The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-06-27
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
The Weeks DOings at the Ma
tiOnal Capital
THE OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES AFFAIR.

alteration between senators Gnahofer anu
Blackburn in committee room last Winter has
induced Senator Chandler 10 publish his ac-
count of the affair. He says:
The committee was in session, no person
being present except the five members and the
clerk. As Chairman was reading the draft OF
3 report. Senator Faulkner remarked that he
thought undertook in a certain paragraph TO
assert something which il had been mutually
agreed should not be claimed. i said that did
not think So and that would read that clause
again. MIR. Blackburn vehemently interviewed,
and said that was certainly violating the un-
derstandiug. and that il would so appear if
would read the paragraph again and read IL
exactly rs ] did before. i asked him what
reason he had for intmating that / would
falsely read the paragraph. He replied that he
fhought so because IL would be like my whole
action in the case, and that he considered me
capable Of doing anything TO serve partizan
purpose Then ensued an angry colloquy,
which ! cannot undertake TO reproduce with
accuracy. / said that ] resented his imputa-
tion, and he replied defantly. At some point
he made a charge against my official integrity,
and made most bitter imputations upon him.
do not remember the order of sequence.
Then he, making some threats OF personal vio-
lence Il do not recall the words, started
around Senator Faulker, who was beside him,
toward the end of the table where ] sat with
Senator Cullom at my right. ] said that he
did not dare do what he had threatened. As
he came around toward me Hr. Faulkner inter-
posed and Mr.. Cullom rose and moved toward
and placed his hands on Mr.. Blackburn, who
at once stopped and shortly resumed his seat,
and MT. Faulkner asked me to 90 on reading the
report. i said that before doing so IL must be
decided whether the business was to be again
interrupted In the same way. Mr.. Blackburn.
after some talk, said he would not say one
word more during the session of the COM
mittee and that be would apologize TO Messrs
Cgilom and Plat and TO Mr.. Faulkner, but not
TO me. The reading of the report by me then
proceeded.
THE whole affair occupied hardly more than
minute 1 remained seated in my chair ]
expected no personal violence and was sub
jccted TO none and 10 no appreciable indignity,
save threatening words and gestures. l do not
think that was in the slightest degree excited,
disturbed or apprehensive. All accounts which
represent Mr. Blackburn rs pulling my ear. or
dragging me from my chair. or hauling me I'M
resisting about the room or represent me as
begging protection Of the committee or as in
any way deprecating Mr.. Blackburn's wrath,
are untrue. TheebullitiOn was more ludicrous
than dangerous. OF course, understand very
well that some Democrats wish TO intimidate
me. and, falling in that, to degrade me. To do
this IL viii be necessary for them 10 adopt some
more effective plan than that developed in the
comattee-room on the 22d Of February or the
next day, and thereafter in the Democratic
newspapers. which gave fictitious accounts Of
what had taken place"
BREAKING Up FAvoRITIsM.
Secretary Of the Navy Tracy continues quietly
but persistently in his work Of breaking up the
rule Of favoritism in bis Department which
has been the cause Of so much well-fonnded
complaint. Ii is now announced that Lieut..
Raymond y. Rodgers. Chief OF the Office of In
telligence viii shortly be ordered to sea. Lieut.
Rodgers was one Of the fayOrites OF Commodore
Walker and his c8terie. Ii was this that gave
him the pleasant berth Of Chief on an Office
though his actual rank in the Navy is only
Doth on the list OF Lieutenants and il is not
usual 70 assign anyone to that position under
Commander, or two grades above Lieutenant.
Between him and the lowest Commander there
are "a Lieutenant-C Commanders aud IS Lieuten-
ants, 20 that lac has been put in ahead Of ll9
seniors. This. too, in defiance OF the Navy
Regulation, which says:
Il is proper that junior officers should have the
opportunity 10 acquire, a. rapidly a. possible, the
requisite experience al sea aud that the con-
slant and severe dulles Of the service should de-
volve apon them; that they must therefore, ex-
Pect iittie employment on shore, and must at all
times bold themselves ready for sea-seFvice. Ali
officers are reminded u the improperly OF seek
ing % evade their proper tarns of professional
cuiy on personal considerations or through the in
tefFeuil0n o. personal friends thus seeking To inn
pose upon Others service which o. Is their duty
30 perform, and perhaps hArdships and dangers
Which belong o. right 10 themselves.
j. ISIS. OF four years and three months, when
the Regulations limit shore duty 10 three years
HIS last sea duty terminated IN 1884. lie has
been in the Navy since July ., 1875 years
and in that time has done but 10 years and
II months Of sea duty. Another officer who
has been marked for sea duty is Lieut.. VIM. T.
Beehler also Of the Oftlce OF Naval Intelligence
who has been Oh that dEty since Oct. Is. 1884,
RDo IEs had but 10 years and six months of
service since he entered the Navy, Is years
ago.
PATRIOTIC SONS OF AMERICA.
Atfhe session Of the National Camp. Patriotic
Order sons Of America, on Thursday the follow
ing officers were elected for two years: Presi-
dent, George i. Smith. Illinois Vice President
Napoleon Underwood, Louisiana: Master of
FORMS End Ceremonies, w. J. StOner, PenngyI-
Eania; Secretary, DIR. f. w. Hendley, Ohio !;
Treasurer, A. b. Phillips, Colorado. OF these
officers al but Dir. Stoner were reelected, and
they were all chosen by acclzmation except Dr.
EeBdley. who was opposed by Frederick r
Speer. Of Pennsylvania Boston was chosen as
the next place Of meeting, and the time Of
meeting changed from June TO October. 50 that
the next session will be held in October, 1890
Oh Friday afternoon the Order assembled in
full uniform on Pennsylvania avenue between
FIRST and Second streets, and pAraded up The
Avenue 20 Fifteenth street TO X, then back 70
the Treasury Department. where the parade
was dismissed. There were nearly 200 in
the parade The Encampment adjourned on
FRIDAY. and Oh Saturday they visited Mount
Vernon. The meeting has been a very pleasant
and successful one
A SUSPICION or FoUL PLAY.
John A. Rawlins Post, Of this city, Is taking
measures 70 ascertain the cause OF death Of
Henry Irauling, old soldier whose body
was found in Arlington a few days ago Three
days before he was last seen Trailing had
drawn so pension money for the loss Of an
eye When his body was discovered there was
only one cent found In his clothing and there
was bullet-hole IN his head The weapon with
which the shot was fired lay On the ground
between his legs. Some Grand Army men
think that he was murdered and then robbed
The dead nan, II Is said. owned farm In
Michigan, and has one son living there
LOOKING AFTEB THE OLD sAILoRs.
Junior Vice COmmander-in-Chief Josepb
HadEeid WAS in the city last week, In com.
paug with Capt. Grove aud Gunner John Que
ViecO. They were the committee sent on here
By the Naval Veteran Association Of New York
. look after the cases Of ~ sailor veterans who
had been discharged by the last Adminigtra-
tioH from positions in the Brooklyn Navy Yard
70 make places for political heeiers Secretary
Of the Navy Tracy received the Committee
very c0urteously, listened attentiyely 10 All
they had 10 say, took the list Of names present
ed 70 hlm, and said be would have inouirv
made into the cases aud the veterans restored
as fast as opportunity presented.
DELIGHTFUL DISCOVERY.
Col. A. c. Thompson, who is now serving bis