The National tribune., 1882-03-25
CAPITOL AND DEPARTMENT NOTES.

CAPITOL AND DEPARTMENT NOTES,
The McGarrahan land claim will, it is un-
derstood, be reported favorably by the House
Committee on Claims.
A bill has been introduced into the House
increasing the salary of the chief clerk of the
State Department from $500 to $500 per
annum.
The Judiciary Committee of the House will
report favorably on the admission of Samuel
Major as contingent delegate from Nebraska.
The Senate Judiciary Committee has agreed
to report a bill creating court of nine judges,
subordinate to the Supreme Court, to dispose
Of many of the causes which now accumulate
for the determination of the highest tribunal.
General Superintendent Thompson, Of the
railway mail service, has issued IN order to
division sGperEtcndents for information as to
whether any matter is now admitted to the
mails which is liable to damage mail matter or
harm persons employed in the postal service
In reply to an inquiry addressed to General
Mclgs as to the practicability Of proposed plan
for raising the dome Of the capitol fifty feet in
order to secure additional space in and near the
rotunda for the library, he strongly discounte-
nances the idea. The walls he thinks would be
unable to bear the additional pressure put upon
them by such a change.
The Board of Regents of the Smithsonian
Institute have pcttioned Congress for an ap-
preparation of $4,000 to make the east wing of
the building fire-proof. In case of fire at pres
ent all the valuable collections in it would be
destroyed.
joint resolution introduced in the House
by representative Urncr embodies resolution
of the General Assembly of Maryland urging
an appropriation sufficient to erect at Frederick,
Maryland, a suitable monument to the memory
Of Francis Scott Key, the author of Z" The Star
Spangled Banner"
Secretary Hunt has recovered sufficiently
from his recent indisposition to resume his
duties at the Navy Department.
President Arthur will hold his first public
reception at the White House on Tuesday, the
2Sth instant. 1t will be followed by regular
weekly receptions.
General Thomas A. Nelson has returned to
Washington after several weeks absence in
New York and the West.
Ex-senator Dorsey left Washington on Sun
day TO visit his rancho in New Mexico
Miss Lillian Carpenter, daughter of the late
ex-senator Carpenter, is recovering from a
serious attack of illness at New Orleans.
Postmaster General Howe while on visit
to Boston, was given a reception by the Mas
sachusetts Senate and House.
Among the Presidents recent callers were
Senators Allison, Miller, kellogg, Rollins, Nc
Dill, Sawyer, Farley, Cameron, and Hale, Rep
sentatives Darrell, Pettigrew, Hawk, Aldrich
Farwell, Robinson, Van Horn, Russell, Pierce
Wadsworth, Hubbs, Judge Corbin of South
Carolina, and Sergeant-at-Arms Hooker.
Ex-Gov and Mrs. Morgan, of New York, will
visit the President next week
Information has been received at the War
Department that General Sherman and party
are now travelling between San Antonio and
Ell Paso.
John Russell Young, Henry Woodruff, w. S.
Schermerhorn, William II. Sherman, and
Judge Roger a. Pryor of New York, A D. Mayo
of Boston, Prof. John w. Aikcrs of Des Moines,
and Paymayster Stevenson of the Army are in
Washington.
The Washington Police Court has decided
that the purchase of the pay of clerks in the
Departments, or Of certificates for pay due, but
awaiting an appropriation by Congress, does
not constitute broker" and that a prosecu-
tion for engaging in business as a broker with
out obtaining license cannot be sustained upon
evidence of transactions of this character All
prosecutions pending growing out of the pur-
chase of Census Office certificates have been
abandoned.
The Commissioner of Internal Revenue has
been notified of the death, at Gainesville Fla,
of James Ashton, formerly collector of the port
at Philadelphia.
Senator Vest who has been indisposed for
some days is rapidly recovering.