The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1883-05-18
MANKATo FREE Press,
FRIDAY, MAY 10. 1888.
WASHINGTON LETTER.
(From our regular Correspondent.

WASHINGTON LETTER.
(From our regular CorrcspOndent)
WAsHINGToN, ID. C., May !, 1885,
A lively interest in the approaching
reunion of the Army of the Potomac, to
be held in this city on the 10th and 18th
ins,s., has now taken definite shape. The
committee of arrangements embraces
long list of names of the most sub
stantial and influential elements of
which the population of this city is
composed. But each gentleman has
been selected with reference to efficien
cy in the work, while display of Orna
mental iigurc.hcads was ignored. BE
sides the committees of reception and
finance, Il committee has been appointed
on parade, on transportation, on halls
and hcadquartcr. ON banquet, on press,
badges and printing, and on invitations
No detail for making the affair Il com.
pictc ana brilliant success will be ne
elected. Hotel accommodations will he
reduced to $500 per day for the occa.
sion, and railway fares to one and one
third fare tor round trip. The trunk
lines have spent $4,000 in advertising
the Reunion, and many visitors are ca
pccied in the city. No ciiyof the Union
owes the old soldiers warmer welcome
than the National Capitol, which they
defended through So many hard fought
campaigns. They will meet here again,
for since eighteen years ago. when, war
! worn and ragged, but covered with
glory, they carried their tattcred coiors
up Pennsylvania Avenue and passed
in review before the Executive Man.
sion. Though their reception on this
| occasion must necessarily he less wild,
hoistcrcus, and enthusiastic than then,
II is intended Ia he no less genuine and
cordial. There will he IN excursion of
citizens and veterans Ia NJ ,unt Vernon,
and la some of the famous battlc-iields
near Washington. The business meet
inc of the Society will he held at the
National Theatre, where also will be
the delivery of the Grafton 10y Hon.
Martin Maginnis of Montana, who is
now in the city, and who, during his
day ia Congress, was called the rhym-
inc orator The poet of this occasion
will he Geo. Alfred Townsend. The
banquet will at Abner's Garden. Some
Of the conspicuous names on the COM
mittee of reception are Hon. j. G.
Blaine, Gen. w. II. Sherman, Mr.. JUS
ticc Harlan, Gen. lIaZen, Col. Cork
hill, Hon. W. +. Chandler, and w. W.
Corcoran. On Wednesday representa-
tiycs Of the society called on President
Arthur and invited him To take part in
the Reunion, which he accepted.
An important naval change took
place here this week. Secretary Chan
dlcr appointed Commodore Il. w. Shut
fcldt Ia the superintendcncy of the Ma
val Observatory in place OF Vice Adj
miral Stephen Rowan, who asked to be
relieved OF the duties.
The special committee which for
some weeks past has been examining
the books, accounts, and moneys in the
Treasury completed their work We,lncs-
day. The members of the committee
waited on Secretary Folger in II body
and presented their report. This is
the only count Of the kind that has
taken place for about ten years. But it
is deemed proper and necessary to know
the exact condition of the cash accounts
when Il new treasurer enters office as in
the case of Mr. Wyman vice Mr.. Gil
tiilan. The only discrepancy discovered
by the count was an excess of three
cents in favor of the retiring officer,
| which excess existed when he took pos
session of the office. So it would seem
honesty is not yet extinct, even in high
places.
At the daily Cabinet meetings the alb
sorbing business is the consideration of
the civil service rules. 1t is thought
action will be taken upon them this
week. The commissioners then propose
to adopt some plan for the conduct of
examinations for entry into and promo.
tons in the civil service in the eXecu.
tive departments of this city. In refer
encc to the complaints made against
Mr.. kelm as chief examiner of the civil
service commission, Judge Thomas OF
the commission denies the published
report that Senator Pcndlcton, author
of the civil service law, suggested or
advocated MIR. Keims appointment. He
says Mr.. keim was the unanimous
choice of the commissioners.
1t is reported about fifty ex.membcrs
of Congress have applied for the COM
misSioncrship Of Internal Revenue at
tins writing, and that every train brings
new ones into the city. But unfortu-
nately for them the President has no
penchant Tor the appointment of eX.
Congressman To Office.