Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-12-04
Capitol Topics.
THE DUST OF JOEL BARLOW.

THE DUST OF JOEL BARLOW.
Senator Platt to-day introduced a petition
from the Historical society of Fairfield, Conn.,,
praying that the remains of Joel Barlow, who
died in 1912 while minister plenipotentiary and
envoy extraordinary from the United States to
the court of Napoleon I, be exhumed and
brought home to his native land. The services
rendered the United States by Barlow as SOL
der, patriot, and diplomat are referred to in
eulogistic terms. and the petition closes as fol-
lows: I'm gratitude to the dead therefore; in
honor Of letters and for the encouragement of
the living to like acts Of selfsacrifce, your Pc
titloners pray your honored body that the dust
of Joel Barlow may be removed from its ne
elected grave on alien soil wilma Poland. to
the capital city Of Washington, there to be de-
posted in the family vault on his old estate of
kalorama, to remain until Congress shall pro-
vide more fitting repository" An appropri-
alton to cover expenses Is asked for.
EXPENSES OF THE FISH COMMISSION
In letter to the Speaker of the House the
commissioner of fish and fisheries reports that
the total amount expended by the commission
during the fiscal year 1888 was S223S5 The
items for which expenses were incurred include
propagation of food-ishes, rent of office, MAIN
tenance OF fsh-ponds, and maintenance of YES
sells used in the service.
BILL TO CREATE HEALTH BUREAU.
Senator Gibson, Of Louisiana, to-day intro
duced a bill to create bureau Of health and to
prevent the introduction and extension of con-
taglous and infectious diseases in the United
States. The bill provides that the bureau shall
be established in the Department Of the In
terror and be in charge of commissioner at a
salary Of 5000. A health commission of
twenty members is to be appointed by the
President The commission fs to be divided
into six sections, as follows: Five commission
ers for the yellow fever section and three COM
missioners each for the cholera, typhoid scar
let fever, smallpox and diphtheria sections
The members OF each section must be experts
in the section to which they are assigned, and
their salaries are to be $1,000 each, but they
will only be actively engaged when called to
duty in emergencies. The entire commission
is to meet in this city in April of each year to
adopt plans and make regulations for inter-
state quarantine. An appropriation Of
S100, 900 is asked for.
LIEUT.. coFFIN's QUEER rHEoRIRs.
Lieut.. N. ]. Coffin, of Hallowell, Me-, has
forwarded to the Senate sheet Of canvas
about three feet square, on one side Of which
is very crude but decidedly brilliant repre-
sentation OF two volcanoes actively engaged in
creating vacuums by which waterspouts are
brought into existence. He claims to have
discovered this theory in 164S, and says it is
infallible. On the reverse side Of the canvas
is rudely painted map of the world, and on
this Lieut.. Coffin has located the magnetic
pole and the source Of the Gulf stream. Ac-
companyiug these works of art. which were
presented BY Senator Hale, ia long letter e1,
planning the map and sketch. It was referred
to the committee on the library.
RxTIaxxExr or PRIvArxs.
A bill was introduced BY Senator Dolph to-
day for the retirement Of privatss and nom
commissioned ofic srs after twenty-five years'
service or If disabled after twenty years SER
qice, instead Of aftes thirty years service, - ID
now the law.