The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1882-02-11
CAPITAL TOPICS.

Secretary Hunt has issued an order disapproy-
ing of the practice of Furnishing enlisted seamen
by confinement on bread and water OF diminished
ratiOns
Representatives of the National Distillers and
Spirit Dealers Association were before the Ways
and Means Committee last week, to advocate the
reduction of the tax on whisky to fifty cents per
gallon.
Public Printer Defrees has rendered his resig-
nation, to take effect April 1st.
The Senate Committee on Post Offices has
killed the proposition to revive the ranking
privilege by unanimous report against the bill.
Lieutenant Giles B. Harder and Master W. II.
Scheutze, of the Navy, have sailed for Europe, by
Secretary Hunts instructions, to assist in the
search for Lieutenant Chip and crew of the
Jeanette.
The Senate has passed the bill appropriating
100000 for the erection of fire proof building
near the War Department, to hold its records.
Major z. III. Conger has been appointed Super
intendent of Yellow Stone Park.
Rear-Admiral Beaumont has been placed on
the retired list Commodore Febger has been
promoted to be Rear-Admiral.
The total Yorktown Centennial deficiency
amounts to nearly $4,000.
The splendid Jefferson School Building, in
destroyed by fire early last Saturday morning.
The House Committee on Civil Service Reform
has under consideration the question of estab-
fishing another department of the Government,
to embrace agriculture, commerce, and manu-
features.
About 1 900 cases now appear on the calendar
of the House Invalid Pensions Committee, and
several hundred bills have not yet received at
tention from the clerks. The work of examining
these cases is very arduOus and extensive SO
far, the committee has disposed of forty or nifty
cases. There is enough work already before the
committee to employ the time of 100 committee
men from now until spring. The Invalid Pen
sions Committee is the hardest worked committee
in the House. Its chairman, General Browne OF
Indiana, was gallant soldier and is staunch
friend of the pensioners.
The sub committee of the House Committee
on Territories has decided to report favOrably on
the bill to admit Washington Territory into the
Union.
The charters of nearly 400 national banks
expire within the year, and legislation will be
introduced for a renewal of their charters for
twenty years upon application of twO-thirds OF
the stockholders.
The President has appointed Assistant Quar-
termaster-Genera Rucker to the vacancy created
by the retirement of Quartermaster- General
Meigs. and Major William B. Rochester Paymas-
ter General, vice Brown retired. General Melgs
issued retiring address to his officers, in which
he puts the amount expended for the sustenanee
of the Army during the war at nearly sZO ,tsar
100000 and says that only twice dld II SUI
for want of supplies-under General hoseo . -
after Chickamauga, and General Sherman at
Savannah
Secretary Hunt will not grant the request pe OF
-, "ac,,,n,, Who are with Lieutenant Danen-
hover and in splendid condition. a 1na b sne s1
allowed to remain in Siberia and help the search
for the missing Jeanette people
General Terry has directed Colonel Hatch, OF
the second Cavalry, commanding at Fort Custer'
10 III nersons cutting timber or ties for the
Nortbern Pacific Railroad.