Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1884-11-27

purchases were made of six individuals
or firms, one dealer going over $500,
900. Under the act relating to mater
ials for boilers hundreds OF thousands
of dollars worth have been bought
practically with no competition at all.
Over $40 900 was paid during the year
as commissions TO Seligman Bros,
London, and nearly 81, 900 in interest,
the former in the opinion OF the Au-
ditor, beng twice as much as it ought
to be. and the latter unnecessary.
The report says 1.-The recently dis
covered frauds in the Bureau of Med
icine and Surgery was mostly com
mitted uDon the continuous hospital
fund. whose large unexpended balance
has furnished a temptation not exist
ing in the case of annual apprepria-
tions made by Congress. "
OBSERVATIONS OF AN OFFICER.
Brigadier General Sackett, Inspec-
tor of the Army, in his annual report
quotes largely from the reports of de
partmental inspectors upon various
subjects. From the report of Captain
G.. B. Russell, Department of the
Missouri, the following is taken:
cat frontier posts where reserva-
tons are large the men will go until
they find a place at which to obtain
liquor; they get intoxicated upon the
vlest compounds, and the result is
often utter incapaclty to return. alb
sence without leave and 'desertion.
In nv opinion the sale of liquors of
such quality and quantity as post
commanders, guided by the post
council, may dictate would be far
better than prohibition.
Gin the foregoing opinion | am sat
ished nearly all the officers serving
with the troops concur.
Upon the subject of desertion Cap
tam Russell says;
Il hold that the soldiers of our
army have not good or justifiable cause
for desertion. The true reason, in my
Judgment, for the large numbers of
assertions is that no adequate punish
ment is awarded for the heinous Of
fence 1t appears TO me it
would be well could we go back a
step or two to the old method of pun
ishment of deserters; that IS, to cause
those malefactors to serve out their
entire enlistment in charge of a post
guard at hard labor, With ball and
cham, doing all the dirty work and
drudgery of the post, with the com
forts of guard-house as their only
lot"
CLEvELAND's INAUGURATION,
The democrats of Washington have
been preparing for the inauguration
of President-elect Cleveland. A com
mittee has been appointed to consult
Governor Cleveland and the National
Democratic Committee to ascertain
their design in regard to the matter,
and other committees are to be formed
soon to make the necessary arrange
ments for the inaugural procession
and ball. 1t is probable that the new
Pension BuildiHg, now in course OF
construction on Judiciary square, can
be made ready for the bail on the
night of March A. The building oc-
cupied by the Republican Congress
sional Committee, situated opposite
the Arlington Hotel, was vacated
Thursday by Secretary Mcpherson,
and has been rented by the proprietor
of the Arlington to accommodate
some of the persons who are expected
to crowd Washington to witness the
induction TO Office of Democratic
President.
HOSTILE TO AMERICAN INTERESTS.
DISPATCHES received at the State
Department from Paris announce that
the French Government is In earnest
in its proposed legislation against
breadstutfs and hog products import
cd from the United States The Tariff
Committee of the House of Deputies
have had under consideration a meas
ure tn impose import duties on the
American products named. and have
adoBted it by vote of 6 10 5. The
opinion is expressed that the commit
tees measure will create a lively dis
cussioR in the Chamber, but that 1t
will be ultimately adopted. Should
France impose duties upon American
breadstuffs and hog products, 1t is
quite probable that Prince Bismarck
viii induce the Relchstag to follow
this lead. Such legislation would I'M
doubtedly produce decided feeling 10
this country among all classes of PEG
ole and would lead to the passage by
Congress of retaliatory measures
against the leading articles imported
into the United States from France
and Germany. Our imports Of silk
from Fran ee aggregate about s25, 600,
600 per anuum; wooden dress goods
and hosiery about $50, 000, 600; cotton
goods $4,000. 600, and wines $25, 600,
600 We purchase from Germany
annually about 81 600, 600 o. six
goods IS, 900, 900 of wine, and "a, 600,
600 Of WOODEN dress goods. The pas
sage measures discriminating against
these articles would excite decided
fanlsne, =, tho AGRICULTURAL districts OF