The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1885-11-12
WASHINGTON GOSSIP,
The Weeks DOings at the Ma
tiOnal Capital
THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION.

of Civil Service Commissioners. 10 take the
places of Messrs. Eaton and Gregory he has APP
pointed Hon. Alfred Z. Edgerton, OF Indiana,
and William l.. Trenholm OF South Carolina.
The fitness of both these gentlemen for their
positions BY virtue of ability, intelligence and
education. will not be questioned. A much
higher recommendation, however, to the aver
age Democrat-since under the law there must
be a Civil Service COMMISSIONS the fact that
the Democracy of MeSsrs. Edgerton and Tren-
holm is without reproach-of the sort that is
pure and uudcfiled and fadeth not away. Mr.
Edgerton was prominent in the National Con-
vention of rock ribbed Democrats which met
at Louisville in 1872. repudiated the nomina-
ton OF Horace Greeley, and put up ticket
with Charles O'Conor at lis head. Edgerton
came within six votes of being made the can
didate of the "Straightouts" " for Nice-Presi-
dent He is man Of large means, financially.
Well advanced in life. he is able TO sacrifice
something for his country's good, and devote
his waning years to the cause of Reform.
Mr. Trenholm lives in Charleston, S. c., and
is son Of the late Confederate Secretary of
the Treasury, in the Cabinet of Il" President
Jefferson Davis 1t is scarcely necessary to re-
mark that he is, and always has been, Demo-
crat. 1t is understood that both these gentle
men will accept the positions offered them by
the President. The latter is reported to be
pleased with their selection, and feels that in
making theappointmentS he has hit the bulls
eye" All good citizens will unite in the hope
that this may be so: but before making up the
verdict they will feel like waiting for the re-
turns to come in.
The fact appears to be that the present is a
critical time in the life of the Reform infant.
The political signs of the times indicate that
the child NAV require a good deal of coddling
and nursing TO pull through" The Demo-
Gratis carried New York on q spoils platform,
bitterly opposed by the entire Mugwump ele-
ment, without whose votes Mr.. Cleveland would
not have been elected year ago. The great mass
of the party have persistently urged that the
Civil Service business was purely Mugwump-
ian idea They point with pride to their late sue
cesses, as evidence that they need no assistance
at the polls from that quarter. Within the past
few DAYS there has been loud call upon the
President, from the Democratic press all over
the country, for less nonsense and more turn
ing out of Republican rascals." The result Of
the November elections has greatly stitfened
the backs of the spoilsmen. 1t is by no means
improbable that determined effort will be
made the coming Winter to induce the Presi-
dent to turn from the error of his ways.
GEN. MALONE TO THE REAR.
The immediate effect of the very decisive
Democratic victory in Virginia will be to re-
tire Gen. William Malone from active partici-
patton in National politics. The Legislature
elected last week. with two-thirds Democratic
majority, will choose man to succeed him in
the United States Senate. Gen. Mahone'S
career has been somewhat picturesque. As a
brigade asd division commander he served
with distinction in Lees army during the entire
war. His ability and personal galantry we're
conspicuous on many hard fought fields. After
the war he was engaged in railroad enterprises
in the South and amassed a fortune He was
active in Virginia politics. ara became the head
Of what was known - the Redduste party.
This was comncsed of both Democrats and Re-
publc2nS, the issue between il and the "Bour-
boz; Democrats being one that grew out OF the
REIMBURSEMENT of the Virginia State debt. For
two or three years this party swept the State,
5eaving the regulars" of both the old parties
beached for the time high and dry. On this
wave Of success Malone was carried into the
Senate. He became extremely obnoxious to
the Bourbons. In sheer self-defense Malone
acted with the Republicans in the Senate
This, of course, greatly intensified the feeling
against him. He was an object Of the same
contempt and scorn that were visited by the
Southern Democrats upon LongStreet, Mosby
aud other eX-Confe6erates who attached them
selves to the Republican party. 1t was held to
be an objectionable sin for one of the props Of
the Lost Cause TO be anything but Democrat
The Readluster party gradually lost Its power,
and in the Spring of last year, at State con-
vention, it formally declared itself to be the
Republican party of Virginia, in the hope Of
mastering in its ranks all who were opposed to
the Bourbons. But in spite of Mahoae's plucky
by 5000 majority, and this year by thrice that
number. Gen. Mahones waning star appears
TO have set for the present.
Malone is not man of great intellectual
ability. He has done little in the Senate except
to sit in his big chair and vote when his name
was called. He is short Of stature and exceed
ingly thin, weighing scarcely more than a hun
dred pounds. 1t is little wonder that he was
not killed during the war, as it would require
the NEST expert Workmanship to hit him. He
was known as the skeleton of the Senate until
Dir. Evarts, of New York, entered that body
As between him and Malone the hOnors are
easy in this respect. The two together would
cast a barely perceptible shadow.
THE DOLPHIN CONTROVERSY.
1t will be remembered that some time ago
controversy arose between the Secretary of the
Navy and John Roach in regard to the steamer
Dolphin, which the latter built for the United
States Navy. 1t was claimed by the Secretary
that the vessel was not constructed in accord
aDce with the specifications, and that on her
repeated trial trips she did not show the speed
that had been stipulated. The matter was still
more complicated by the failure of Mr.. Roach.
Since this event negotiations have been going
On between the assignee and the Secretary,
and, as the result, articles of agreement have
been signed by virtue Of which the possession
of the Dolphin is transferred TO the Govern
ment, under certain conditions. The transfer
is not to operate as an acceptance Of the vessel
under the contract with Mr. Reach for its con-
struction. Mr. Roach is to prosecute an action
against the Government for the balance claimed
by him to be due under the contract. If a lien
is decided TO exist against the vessel in favor OF
the Government for money advanced, or if the
Government is found to be entitled to any
money, judgment or reclamation recoverable
from Mr.. Roach, then the vessel shall be first
applied to the satisfaction Of such lien, claim,
or judgment, and the value of the ship at the
time of transfer shall be determined by the
court, upon proof advanced by the respective
parties. Her value is to be the contract price,
less what it will cost to complete her. The
agreement is said to be satisfactory to all
parties, and obviates the necessity of forced
sale of the unfinished vessel.
CONCERNING IDAHO.
A report from the Governor of Idaho to the
Secretary of the Interior states that the crops
in that Territory will not exceed half as COM
pared with 1884, but that it is sufficient to meet
the wants Of the people and leave small sur
plus for expectation. He recommends that the
northwestern portion of the Territory be sur
veyed so that settlers may locate thereon. The
mining Interests are III fiourishing condition.
There are now over 200 dividend paying mines
in the Territory. The Territory has cash in
the treasury. exceeding by $500 the debt. The
total assessed valuation of property for 1884
was $l5 497 ,595, being an increase of 81 sos 900
over the preceding year The population of
the Territory is $4,000, and the value Of the
gold and silver produced during the past year
Iii I'D ~ Il