proceeds OF sale Of all property belonging to
the marine hospital service shall be deposited
as miscellaneous receipts A SOW caused the
adoption of this regulation. She was common
SOW, too-in early life a low-bred Missouri
swine She was bought by the medical officer
in charge of the revenue marine hospital at st.
Louis for use as a scavenger. An aged darkey
living near the hospital was induced to part
She was wanted to devour the refuse Of food
around the hospital. She fulfilled her part Of
the contract most admirably. 1t should be
stated that she was purchased out OF the nos
pital funds. She had very little hair on her
when she was driven into the hospital yard; 1t
having disappeared by reason of dogs teeth
and her having been for six months the ami
mated target Of every small boy in the neigh
bofhood who was perfecting himself in the
art of suOne-thrOwing. She had not fed on gov
eminent pap long. however, before she became
sleek and comely; her hair appeared again. She
developed into a high toned sow. A man liv-
ing just back of the hospital had number of
hogs; and the hospital scavenger was allowed to
associate with them in order that she might
not be too lonely. All went well for some time
with the officer in charge Of the hospital who
congratulated himself upon his useful purchase
one morning be woke and found that his pet
had become the mother OF nine healthy pigs
This was more than was in the contract and
exactly nine more than was desirable. 1t was
concluded to keep them, however, until they
While they were growing they were kept in the
lot Of the man who was the owner OF hogs. and
who became so fond of the young porkerS that
he made an offer for them. His offer; after be-
ing raised little, was accepted. Everything
seemed serene again. The officer congratulated
himself upon having increased the hospital
fund by S5l: He Of course made report OF his his
money be placed to the credit Of the hospital
fund. The question was raised whether it
should not be turned into the Treasury on ac-
at st. Louis became slightly indignant. Section
36lS of the Revised Statutes, provides that
the proceeds of the sale OF all old, abandoned or
damaged property OF the !, marine arm hospital ser ser
laneous receipts, not to be taken out without an
appropriation. In other words, the money de-
rived from the sale OF property purchased
hospital service by a tax Of 40 cents a month
each. shall revert to the government and not to
the hospital fund. 1t was contended that these
The question, in the absence of the First Comp
troller of the Treasury, was referred to Deputy
Comptroller Tarbell. That officer, after full
consideration Of the case held that the
OF the st. Louis SOW should not be turned
into the Treasury as miscellaneous receipts.
The money he held rightfully belonged to the
fund. The doctor in st. Louis felt better when
he heard of this, although it is stated that he
began to feel uneasy and wonder how an innO-
cent SOW could be the cause of so much trouble.
But the question was not yet settled. 1t went
TO Judge Porter, the first comptroller, upon his
return to the city. A full legal consideration
was given. 1t was some time before decision
was reached. The result was that Judge Porter
overruled the decision of Judge Tarbell and
held that the monoy from the young porkers
and indirectly from the SOW should be turned
into the Treasury under the section Of the
Statutes
was done and upon Judge Porter's decision the The
regulation quoted at the beginning Of this article
lation says ''all property" instead Of 'old, dam
aged or abandoned property" as the language is
in the revised statutes. The medical officer in
sow, but does not allow her to either make calls
Or receive visitors.
NAVAL ORDERs-Lieutenan j. H. Coffin, to
equipment duty at the Washington navy yard;
Lieut.. II. O. Handy to the receiving ship Wa
bash; BoatSWain Francis Butland, from the On
ward, and ordered to the Pensacola relieving
Boatswain j. A. Brisco, who Will return home
10 report arrival.
RENTS PAID BY THE GovERNMENT.-The COM
mittee on expenditures in the public buildings
held their first meeting to day, and referred to
subcommittee, with instructions to fnvesti-
gate and report the resolution offered by T.
Turner, of Kentucky, and adopted before the
recess, 1nsfructing the committee to inquire
ment is paying f6f buildings and grounds,
and whether it is for the interest OF the United
States to continue to pay such rents or to erect
suitable buildings demanded by the public
need.
ON ACCOUNT OF THE DELICATE SUBJECTS that
will come up, Secretary Schurz has decided to
make the examination OF the Ute Indians, when
they arrive here, secret. There will thus be no
public pow-woWs.
The STAR ROUTE SERVICE INvEsTIGAT1oN.-
The subcommittee Of the House committee on
appropriations, consisting Of Representatives
Blackburn, Blount, Cannon, Clymer and Haw-
ley, held meeting this morning and discussed
the programme to be followed In the proposed
investigation OF the Star route service OF the
Post Office department.
DELAYED STEAMERs.-Postmaste James. of
New York, to-day notified the Post Office DEPART
ment that all ocean steamers on their way to
New York from Europe are Eve days overdue,
and the outward bound steamers carrying the
mails are delayed.
DENIAI--Riggs House, Washington, Jan.
10, lsso,-Editor star; In your paper Of yester-
day you state that Mr.. Wm. NJ. Leeds, late act
Ing commissioner Of Indian affairs, had become
associated In business with myself in Wall
street. Mr.. Leeds has never been associated
with me in business. l never had a business
VioiiSoSeion WIN Luu' 'tiy uuiy, yours,
CLINTON b. FISK,
PERsoNAI--Senator Plumb was registered in
New York last evening". Mrs. Grant is
quoted as having said that the happiest period
Of her life and the generals was when they
lived In Galena sin small brick house and kept
one seryant".... Edison was born near Digby,
Nova Scotia, his parents removing to the United
states ,s WI. when S ne was very young. General
Appraiser butcher, of New York, pronounces
fOlln64fi0O the
to resign his Office. -. Senator Bayard went
over to Philadelphia yesterday. Joshua A.
Norton, better known to Californians as q EN-
peror" Norton, dropped dead in San Francisco
Thursday.:... Elk Senator Stanley Matthews
IS re.nfeea ste. as saying that however much he
might desire the English mission, he could not
afford to take it,. Ex-U. s. Senator Truman
Smith was one of three persons who last Sum
day united with the Presbyterian church at
Conn, on profession OF faith He is
aighty-eight years old. 90. Mrs. Scott-SiddOns
we'll known to the amusement patrons Of this
city, has separated from her husband. " Far
Away Noses the well known Turkish merchant
Of New York, sailed for Europe yesterday.
CHARGES AGAINST INDIAN COMMISSIONERS HAyT
The board Of Indian commissioners held two
secret sessions to-day. The subject considered
at both sessions was the charges of mismanage.
ment preferred by General Fisk against
Commissioner OF Indian Affairs Hayt. At
The meeting this morning there was a
general discussion on the subject. Dur
pg the morning the committee ap-
The charges were at the Interior department
making q r,rolininarv Investigation rho