Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-02-08
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
Interesting Items Picked Up Social
Visit to the Capital.

A member of the GLOBE staff having re-
nent army officer in Washington, and con-
tanning as it does matters OF interest to
army folks in general, is unwilling to keep
it all to himself, so publishes it:
WASHINGTON, d, c.,
Riggs House, Feb 8, 1880. {
incidentally heard you were i'll st. Paul,
and engaged in journalism, and as you news
paper men are always on the look out for an
item, here goes: First of all tho weather;
it is perfectly splendid, and has been SO all
winter. The streets are thronged with
ladies' and gentlemen IN spring costumes;
the hotels are brim full and business is
booming. During tho past three weeks
several of your st. Paul friends have been
visiting the CAPITOL some on business, others
for pleasure. Judge Fiandreau, Gen. San
burn. Gen. Tompkins of the army, DR..
Stewart, Maj. Strait and others. Flandreau
delivered his argument in the Washburn-
Donnelly case, last week, with what result is
not known. l buz around among the COM
mittees of House, and from what I gather,
the interest of Minnesota will net
suffer, SO long as ''Alec" is in
the war department.. By the way, do you
know Col. Barr personally? He is an
nounced as military secretary of the secre
tary of war" 1 was introduced to him last
Monday at table dinner given by Mr..
Wasaburn, and found him o most agreeable
and courteous gentleman; he has been most
favorably received by all the army here and
by the authorities generally. Speaking of
army matters, Joe Johnston has been too i'll
to pay much attention to his bill, and it is
generally conceded that the army will be let
alone, excepting that a retiring bill will pass,
making retirement compulsory at 62.
AS in the navy many officers COM
plain of 'invidious distinction" A bill has
been introduced in the House making re-
tirement compulsory at 62, and the subject
has been seriously and favorably considered
in the military committee of the
Senate seyera; times lately and
meets with general favor, and will
probably 60 through. senator and men,
Der of the military committee (Senste)
remarked to me last night that his commit.
tee was in favor of compulsory retirement ct
fixed age, but whenever the subject was
mentioned, letters would come in from diff
ferent parties asking that Marcy be excepted,
that Townsend be excepted, that Van Vliet,
Alvord, Easton, Rucker and 80 on be except
ed, and that when those exceptions are made
there will be no one to retire. After this
conversation, I asked an old friend of mine
in the A. G. 0. and learned from the record
that about thirty officers are over 62, and
some are over CT; for instance, Marcy, in
! spector general; Alvord, paymaster general;
Rucker, assistant quartermaster general, are
on the 67 list. Van Vliet and Easton are
nearly or quite g., Meigs and Town
send 63, Barnes. Sloan, Cuyler,
and some other ':medicos'' are g. and soae
in the pay department. are 67. Most of the
veterans belong to the staff, but the line
will furnish few sold fogies." The pres
ent retired list is mad up of officers below
the grade of major. 1 mean at least two
thirds of it, and the attention of Congress is
being called to this matter. Should retire
ments occur, the paymaster:generars posi-
ton would undoubtedly be filled by Col.
Larned, and no better appointment could be
made, as Col. Larned is admitted univers-
sally to be the ablest hand in the pay corps.
Sackett undoubtedly would succeed Marcy
and either Ingals or Hollabird would sit in
Meigs' chair. Drum will succeed Townsend,
nd Crane will make pills for the army in place
of Barnes, although Barnes says the Presi
dent has no idea of retiring any one. And
again Norris has been making
poultices for the administration for
several years past, and has Mrs. Ricketts, to
back him. Baxter, too, may have word or
two in the matter.
The next military matter of interest is
the Fitz-John Porter case-this will come
up February 18th and will provoke discus
! sion. understand Porter will have many
supporters among the Republicans, and
Blaine is mentioned among them. Porter
will go through all right, but don't think
enough can be done to wipe out the great
| wrong done him. After the Porter matter is
ended, Senators say that Pope and Mcdowell
will have to rise and explain.
Lieut.. Cherry, Fifth cavalry, is here, and
is expecting an appointment in the staff "a.
@. NJ as reward for gallant conduct in the
Ute campaign. This is all wrong. A law
should be enacted authorizing the advance
ment 80 many files in his grade, as in the
navy.
Lieut.. Hare, Seventh cavalry, who mar
ried niece of Gen. Howard, is also here,
looking for an appointment as pay master
with rank of ma or.
Z g Reno matter is not yet settled. 1
don't believe he will be dismissed; ''Quien
Sabe?" OF politics, Blaine, is considered here
as the Republican nominee. Grant is played
out, although Don Cameron says he shall
have the vote of Pennsylvania. Sherman Is
the dark horse but he keeps his especial
agents treasury department" moving around
lively, and has brother "Cump'' to help
him.
Hancock is the coming man on the Demo
cratic side, and if nominated will win; tho
volunteer soldiers will support him without
regard to Politics. know of several promi
nent government officials who will vote for
him, and seven tenths of the army will re-
member the Second corps. I have written
you quite letter; let me hear from you.
Direct care Riggs house. SAM.