The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1882-07-15
CAPITAL TOPICS.

| The clerks of the War Department have
| formed a cooperative beneficial society. 1t is
| expected there will be about 300 members
each of whom will be assessed 81 upon the
| death of a member, for the benefit of the lat
| ters family.
The President has approved the act making
an appropriation for the erection of a monu-
ment to commemorate the battle of Monmouth
| Supervising Architect Hill has gone to Bos-
ton on Public Business.
Adiutant General Drum has returned to
Washington from Columbus, Ohio.
Director Of the Mint Burchard has left for
| the West to make an inspection of the minis at
Carson City, Denver, and San Francisco.
Mr. Edmund J. Mofatt of Albany, N. Y,
has resigned a clerkship in the State Depart
ment to accept a position rs special agent of
the Agricultural Department at London, where
he will also assume the duties of deputy consul
general
Engineer Melville, of the Jeanette, has re-
cciyed permission to return home from Siberia.
President Arthur accompanied by Senator
Jones of Nevada General Hawley and Senator
Cameron of Wisconsin, visited the Soldiers
Home, near this city, on Monday, spending
some time at the institution.
The Star Route eases continued to occupy
the attention of the Criminal Court of the Dis
trict
Although there has been some delay in the
adjustment Of PENSIONS the payments are still
continued, and on Saturday last the Secretary
of the Interior signed acquisitions for some
$12 100000 to claimants.
There is a growing sentiment among members
Of the House in favor of considering at this ses-
sion the contested election cases of Small VS..
Tillman, from the fifth district of South Caro-
lima, and Smith VS.. Shelley, from the fourth
district Of Alabama. Scrgcant-at-Arms Hooker
says he can obtain a quorum of Republican
members in forty eight hours, and many MEM
bers on the Republican side of the House are of
the opinion that if this can be done the cases
which have been reported by the Committee
on Elections should be disposed of before the
final adjournment Of the present session.
The Secretary of the Treasury has decided
in the matter of the selection of sites for the
government buildings authorized by the pres
cnt Congress, that the interests Of all parties
concerned can be best subscrved by haying
commissions composed Of disintcrestcd persons
select the best available site. He has appointed
4 commission, composed of Messrs. John Il.
Stuart, of Springfield, Illinois; William
Thomas of Jacksonville, Illinois; and Clifton
H. Moore of Clinton, Illinois, to report as to
the best site for the public building at Quincy,
Illinois; and commission composed of Messrs.
Henry L. Paine and Amasa p. Stone of Cleve-
land, Ohio, and +. 7. Carson, of Cincinnati.
Ohio, to act in the same capacity for the build
ing at Columbus, Ohio. Similar commissions
are to be appointed for Denver, Colorado Min
neapolis, Minnesota, and Detroit, Michigan.
At the Cabinet meeting on Tuesday the only
allusion made to the Egyptian question WIS
the reading Of the cable message received bv
the Secretary of State, announcing the opening
Of hostilities between England and Egypt.