The Mineral argus., 1884-12-04
NEWS OF THE WEEK.
Washington News.

Two star route indictments arc still pending
in the criminal court of the district; one against
Thomas J. Brady and the other against }. b.
Price. Both indictments relate to the t%ransac-
ton concerning certain postal drafts which
were used by Price, and eventually, 1t Is al
legged, fell into the hands of Brady.
The Democrats Of Washington have begun
preparations for the Inauguration Of president
Elect Cleveland. A committee has been ap-
pointed to consult Gov. Cleveland and the
national Democratic committee to asc ertaln
their desires in regard to the matter, and
other committees are to be formed soon TO
make the necessary arrangements for the
inaugural procession and ball
The postofice department at Washington,
through h. B. Thomson, general supeTintedent
of railway service, has issued an order remov-
ing Frank Tousley, the railway postal clerk run
ming from Minneapolis to Angus, Iowa, who
was recently convicted of violating the pension
laws. Superintendent Perkins says that Tons
ley is an excellent clerk, and this is the only
charge that ever has been brought against him.
Great pressure is being exerted for the the
appointment of an outsider to the governor
ship of Montana. The whole question hinges
on the fears of the people that the capital will
be moved under the next administration
They are especially opposed to the choice OF a
man from west of the mountains. Delegate
Maginnls is without serious opposition on this
score, having the general confidence of all
classes.
The workmen engaged in the Washington
monument have succeeded in setting the key
stone that binds the interior ribs of stone which
support the marble facings of the pyramidal
cap. This keystone weighs nearly five tons,
and is set 534 feet above the base of the monu-
ment The plan of the engineer officers and
the preparations made were 50 perfect that
everything worked smoothly and without the
slightest accident 1t was laid with masonic
ceremony.
Brig. Gen. Sackett, inspector of the army, in
his annual report quotes largely from the re-
ports of the department of inspectors upon va
rious subjects. From the report Of Capt E
B.. Russell, department of Missouri, the follow
ing is taken: SAT frontier points where reser-
vations are large, men will go until they find a
place from which to obtain liquor. They get
intoxicated upon the vilest compounds, and the
result is often utter incapacity to return, 'ab-
sence without leave or 'desertion.' In my
opinion the sale of liquors of such quality and
quantity as post commanders may dictate
would be better than prohibition
The annual report of the fourth auditor of
the treasury says a growing evil in the money
expenditure Ny tho navy uopdithu0Ht haS DSSh
the increasing disregard by some bureaus re-
quiring advertisements and contracts for pur-
chases made. Recently discovered fraudulent
practices in the national bureau of medicine
were greatly facilitated by the persistent de-
termination of the late surgeon general to nom
inallY make all purchases himself, while it
was practically impossible for him to person
ally supervise transactions taking place scores
or hundreds of miles from the seat of govern
ment During the fiscal year of 1888 were
bo~ughtsupplies to the amount of $4,229,3S2, of
which only $685., 652 were bought on advertise
ment and contracts. II zee bureaus wholly
neglected the law of advertising. The other
one, making the largest purchases, only ad-
vertised and contracted for a small per cent of
goods and materials bought About 81 nnp 900
ihdiv1dduaIs Gft HaRSSR sHe amount bought Of one
dealer going over the act retaining $50 600 for
boilers. Hundreds of thousands of dollars
were bought practically with no competition
at all.