The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-12-04
TOP OF THE MONUMENT.

| III IHlIauelpnla, VIII De brought 10 Uuis CITY III
| a few days. 1t has perpendicular elevation
of nine and a half inches, and each side of the
base measures five and half inches. Its
weight is 100 ounces. The material of which
| it is composed is aluminium and the surface
| appears much winter than silver and is sc
| highly polished that it reflects as plate-glass
| mirror. Aluminium is a white metal of COM
| parative recent discovery, distinguished fol-
| superior lightness-its specific gravity being
about one-fourth that of silver-and for free
dom from oxidation. This metal was select
ed to crown the Washington Monument at a
hight of 800 feet, because, next to silver, it is
the best known conductor of electricity, and
because, owing to its freedom from exhibition,
it viii always present bright surface.
OBITUARY.
Gen. Charles d. Gilmore died at his residence
in this city on the 25th nit. He was born in
Maine in July, 1919, and at the outbreak of the
rebellion entered the service as Captain in the
9TH Me-, in which he was successfully promoted
to Colonel, and was brevetted Brigadier- Gen
er;tl for gallantry in action. He was severely
wounded during the war, and his death was
the result of his IN uries. On leaving the sery-
ice he settled in this city, becoming a member
of the firm of Chapman, Hosmcr & Co., attor-
neys.
GEN. LoGAN's WELCOME.
Probably no Senator on his return to Wash
ington to commence his labors in the National
Legislature has received such hearty welcome
as was accorded to Gen. Logan on Saturday
evening last The residence Of Mrs Case in
Iowa Circle, where the General has taken up
his abode for the Winter, was handsomely dec
GRATED, both inside and outside, with banners,
flowers and Chinese lanterns, and the Marine
Band, which furnished most excellentssand
appropriate program, contributed much to the
pleasure of the occasion. Soon after o'clock
in the evening the visitors, irrespective of
party, began to arrive and soon filled the spa
cious parlors of the house Although no for
NAL speeches were made, there were many ex-
pressions of hearty good will and welcome to
the General and Mrs. Logan. Hon. b. +. But
terworth ana Mr. Z. S. Cutler introduced the
guests, who numbered not less than 1900.
GENERAL AND WAR SECRETARY.
There have been rumors that the old-time
disagreements between the Secretary of War
and the General of the Army have broken out
afresh in dispute between Gen. Sheridan and
Sec. Lincoln. This. however, has been denied.
Still there is no doubt of the existence of GER
tain amount of friction. This seems to be in
evitable on account of the dubiouSneSs as to the
limits of each officers authority and power.
Each has always claimed to outrank the other,
and has been jealous of the others encr0ach-
ments upon what he considered his rights and
duties Ever since the beginning of our Gov
ernment the General in command of the Army
has complained that the Secretary of War was
trying to reduce him to mere clerk in the
War Department, and every Secretary of War
has grumbled that the General of the Army
tried to make him subordinate on his staff.
1t viii be remembered that the petuant Sher-
man got so angry at the Secretary of War that
he removed the Army Headquarters to st.
Louis so as TO be as far away from his interior
ence as possible. So far Gen. Sheridan and
Sec. Lincoln have got on very amicably, as
they We're both personal friends before Mr..
Lincoln became Secretary and Gen. Sheridan
General of the Army.
TEE ARMY OF oFFICEHoLDERs.
No less than $4,000 of the residents of this
city are in the employ of the Government in
the various branches of the civil service. This
includes not only the class known as Depart
ment employees, but also the Army and Navy
officers stationed here the employees of the
District Government whose compensation
comes from the General Government, the en-
ployees of the Navy Yard, City Post Office,
employees of Congress and of the various
courts. Of the army of employees $50 are
clerks drawing salaries varying from $500
to 81, 800, and who come directly within the
puryiew of the Civil Service law, and whose
appointment can only be made in accordance
with the Civil Service rules. The remainder
chief clerks and others whose salaries exceed
s., 500 per annum; persons receiving salaries
ranging from 5000 to 81, 500, but whose employ
ment is of special character, excepted from
examination; copyists, messengers, laborers,
and others whose salaries are below 5000, and
employees who do not receive annual salaries,
but are paid by the hour, day, or month
In the following table, which shows the
number of persons employed in the various
grades, all employees of every character receiv-
ing annual salaries of more than s. 800 are
enumerated under the heading above Civil
Service Grade" and all receiving annual sala-
rics less than $500 under the heading L" Below
Civil Service Grade" The term Special" is
applied to employees receiving salaries not
more than 81 300 nor less than 5000, but who
are excepted from examination. such as steno-
graphers skilled artisans, etc, or such as tele-
graphers, who may be subjected to special tech
nical examinations at the discretion of the
Civil Service Commissioners. Under the head
ing of =" Per Diem" are grouped all employees
who are paid by the hour, the day, the month,
or by piece rates. These include 800 employees
of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing,
2, 155 employees Of the Government Printing
Office, and many persons attached to the Ma
tional Museum, the Coast Survey and other
branches of the public service devoted to scen-
tiGc work. Among the clerks of the classified
service in the interior Department 103 assist
ant patent examiners, who are subject to Civil
Service examinations, are included.