New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-06-03
sailed to-day on the steamer City Of Toxic TOT i0Ao
hama
GOSSIP FROM THE CAPITAL.
PENSION COMMISSIONERS BLACKS METHODS
STORIES THAT ARE TOLD.

,,o,, THE pEorI AR CORRESPONDENT or TRIBUNE
WASHINGTON, June 2.-General Black, the
new Commissioner of Pensions, carries Things win
high hand In tho Bnreau The lesson taught him wneh
he attempted TO budoze Miss AGA Sweet into resisns
her Office does not seem lasted very long Hell
dischargiug clerks right and left MOST OF tne
be too much afraid to ask the Commissioner why
they have been discharged. They know perhaps tH'
they did they would get little Satisfaction Inns Ger
tainy was experience OF Mr. Ferguson T9oo ceIA
who received his discharge papers on IhurSu"! ~
had been appointed to his place under ire oNli
Service rules about nine months He had serVeu h
probationary period Of six months to the satisfaction o
his Immediate superlors lie efficient panstaklng
assduous and prompt in his work. No complaint hau
been lodged against him. But he was Niger lu"'
was enough lie was marked for dismissal ana uis-
missed he was on Thursday No causc was assigned III
only natural that Ferguson should want 10 Ko" 'o
reasons why he was so summariy discharged lie maze
bold enough to enter the Commissioners room in the
course OF the afternoon on the day following MS
discharge The great man sat at MS desk
Ferguson approached him with some trepidalion'
mr. Commits soner," he finally blurted out woaIu
you be kind enough to let me know upon what grouhus
my services were dispensed with As soon AS MI
Commissioner Black had recovered sufficiently from the
shock which such conduct the part OF
his nterlocutor given him, he Numbered, NO. Sir
I will not. What do you mean messenger turning 10
one of the doorkeepcrs who stood near by ala ms
man send in his card The Messenger shook his mead
Then can't do anything for you, Mr.. Ferguson Ana
this all the satisfaction which MI ferguson was aDe
to obtain from General Black.
If there were other instances wanting to illustrate
Commissioner Blacks curious mode OF doing business IL
might be well perhaps TO mention the order posted last
week IN the main corridor OF the Pension BUILDING
interdicng collection, during business hours OF
money deray the expenses of decorating the graves
of soldiers on Decoration Day. And upon what ground
tt,il nr,lor piVpn non
moral ground that It was wrong to take up the time
which ought to be devoted to the examination OF tho
claims of widows ana orphans and use it In collecting
money for purpose which cOuld Do Oh ITO PI"o'i0"i
benefit to anybody
John Chamberlain has leased for term Of years
the house adjoining the two houses which lac occupied IN
his celebrated restaurant which Is III lact, the
icos OF Washington These houses were formerly owned
and occupied by Fernando Wood, ex-governor swami oil
Maryland ANA Mr. Blaine. Fernando Wood and eN-dOs-
erlor swami were intimate friends The hitter wuoa IN
nandO Woods celebrated place. In what was then the Ola
Bloomngdale road In furnishing his house mere 94-
Governor SWAIN displayed very curious taste. lie
decorated his ceilings with OF paintings, portraits S'h,
orally, which remain to ne present day HheI, ne psc
tables below. discussing Jonn CEamDclaus wines ana
the achievements Of his eng
The Attorney-Gcncral IS not liberal patron
of the theatre lie IS rarely seen at "a
performance III ia't He sa' 'i'V -, mn ,3 h,rI.
four or five years ih; anything Is put on sue p"aau
which ne 10 Tie story D. tud OF ann lha'
some years ago ne went To see losrpI a 80 49,, 49,
fornances-and then regretted that zap" was not run
another week.
There died a few days in ms city man who hnd
been "a messenger IN the Navy Department Tor over
twenty years. His name was Antonio BondL lie was
slightly deaf. ana his knowledge 81 the Enshsh IAN
gIlage limited His difficulty n understanding or
GERS given him making himself understood Ire
qurntly led amusing plumbers. on one occasion MS
cuef sent him with a dJiiar bill 10 get Ncw.lOrA
paper. He secured the streets uut hc bad secured a
duars worth OF copies OF the paper. ANA returned WIN
them. Another time sent To- buy dollars worth
OF hOrse-car tickets, and camo back with huhdIcl
ginger hOrsc-Cakrs.