The National tribune., 1886-04-08

ditions, if he does not have another attack, his
recovery will require months of perfect rest
and quiet. 1t is extremely doubtful whether
lie ever resumes his duties as Secretary of the
Treasury
Secretary Lamar and Attorney-G General Gar
land were confined to their lodgings last week
from severe colds, and Mr. Garland kept his
bed. Both are recovering, however, and ex'
pect soon to be again at their posts of duty.
HOW DIR. MILBURN breaches
Last Sunday the writer heard Rev. Dr. Mil
burn, the blind Chaplain of the House, preach
at one Of the city churches. With large spec
tacles covering his sightiess eyes he conducted
the services throughout unaided. He recited
/ i'll full, without missing word all the hymns
he gave out, as any other preacher would read
| them. The rupture lessons were given IN the
same way. He Yecited half of a chapter in
Isaiah, and long chapter, entire, III the Acts,
containing the interview between Paul and
King Agrippa. His sermon was an hour long,
and delivered with the greatest fuency and
smoothness of diction. DIR. Mlburn lost his
sight when five years old. A playmate flung a
piece of glass, which struck one of his eyes.
| The injury, together with unskilful medical
| treatment, resulted in the total blindness of
Of both. During the past 40 years DR.. Milburn
has travelled million and half of miles, in this
| and foreign countries. Few who see with their
eyes can describe places and scenes and objects
as well as he.
BAD CONDITION OF THE TREASURY BUILDING.
The sanitary condition of the Treasury
building is demanding serious attention. 1t is
| believed that the bad state of the air had
much to do with the illness of Secretary Man
! ming. 1t is the opinion of the friends Of the
| late Secretary Folger that his death was the
direct result of the noxious gases that pervade
the Treasury. More than 1000 persons are
| constantly employed in this great building.
| Few of them are not affected more or less and
many deaths have been directly attributed to
| this. Sewer-pipeS run under the corridors in
the sub basement, and these, it is stated, have
not been cleaned for ten years. Breaks in the
| pipes allow the foul air TO escape, and many Of
the rooms on the lower floor are at times abso-
| lutely untenable. A very thorough renovation
| is necessary. At present Congress only allows
| $4,000 year for repairs and this is no more
| than enough to make good the ordinary wear
! and tear. Assistant Secretary Fairchid pro-
| poses TO ask Congress for 100000, to be eX-
pended in overhauling the entire system Of
sewerage and ventilation.
THE VAN buren, JEWELS.
| For many years there has been kept in the
| Treasury jar containing jewels worth many
thousands of dollars. They were originally
used as ornaments to a beautiful and costly
| sword presented to President Van Buren by the
Sovereign of MuScat. As Mr.. Van Buren, was
| constitutiorally debarred from personally ac-
| ceptng them they were turned over to the
| Government, in somewhat indefinite way,
and have been kept in a vault ever since, with
! out having any actual owner. The sword was
! for some years exhibited among other objec
! of interest at the Patent Office. 1t was stolen,
! but aftcrward recovered, and the jewels were
! then removed and placed i'll the vault. One
| day last week Mrs. Van Burcn, daughter-in in
law Of President Van Buren,, and her daughters
called at the Treasury and asked to see the
7 ~ Ill
time in many years. There are about 100 dia-
monds and pearls. 1t is felt that no better dis
position can be made of them than to give
them to the family of the late Mr.. Van Buren,,
and bill to that effect will soon be introduced
in Congress.
TOURISTS AT THE CAPITAL.
Excursion parties to the Capital, from va
riOus sections of the country are a feature Of
| the season in Washington. Several large par
ties from New England have been here within
the past few months. One from Massachusetts,
numbering more than 400, arrived last Satur-
day, about equally divided as to sex, and in
the matter OF age running from six to 60 and
over. There is no city in the country that
contains so many distinctive features of inter-
est as Washington. There is not a day in the
year but scores of tourists NAV be seen singIy
or in groups, doing" the Capitol, the Depart
meat buildings the Monument, and the many
other attractions. 1t seems TO be particularly
favorite place for newly married couples
Thousands of these every year sde-track here
for day or two while on their bridal tours
and wander about trying to look and act like
connubial veterans. All these people make
plenty of business for the cabmen. The visitor
finds that the magnificent distances" Of which
he has heard in connection with Washington
are an exasperating reality.
THE king BEET"
A YEARS WORK OF THE GUILLoTINE
In response to a Senate resolution of inquiry
the Postmaster-General has informed that body
that the total number of removals of fourth
class Postmasters from March 4, 1885, to March
3, 1886, was S.645. This number does not in
cude the vacancies that have occurred by death
resignation and expiration of official terms.
They are only the cases in which the Republi-
can incumbents have been told that on account
of their a. offensive partisanship" or for other
reasons the Government would try and rub
along without their services. The most re-
mOvals were in the following States: New York,
1853; Pennsylvania. 939; Ohio, 673; Illinois,
6l3; Indiana, 499; Iowa, 399; Michigan, 81
Virginia, 316; Missouri, 257. The aggregate
number OF removals in Alabama, Arkansas
Florida, Georgia, South Carolina. louisiana
and Mississippi was but 33S.only % more than
in Virginia alone, which would seem to indi-
cate active and successful effort on the part of
Virginia congressman.
II PcOu SLOIy 10 toiu OI i1Ou. D. flOyu hlng
Member of Congress from Louisiana. The Bu-
reau of Agriculture last year introduced su-
perior kind Of beet, which, as a trademark
denOting excellence, was named the king
Beet" indicating that ii was destined to be
the monarch among the varieties of that succu-
lent vegetable. 4 happy thought struck Mr.
King, and he resolved to turn it to account
he went through the House and traded off to
the Members his other seeds for those Of the
king Beet" and thus secured large supply
Then he sent a package to every farmer in his
district. They all thought it was named in
honor oi their Congressman, and were corre-
spondingly impressed with his value and i'm
portance as cog in the great national machine.
Mr.. King has good reason to expect large
crop of votes next Fall, as the result of this
judicious sowing of seeds. They will no doubt
fall into good ground.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA VETERANS.
Veterans of the District militia who were
enrolled in the service of the United States
under the first call of the President in 1861 are
preparing for a great celebration on the 25th
anniversary of their muster At meeting last
week the committee appainted to draft plan
of organization reported, recommending that
the association be known as the Associated
veterans of the District of Columbia Volun-
teers, and that quarterly meetings be held on
the second Mondays in April, July, October and
January.
1t was decided to have the parade on Mon
day, 18th inst. All the military companies of
the District and the GA z will particinate