The National tribune., 1883-01-18
THE NEWS OF THE WEEK.
Loss of Life by the Milwaukee and
st. Louis Fires.
SENATORIAL ELECTIONS.
Events at the Capital and in
the Departments.

The Senate Military Committee last Friday
morning considered and ordered to be faVorably
reported the Logan bill to increase the eff
cheney of the army. The bill provides that IN
time of peace offenders nOnpUnishable by Tegi-
mental or garrison CouTt-maTtials shall be tried
by q summary court consisting solely Of the
officer second in command, whose sentence
shall be subject to review by his next superior
officer. The number Of enlisted men in the
army, including an engineer battalion of $40
men, hospital stewards and 900 Indian scouts,
is fixed at 10000. The pay of a private in the
three arms Of the service is increased from Sl3
20 SIG per month and Of other men inferior to
commissioned officers in proportion. Commits
stoned officers at military posts apart from
settlements may each employ one soldier as
servant, provided the soldiers consent be OBJ
tanned and his pay be charged against such
officer. Provisions are also made that officers
on duty as jUdge-advOcates of courts-martial
shall receive an extra allowance of 500 per
day: that the secretary may employ civilians
IN place of general service clerks at military
division headquarters; that the governor of the
military prison at Fort Leayenworth shall
rank as q colonel; that officers Of the line on
duty as acting assistant quartermasters shall
be allowed SO extra per month; that any
person ruptured in the army or navy shall be
supplied with a truss; that the statute forbid
ding payment of mileage over land grant roads
be repealed, and that the Secretary Of War be
authorized to employ $50 instructors for post
schools, TO have rank and pay Of commissary
sergeants.
The naval appropriation bill reported to the
House Monday apprOpriatCS Sl52O9,lOO for the
support of the navy for the fiscal yca- ending
June 80, 1854. The bill provides that when
any commodore shall reach the age OF 90 years,
any captain the age of55 years, any commander
the age Of a years, or any lieutenant the
age of 40 years, he shall be retired by the PrcSi-
dent from active service and shall go upon the
retired list of the navy as of the grade held by
him at the date of his retirement The bill
appropriates 100000 to be used in building
the new steel vessels recommended by the Ad-
visory Board.
Mr. Hoar introduced bill in the Senate on
Saturday, by request, providing that hereafter
in all elections for presidential electors and
Representatives in Congress the ballots be
deposited in the Carey voting machine. The
Attorney General IS authorized 10 contract for
supplying one machine TO each voting
precinct in the United States. The bill con-
tains specific directions for using the machine.
The ballots are pasted together and wound on
a spool III a continuous strip.
According TO a statement made by the Secre-
taTy of War, the number of condemned cannon
on hand in his Department is $50, aggregating
4,69S,730 pounds register in weight, estimated
TO be worth an average Of Il cents per pound.
OF this number 1914 cannOns have been donated
'jy acts of Congress, covering period of twelve
gears, to foTty-nine towns and associations for
monumental purposes, but still remain on hand,
no provision having been made for Transports
ton to their destination.
The Supreme Court. on Monday, dismissed
the suit in which Admiral Porter and the Off
GERS and men of the North Atlantic squadron
claimed priZe-mOuey for the capture of several
Confederate iron-clads in the James river, Just
before the fall OF Richmond. The court held
that claim for prize-money cannot be main
tanned for captures on inland waters, or where
captures are made by the joint action of the
navy and army.
There were 105 clerks discharged from the
Census Office last week. 1t is understood that
they will be taken back if Congress makes the
appropriation that was asked for. There are
$50 clerks remaining in the office, and there is
money enough left to pay their salaries for
thirty days. If by that time the appropriation
is not made the entire office will be closed, and
the work suspended until June l.
Ex-senator Dorsey, Secretary Of the National
Republican Committee, has sent a letter Of
resignation TO Hon. Marshall Jewell, chairman.
He asks to be relieved on the ground of press
ing engagements and an affection of the eyes,
which compels him to spend much Of his time
in a darkened room.
board of naval officers, on the 18th inst,
concluded a series Of experiments at the navy
yard to test the efficiency OF new feed for the
Gattling gun. Altogether 5000 rounds were
fred. A great advantage of the new feed is its
adaprability to any angle Of discharge, where
the gravitatiOn feed operates reliably only with
In a limited scope.
The most important change proposed by
the Senate Committee on Appropriations in the
postofice appropriation bill is an amendment
fixing July I, 1883, as the date when the re-
duction Of the rate Of letter postage from
cents to 2 cents shall 90 into effect instead Of
January l, 1854, as proposed by the House.
The Senate Committe on Post-OfIices and
Post Roads last Friday, favorably considered the
House bill passed July q, ultimo, providing
for the issuance Of postal notes for the trans
mission in the mails of sums less than s., a fee
of three cents TO be charged for each note
issued.
A bill was introduced in the Senate on Mon
day granting pension Of so a month to the
widow Of the late General Sidney Burbank and
& similar bill, by 5Ir Edmunds, pensioning the
widow of the late Admiral John c. Beaumont
at the rate Of $50 per month.
The subcommittee Of the Senate and House
on public buildings have agreed 10 recommend
that the house in which Abraham Lincoln died
be purchased for $4,000, which is $1,000 less
than is asked for it.
Secretary Chandler estimates the cost Of co1a.
plotting and armiHg the monitor Puritan as
Sl,GGS, 126; the AmPhitrre 81 ,294. 30; the Ter
Tor, s., 294 22O, and the Monadnock, 81 43l, 439.
President Arthur yesterday signed the civil
service reform bill
CRIMES AND CASUALTIES.
The alleged abduction, last Saturday week, of
young lady Of st. Louis. named Miss Zeraida
Garrison, attracted a wide and absorbing inter
est. Upon her return home, a few days ago,
che told q story Of having been accosted by
large man with light hair, whose advances she
Tepulsed and endeavOred 10 escape by flight.
He pursued her, however, and applied hand
keTchief saturated with ChlUTOiOrn 10 her face,
after which she lost consciousness. When she
recovered she found herself prisoner III a
house on Washington street, from which she
was permitted TO escape by a woman in charge.
The statement made by Mrs. Levi, at whose
house Miss Garrison was is entirely different,
being to the effect that she came there Of her
own accord, accompanied by young man who
represented her Us his wife.
Edward Tay of New York, aged %, a shirt
cutter made z desperate effort 10 commit sui
eide last Friday. lie lived with his mother in
East Twelfth street. and became dcspondent
from lack of work. He became mOrose and
sullen, and more than once threatened to kill
himself On Friday he cut his throat. Ills
mothers screams brought an officer, who,
frightened Ut the suicides actions, ran from
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