The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1884-02-21
THE PlTH OF Thu NEWS.
Washington Gossip,

m Washington, having been sentfo by the Sec
rotary of war to assist in the preparations for
The new Greedy relief expedition.
The president has directed the promotion OF
Lieut. Rhodes, of the revenue cutter Dexter,
FOR gallant conduct on the occasion Of the
wreck of the City of Columbus.
Authority has been granted by the secretary
If war for the purchase of one hundred caval-
~ and six artillery horses for use in the de-
partment of Dakota at not to exceed an average
price of $40 for cavalry and $l7O for artillery
horses
Two moro army officers have been dismissed
the service for duplicating the pay accounts
Eeutenants N. L. Clark, of the Twenty-third
infantry, and j. F. Cummings, of the Third
cavalry. This makes seven officers who have
met with similar disgrace for the same offensc.
Confrmations; Allen Francis, consul, Port
consul, Palermo; WILDER Goodspeed, United
States marshal, northern district Ohio; Peter
French, New York, collector customs, district
Alaska; postmaster, W. G. McNee, Montezunla,
Iowa.
A gentleman claims to have stood at the
Western Union Office at the capitol for one hour
the other day, and during that time thirty three
congressman sent messages using thirty-two
lead-head franks and one paying the
usual tariff. That looks encouraging for a
political telegraph bill.
The action of the Harvard graduates resi-
dent in the District of Columbia, in notinviting
Prof: Greener, a colored professor of their
alma mater, to their banquet the other even-
ing, has stirred up good deal of talk. Secre-
tary Lincoln, himself Hazard alummus, COM
silered it an inexcusable insult and refused to
attend.
The attorney general has decided that sugars
which remained in bonded warehouses at the
time tho new tariff went into effect, but which
had been in bonded warehouses beyond three
years from the date of importation, are not en-
titled under the new tariff act to reduction of
duty nor are they entitled to the privileges of
expectation.
The text of the now commercial convention
between Spain and the United States is identical
With that mado public Jan. 5; but clauses re-
lating to the abrogation Of tonnage duties on
vessels sailing from America to Cuba, and Por-
to Rico, and the abolition of the special duty
on live fish imported into Cuba are to be sub
mitted to the cortes
The house committee on postofices and post
roads agreed to report favorably the bill amend
ing the section of the revised statutes author
izing the postmaster general to stop the deliv-
cry of registered mail Or money orders to fraud
ulent lottery companies, by striking out the
word ''fraudulent,o thus including all lottery
companies in Its provisions.
A bill has passed the senate committee on
postoftices and post roads to make all public
highways post routes. 1t will, if it becomes a
law, remove the necessity of passing the spec
ial acts creating post routes, and will simplify
tho establishment of postotfices. New mail
service can then be granted by the application
to the second assistant postmaster general with
out the aid of congress-.
Chairman Cobb, of the house public lands
committee, says that, though there may be
some delay the committee will report in favor
of the forfeiture of all the Northern Pacific
land grant, except the 746, 800 acres already
patented. In the case of the Atlantic and Pa
cific, having the largest land grant, the forfeit
ure of the entire grant, with the exception Of
959, 2G6 acres, patented before June 80, 1885,
will be recommended
John C. New, who has been trying for so long
to resign the assistant secretaryship of the
treasury department. is finally gratifed, the
president having on Friday, the 18th, accepted
the resignation that was rendered nearly a
month ago Mr.. New had hard time trying
to convince the president that he is in earnest
in wanting to get out of an arduous and per-
picking Office. Mr.. New is in Indiana, whittier
he went couple of weeks ago.
A letter has been written to Secretary Folger
by Congressman Washburn stating that the
public building at st Paul is SO badly over
crowded and public business SO greatly embar=
raised that relief must be obtained by transfer
ring some offices from the st. Paul building to
the proposed structure in Minneapolis, and re-
questing secretary Folger to order such changes
in the plans for the Minneapolis building as
will accommodate these transfers of depart
ments.
IgFhe Pfeteua, court of inquiry has made it's
report and fnds that while hieut Darlington
@ d Pandora 6fhor, ne aurroundin circnn-
stancss rsndereii thss error - excnsable one.
It aaggANx1in ~ Il q 11e 4 n HI zeai and
energy, both before the 1oss ne ship and
Also during the retreat Gen Ii Zen, however,
doea - - e saail tAssc court -
si0n5 ii hin ct Tn SIS 5sz
Inspector borden, of the interior department.
has been sent to Minnesota to Investigate the
condition of the Mile Laos Indians The depart
ment has been considering the propriety Of re-
moving the Indians to White Earth, But they
protest against this, and their Representative,
Mr.: Robinson, was before the commissioner of
Indian affairs in their interests. Gov.
Hubbard, Senator Mcmillan and, Capt. Blake
" also called at the department on the 18th in
behalf of the Indians. It is proposed to distri-
butte part of this annuity among them in
money, and part in provisions and other nee
essaries Of life: but the Mile Laos, as other
Indians, prefer ell in money, and plenty of it.
The president some time ago sent to the SEN
ate the name of William A. Hobbs as receiver
Of public moneys at Taylor's Falls, MINI. Gen.
Washburn shortly after requested the presi-
dent to change the nomination, and asked
that Peter H. Stolberg be nominated in his
dit upon Mr.: Hobbs, but, it is understood, it
was made owing to the near relationship Of Mr..
Hobbs to the register at that place. A day or
two ago an inquiry was made regarding the
confirmation Of Mr.. Stolberg, when it was
discovered that two nominations for the place
having been Withdrawn. Mr. Washburn i'm
medfiately directed the attention of the
president to the fact, and the name of Mr.
Stolburg will undoubtedly soon be confirmed.
The secretary of the interior has decided to
recommend that the nomination of Mitchell to
be register at Duluth be Withdrawn, and has
called upon Hon. Knute Nelson to name some
one for appointment in his place. Mr. Nelson
has recommended the appointment of E. G.
Swanstrom of Duluth. It was very doubtful
whether the nomination of Mitchell could be
confirmed. It is said that the charges Of fraud
in connection with the exemption law were
not seriously regarded as an objection as they
tary of the interior says thai his attention
had been called to series Of articles published
by Mitchell some years ago, attacking Chris
tanity and using the most violent and indecent
language. These articles were shown to sena-
tors and they declared Mitchells nomination
ought not to lie confirmed
There died atWashington, on the 14th, col
ored woman which had obtained national rep
utation owing to her connection as housekeep-
er with the late Thaddeus Stevens of Pennsyl-
vanla. Lydia Smith was the name of the WOm-
an, who was in her sixty-ninth year, and
stroke of apoplexy was the Immediate cause of
death. In 1916 Mrs. Smith left Harrisburg,
Pa, and went to Lancaster to keep house for
Mr.. Stevens. When the stgreat commoner,"
two years later, was elected to congress, he
brought Mrs. Smith to Washington to look af-
ter his affairs. Mr. Stevens lived in house
on B street adjoining the present Congress.
sional or Sanderson's hotel Up to the date of
Mr.. Stevens death Mrs. Smith directed the
affairs Of his establishment and ministered to
his wants. She was remembered in his will
with q beduest of IS, 600 in cash, certain prop
erty at Lancaster, and several houses here.
Mrs. Smith opened a boarding
house on Newspaper row opposite Wizards.
Rail and River Notes.
Judge Beach, in the New York court of CON-
mon pleas, decides that q railroad company is
not liable for injuries to q deadhead passenger.
A company has been organized at Des Moines
with a.capital of 81, OOO, 600 to construct Sec
ond railway bridge over the Mississippi from
Rock Island to Davenport
The Green Bay, Winona l. st. Paul has Or
dered 20 per cent. reduction of wages on all
employees in the locomotive department of the
road The reduction takes effect the LIST prox-
imo.
The official report of the Omaha for 1888
shows gross earnings of ~, 0A, 050, 81, and tax
cific, with headquarters at Portland, arrived in
St Paul. He will 60 west with Mr.. Muir and
party. .s:$.. $S$ -
Engineer Valentine, of the Milwaukee l. St
Paul, has completed the survey and location of
the Missouri river line from Scotland to the
southeast corner of Brule county, and has re-
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