Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-11-26
WASHINGTON LETTER.
The I22d Call of Three Per Cent
Bonds.
Interesting Report on Naval AOad-
envy Affairs.
The SpeakershIp and Ihe See
tiOnal Issue.
Tennesseeaus at the National Cap.
1tal.


WASHINGTON, November 23.-The
Secretary Of the Treasury yesterday
authorized the payment OF the three
per cent bonds embraced in the l22d
call, which will mature December lst
next without rebate of interest from
and after date Of authorization in the
order Of their presentation for that
purpose.
The Superintendent of the Naval
Academy at Annapolis, in bis annual
report, states that new course Of in
struction Cor naval cadets was adopted
by the academic board in April last,
and approved by the department, but
was not put fully into operation until
the LIST Of October. The uniform Of
the cadets, which has heretofore been
made by contract, is now all made at
the academy. Ninety-four candidates
for admission appeared in May last,
and 10 in September. One declined
appointment, five withdrew, one was
refused examination for being Of bad
moral character, sixty nine failed to
pass the mental examination, and
thirty three were found physically
deficient. The physical defects Of
ten we're waived by the department;
lis were admitted. The great advan-
tage gained by those cadets Of the
fourth class who entered in time for
the simmer cruise leads Captain Ram.
say te recommend that all candidates
be directed to report for examination
on the 18th Of May 10 each year. He
thinks it would be beneficial to the
navy aud TO the cadets if the law Of
August 5, 1882, should be SO modified
that the selection OF cadets to gil va
cancies in the lower grades Of the
line, engineer corps aud marine corps,
shall be made upon the completion Of
the four years course instead Of upon
the completion Of the six years course.
The change would send TO seal in the
cruising ships only cadets 10 be re-
tanned in the service, and would give
the navy a more efficient corps Of
junior officers.
Attention is called to the disparity
OF pay of those final graduates who,
after completing the six years course,
are assigned to the lower grades OF
the line aud engineer corps and mas
rine corps. When at sea an ensign
receives 81 900 per aunum, an assistant
engineer $l70O per annum aud a sec
ond lieutenant Of the marine corps
$l4OO. An examination Of the navy
register will show that. at the present
rate Of promotion, it will be at least
fifteen years before the senior gradu-
ate assigned to the line can receive
the same rate Of pay as was at once
received by these members Of his class
who were assigned to the engineer
corps and the marine corps.
The Attorney General, in his an.
nual report, makes some important
recommendations, the chief Of which
is some radical changes in the admin.
istration Of criminal law in the Dis
trict of Columbia and the manner Of
drawing juries, etc. He shows how
far behind the District of Columbia
is in such matters, as compared with
other parts Of the country or Of the
world. The necessity Of making these
changes was borne in upon him during
the prosecution Of the Star Route
cases, when trivial mistakes, which
could easily be rectifed elsewhere,
caused endless delay,and evil practices
were permitted which never would
have been allowed II justice was prop.
erly administered.
The Postmaster General has de-
elined 70 grant a request from the
COMMITTEE on the Celebration Of the
Evacuation Of the City New York BY
the British, that the postofiiees in New
York and Brooklyn be closed on the
18th inst.
The race for Speaker is still the
topic OF general interest. The sec.
tional question which it was thought
would injure Mr.. Carlisle's chances Of
election seems to be acting somewhat
as boomerang, as Mr.. Carlisle claims
1t has increased his strength. Mr..
Randall and Mr.. Cox both deny that
they raised the issue.
Among the late arrivals Of Tcnnes.
seeans are Hon. II. H. Harrison, Neil
), Brown, IT,, and Sam'l Donelson, all
OfNashville, and Commodore Whit.
thorne Of Columbia. Neill Brown is
. candidate for Reading Clerk of the
House.
Marcus j. Wright, IT,, a Shelby
county young man Of the Signal Ser
vice, who has been on duty for some
time in Montana Territory, has been
ordered on duty in the chief signal
Office Of this city.
Hon. Van H. Manning, who is here,
declines TO take any action 10 the or.
gauizatiOn Of the House, pending the
contest Of his seat. The past two days
have been as warm as April, with
slight fall Of rain. l0I.O.
THAT HUSBAND OF NINE