The National tribune., 1883-01-04
THE NEWS OF THE WEEK.
Death of the Hawaiian Minister at
the Presidents Reception.
CRIMES AND CASUALTIES.
Events at the Capital and in
the Departments.

~ " C41Oo al CI1C "a IJ4IclL S4ANA IL
the Departments.
:. The vote by which the Pendleton civil ser
Nice bill passed the Senate on the 9th Ult
is as follows: Yeas-Nessrs Aldrich, ALI
son, Anthony, Bayard, Cameron Of Pa,
Cameron Of Wis, Chlcott, Cockrel, Coke,
4 8C0nger, Davis Of. H., Davis of Of W.
Iva, Edmunds, Frye, Garland, George,
4eI1orman, Groome, Harrison, Hawley, Hill,
Hoar, Jackson, Jones Of Fla, Jones OF New
= Lamar, Lapham, Logan, Miller of Cal, Miller
+ 4of \. y, Morrill,, Pendlet0n, Ilatt Plumb,
&Rollins, SeweH, Vest, Walker, WiGdom.-35.
4 #Nays-Messrs. Brown, Call, Jonas Mcpherson,
3 sMorgan.-5. The bill, as amended and passed,
8 provides for the appointment OF commission
%Of three members, not more than two OF whom
are to belong to the same party. The comml5-
4 sion is TO designate examining committees after
consultation with the Cabinet officer, customs
4cOllectOr or postmaster tor positions IN whose
5OtliCe the examinations are 10 be made. EX-
, FGminatiCus are to be competitive and on the
Eine Of the practical duties Of the positions
Competed for. Promotions also are TO be made
bon the basis Of merit and competency. All ap-
fp0intments, removals and transfers are to be
reported to the commission. No person APP
hOinted by the President and confirmed by the
Senate Is TO be subject TO examination. Ap-
pointmeutS are 10 be apportiOued among the
Various States and Territories on the basis of
population, and applicants must be b0Rd.tde
residents of the localities named as thcIr
,homes; this provision Of the bill may make a
great deal Of trouble. There is prOviso against
more than two members Of the same family
getting into the same grade in any public
Office. ANY examiner who IN his report shows
animus against any candidate is to be deemed
guilty Of q misdemeanor and liable to fine or
imprisonment. Recommendations OF Congress
men are TO have no weight whatever with any
examining board. There is TO be a period of
probation for every app0intee Assessments
for political purposes are prohibited under pen
atty, and no clerk or other oIbce-hOder Is TO be
removed from Office or otherwise injured
because of non participation IN political work
Of any kind.
New Years day opened brightly at the Cap
ital. and the official receptions were largely
attended. The Presidents levee was cut short,
however, by the sudden death of the Hawaiian
Minister J.. II. Allen, the dean Of the Diplo-
matte Corps. After being presented to the
President himself Mr. Allen in turn presented
each of the diplomats present TO Secretary Ere
lnghuySen, who presented them to the PTeSl-
dent, making some pleasant remark at each
introduction, and being apparently ia the best
OF health. Mr. Allen devoted but little time to
social conversation after reaching the east
room. Upon reaching the ante-rOom, used as a
cloak room, his son at his side, he gave q sud
den start and fell upon a lounge. He never
recovered and never uttered a word The
officers Of the navy were just passing the room
at the time OI their way to the President
Surgeon General Crane and two other naval
surgeons, hearing Of the prostration of Mr.
Allen, were soon at his side, but it was apparent
that he had received death-str0ke. The sur
ge0ns agreed that ii was rheumatism OF the
VygG . ms fer Df 4
few minutes. Word was sent TO the President
of Mr. Aliens death, and by his orders the re-
ceptioH was brought TO premature close. Mr.
Allen was born in Massachusetts,, and was
about IS years Of age. Before being appointed
minister he was for a long time the chiefjustice
Of the courts Of the Islands. He was small in
stature but carried his age remarkably vel.
The report Of the Board Of Managers of the
National Soldiers Homes, laid before the House
Of Representatives last Saturday, estimates the
necessary appropriation for the next fiscal year
at 81, ,I2z, ,0SS. The managers estimate that there
viii be 500 more inmates than last year, and
submit with the report d list Of 600 names Of
inmates. There were ESQ taken in during the
past year, goo more than in 1881 The mana
gers recommend that all laws requiring them
to have anything to do with pensions be re-
pealed, as their enforcement causes dissatisfac-
riOn among inmates Of the homes, They also
renew the recommendation made last year that
worthy destitute soldiers, even though they
cannot trace their ills to an origin in the ser
vice, be admitted. They invite investigation
Of all affairs Of the various homes.
The Senate Finance Committee now expect
to report back the House bill for the reduction
OF internal revenue taxation, with complete
tariff bill added as an amendment" by or be-
fore the middle Of this month, and an effort
viii be made TO procure its immediate consid-
Grafton. prominent member Of the commit
tee expressed an opinion, based upon extensive
inquiry, that the Senate viii not wait for the
House bill, now IN course Of preparation by the
Ways and Means Committee but viii take up
the Finance Committees bill as soon as it IS
reported, with the result in this event that each
branch Of Congress win soon be considering It's
own tariff bill, and that probably a conference
committee viii have the final shaping Of any
measure 10 be enacted.
There VIII probably be caucus Of Republi-
cans soon to decide whether to pass at this ses-
sion the bill for the admission Of the southern
half of Dakota as a State. The Republicans
having a majority in both Houses can pass the
bill, unless the Democrats 1IIibuster TO prevent
Its passage. Dakota, particularly that portion
which is selected for admission, is reliably Re
publican, and 1t the effect thatthe three elect
oral votes it would possess might have upon
the next presidential election which Is agitat-
ing both parties.
The Spanish-American Claims Commission
adjourned sine de 0n the 27lh uIt. The Com
mission has been in existence for eleven years,
during which period 40 claims were considered,
representing IN the aggregate about S2j,G0O,O30
Awards were made IN p cases including the
three awards made yesterday, aggregating
about Sl,2O0,0gJ. There are eight cases laggrs-
eating 5000 now IN the hands Of the UNI
pire for decision.
hiss Josephine G. Ieeker, daughter Of the
late n. G. NcekeT, VINO was tortured and killed
b. the Ute Indians in the massacre Of 1870
died on Saturday last Ot pneumonia. She was
. clerk IN the Office Of the Secretary Of the In
terror and was held ia high esteem for her per
soHai qualities. Miss Mee5er and her mother
were prisoners il the hands Of the Ute Indians
for some time, and were finally rescued by Gen.
Adams.
statement furnished by the Postofice De
paitment shows that at She end Of the calendar
year l5oZ there were l6,5g3 postohices in the
United States against 4i,93- for the year l6oI, ,
being an increase during the year OF ,Jg5
GRIMES AND CASUALTIES.
special from Randolph county, West Va,
gives au account Of a terrible calamity. Mr.
Adam CuTence, an industrious and estmable
citizen, resided with his family, consisting of
himself, wife and SIX children, 20 miles south
Of Beverly, On the western slope Of Cheat
Mountain. Mr. Channel, a neigub0r of Cur
renee, hid been very IOW with some complicated
disease, which required the attendance OF some
one day and night Mr. CuTcuce went at
. u.