The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-12-24
CAPITAL CuLLINGs.
Scraps from the Departments - News
Notes OF National Interest.

Scraps from the Departments = News
Notes of National Interest.
WASHINGTON, December 23.--Commo-
dorc Walker, Chief OF the Bureau OF Navi.
cation and Repairs says the report that
the Alaska had been fired on is absurd.
Iithere had been any foundation for 1t the
Navy Department would have been SO in
formed long before the rumor reported
here by letter; whereas, in the judgment
Of the naval authorities, II there had been
any truth in II the fact could easily have
been communicated by telegraph.
Application having been made by tho
cadets and midshipmen ut the Naval Aca-
denny for leave Of absence during the
Christmas holidays, tho Secretary OF the
Navy has decided that such students as
desire 10 visit Washington Christmas day
may be granted leave OF absence from Sun.
day morning until Monday evening, and
no moro.
All the Executive Departments will be
closed on Monday next, until January I'D;
and during Christmas week and tomorrow
business will be generally suspended in tho
departments after IL o'clock each day.
There will be about fifty discharges from
the "I.apse Roll" OF the Treasury Depart
ment on the 9th Of January next. Secre.
tary Folger intends in the future to make
this roll preferred roll from which all va
cancies on the permanent rolls will be
filled. ..
The total redemption OF bonds to date
Is as follows Under the 10jth call 1925
800; under the 10Bth call S6,430 $50.
There was issued to-day over Secretary
Ktrkwood's signature, twenty.seven pieces
OF bounty land scrip to the heirs Of John
Paul Jones, a Captain In the American
Navy, in appreciatiye acknowledgment for
brave and meritorious services In COnnec-
ton with the capture OF certain British vcs.
sells OF war.
A postmaster wrote TO tue Postmaster
General "a mans wife dropped u letter
in this Office addressed to another man.
Husband suspects something wrong. Shall
l deliver IL to him2" The Postmaster Gen
ernl answered that the husband could moi
get the letter In thnt way.
Senator Van WyCk says the object oI
the resolution introduced by hin, di.
recting the Committee on Public Lands
10 investigate the causes OF the failure OF &c
many titles in Southern Nebraska, whereby
great injury Is theatened the settlers who
hive invested their all and expended the
labor OF many years, Is made necessary by
The action ofthe 81. Joe < Denver Il. +. Co
and their assigns, who now claim the
llndswhich the Government had conveyed
II the claim Of the railroad q mpany Is sits
taiicd, and II the government does not In
dCmniiy the settlers, General Van WyCk
will insist that American people and
citizens are treated worse than tho Irish
peasantry by the landlords and laws oI
England. 1le proposes by committee to
obtain fully nll tho facts In the case
Niessrs. Van Wyck, McDlll and Grover,
subcommittee, will take testimony during
the recess, ard will probably hold q session
at Lincoln, Nebraska, on Friday, 30tll inst.
before the investigation is concluded
II Is probable that similar inquiry Will
be instituted as to the dealings OF Other
land grant railroad companies with the
settlers. Il is claimed TINT for years past
thr rulings Of the Public Land division Of
the Interior Department have been grossly
unfair 10 the settlers oil public lands
wherever they have come In conflict with
The interests Of the land grant railroad
companies. The Northern Pacific Railroad
il particularly complained against, and at
effort will certainly be made to restrain the
greed OF the land monopOlists along the
immense line OF the Northern Pacific.
There arc enough menbetso Of the HOUSE
Ft......,itina -, EInnIia6a fntttutt,ib6 In ibl