The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1886-07-29
WASHINGTON GOSSIP
The Weeks DOingS al the Ne
tiOnal Capital

in 4 COW but modest ana understanding hOuSe I
on Nineteenth street live Gen. john G. IRE /
mont MS wife Jessie Benton Fremont, and |
their daughter Gen. Fremont Is past IS. lie 4
Is barely of medium hight, and sparely built. /
Ills 1.-THE Niry figure shows little evidence OF \
age His hair Is silvered, bus has eye Is nor 4
dimmed nor his natural force abated Few
mon have experienced as much prlNatlon ana /
hardship rs did he during his early and middle
life while finding pathways 70 the facihc
through the mountain Businesses of the West and
Northwest. But these, and the years of active
campaigning during the war, do not seem TO
have in any way impaired his yigOr of body.
Mrs Fremont, who has been has faithful ana
devoted companion during his long. active ana
checkered life, h fully his counterpart IN ply
sical and mental activity. Although far past
the average OF human life, the years have
dealt kindly with her Her hair Is also whiten-
ed but she is the picture Of health-the ideal
of mature and noble w0manhood Der eye IS
keen and bright and She talks Of the events OF
her life with a yivacity that charms the las
tener She is enthusiastic pardonaby soon
three subjects her father Thomas H. Benton,
distinguished among able statesmeni her nus
baud, whose services IN behalf OF has country IN
war and peace, she treasures with loyal,
wifely pride; and the book which they two are
busily engaged In preparing for the press.
The story of Gen. Fremont's life viii COM
prise two large octave volumes OF over 600
pages each. The first volume is already m type
by subscription and the prospectus, containing
a hundred pages or more of the letter-press,
and many of the illustrations, has been pre-
pared The illustrations are a marked feature
OF the work They arc numerous and IN the
most perfect style OF the engrayer's art-por-
traits and views Of scenery and incidents con-
necled with Gen. Fremont's years of eEplora-
tion among the Rockies" Many Of the plates
are made from dagueTcotypes taken by artists
who accompanied the expeditions They are
engraved upon steel and are not often equailed
IN excellence
The book is a joint production. although
Jessie Benton Fremont appears as the au-
thor From six to eight hours day for many
months always working together, they have
been engaged in their task. The General,
with great array of documents, Journals and
memoranda, many OF them yellow with age,
dictates or rather narrates, and Mrs. Fremont
writes None who know her with any degree
OF intimacy viii for a moment question her
ability aud fitness 10 tell the story better than
would be possible for any other person. The
brave woman was az his side during some OF
his expeditions and campaigns, sharing all has
invitations and rejoicing In bis successes. Be
ginning IN the early morning the General and
his wife are at work until the middle of the
afternoon. During those hours no friend in
trndes. At O'Clock they 20 out 10 drive,
returning To dine at g. The evening is spent
in social recreation. Not later than 10 they
labors OF the following day. With mutual
pride and pleasure ia the work they have W.
dortakeu, they are doing ii faithfully and wei.
Gen. Fremont speaks with satisfaction of the
fact that he issued the first proclamation OF
emancipation. Id was nearly % years ago, soon
after lac was assigned TO the command Of the
Department OF Missouri, but the circumstances
will be recalled by those who are familiar with
the history of the war. IL is true that the
proclamation was instantly revoked by Presi-
dent Lincoln, and before any steps had been
taken toward carrying out ITS terms within the
Department commanded by Fremont Al
though this bold act was premature, Gen.
Fremont simply stepped out ahead Of the pro-
cession OF mighty events during that epoch
that startled the world year later, over tlSe
signature A. Lincoln" were given TO the
world the immortal words that made men and
women Of fOur millions of slaves Gen. Ere
mont says that he was right IN the principles
set forth d. bis proclamation, and that be was
fully justified by later events. DE reached
that advanced position before the people at
large had come up 70 IL. In the book appears
an exact ac.simle Of his proclamation, as first
written by him, with all its erasures aud emen-
dafions. ln connection with il are also printed
fac-similos o. the poem written by John g.
Whittier COMMUNICATING the forward step IN
the march of Freedom. aud Of a congratula-
tory letter written by him TO Gen. Fremont.
IN the early days OF California Gen. Ere
property, a portion OF il being on the present
site of the city OF San francisco. At thai
time. and Tor many years thereafter, there was
much confusion Of titles. During tho war
while the General was devotiRg has whole tim
and energies O. his military duties the Gov
ernmcnt took possession OF a tract embracing
some 10 acres on what is known lSlacl
Point" and established upon IL the militar.
headquarters OF the Department The Gov
eminent has occupied 1t ever since, until, a
thc General says /" Ii seems 10 think il own
st." No rental has ever been paid and NC
upon the records Of California the prOpert.
stands IN the name OF Jessie Benton Fremont
The land Las become valnable--in fact ioI
tune, a. is value could be realized. Congress
has been many times appealed 70 for relief, an
bills haFn repeatedly passed one branch or th
other hnt never both in the sanle Congress:
that nothing has come Of IL except the fac
that every report that has been made has 6
tablishcd the Justice Of their case. They hope
secure q standing IN the Court Of Claims an
with the means derived from the sale Of ia
book, be able 10 successfully prosecute thei
claim.
cIosISG DAYS OF CONGRESS
Itis expected that Congress viii adjourn 0
Monday next Everything is being placed
oraer 20 put M the shutters nc that time
the House everything Is IN D state Of chao
There are hundreds Of bills al Of which Al
being urged Cor consideration, aud the machil
cry ii fairly chokcd IL is pretty certain OBJ
no more pension measures viii 70 through IA
session. Nearly all the work at present is q
the appropriation bills, and the routine is du
aud prDsy enough.
The senate passed the olcOmargaTinc bl
after so amending il A. 10 reduce the tax FRO
hye 10 two Hts per pound. The House col
CURED in The amendments aud tie bill W
sent 10 tae President Cor his action Tho
who are hostile 10 Gle bin freely express Il
opinion that the President will veto IT, IL
does, ii WIZ, ~ doubt. lili IL, for, though
may be passed over the veto IN the Hotse
cannot in tlc Senate.
ia fhc matter 81 the inquiry into tic charP
o! corsupi use u money 10 secure the oicct
OF hr. Fagnc 81 Ohio. % tie Senate il "
decided ly y0tG Of ~ ~ u n0i 10 pursue I
matter tuItner. Filteon Republicans vol
with thc Democrats against an investigation.
The House passed. q DID % Increase tie nav
il contemplate 6 total expenditure " SIOt2
COO. 0i WLlr 100000 Il d. Dc available d
Ing the pia At ycar, il authorizes the CO
Hiruclloh q 1870 aea-g0ing arn0rcd vessels, n
cost u t2.ol3.aJl cachi one protected dOub
bOit0nc1 erlisgr 81 SOC 600, and one FIRST ell
torpedo boat az 100000. For the cOmplcti
0i lhG unfinished monitors The BIN apJr0pria
S1,l7s05G. aud for the armament d Tic mo-
tOrs. the unfinished cr8isers, and the gesa
authorized ~ be constructed under the 3
100000 Tile Secretary OF the Navy IA q
authorized 10 contract with the pneuma
Dynamite Amn LomuanF. al New York fOr I