Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1889-03-23
WAITS FROM WASHINGTON.
why Reid was not Sent to England.
Sketches of Grant and John C. New.

Sketches of Grant and John G. New.
WASHINGTON, March 21.-It is learned
that the nomination OF Reid as Minister to
France was entirely unsolicited, either by
him or his friends. 1t had been the inten.
ton of the President, ever since election, to
tender him some important appointment.
It is understood it would have been the
mission to England, but for the impression
that his earnest advocacy Of home rule for
Ireland by the "Tribune" might render the
relations of Reid with the Tory Govern
ment of Lord Salisbury less cordial than
would be desirable.
It has been discovered that the large six.
teen.foot bending rolls supplied to the Nor.
folk navy yard for use in the construction
of the "Texas," do not meet the require.
ments OF the contract. in that the rolls were
to be adjusted by hand instead OF by steam
power. The contractors are now altering
the rolls to make them conform to the
terms of the contract. After the rolls were
purchased, it was also found their capacity
was limited to sixteen-foot plates, while
the bottom plates OF the "Texas" are
twenty feet in length. This mistake was
made in the Norfolk navy yard. But there
will be no material delay in the construc.
ton OF the Texas" as the rolls can be
used for q large range of work, and the
twenty-foot rolls can be procured by the
time they are needed, which will be at least
six months hence.
Joseph Miller, Commissioner OF Internal
Revenue, yesterday, took formal leave OF
the employees of his bureau. Hissuccessor,
John W. Mason, has received his commits.
sion and to-day entered upon the discharge
of his official duties.
Secretary Window is said to be authority
for the statement that there will be no
change in the office OF United States Treas
ury, now held by Mr.. Hyatt, before the end
of the fiscal year, June 80. 1t is under.
stood that Joseph n. Houston. of Indiana
has been promised the Office when it be.
comes vacant.
Fred. D. Grant, who was, yesterday,
nominated to be Minister to Austro.Hun-
gary, is 80 years "f age, and the eldest son
OF General Grant. He accompanied his
father during the war. and was in five bat.
ties before he was 13 years old. He was
Lieutenan: OF the Fourth Cavalry, when he
resigned from the army in 1876, having
seen much active service in Indian cam.
paiens. While in the service be married
Miss Ida Honore, daughter of q citizen oi
Chicago and has had two children, one boy
and q girl. Since General Grants death,
Colonel Grant has resided with his mother
and cared for her estate.
John C. New OF Indiana, who was nomi'
mated to be Consul General at London, is
so years OF age. He is a native Hoosier
and graduate OF Bethany College, Va. He
served during the war as quartermaste1
general for the state of Indiana and before
that time had been clerk in the Office oi
Marion & Co. Since his resignation az
treasurer of the United 8 tates in 1884, he
has been actively engaged in politics, being
at present q member OF the Republican
National Committee and ex-chaifman o
the Republican State Committee OF In
diana. In 1881 he became proprietor o
the Indianapolis Journal" and has con
Quoted the affairs OF that newspaper up to
the present time.
The Secretary OF the Treasury has ordered
Commodore A. e. K. Bepham to take com
mand Of the navy yard at Mare Island
California, the position made vacant by
the departure Of Rear Admiral Knapp to
take command of the Asiatic squadron.
Commodore Benham is at present await
ing orders.
Rear Admiral Stephen B. Luce has been
informed by the navy department that he
win be placed on the retired list on the 25th
inst. His retirement will cause the pro-
motion OF the following officers: Commo
dore David B. Harmony to be Rear
admiral; Capt. T. NJ. Romsey to be commo
dore; Commander VIM. T. Casey to be cap
tain: Lieutenant Commander Royal Brad
ford to be commander, and Lieutenant A.
G. Fl. Lutzee to be lieutenant commander
Harmony is at present chief OF the bureau
Of yards and docks and his four year com
mission for that place expires on the 27tl
inst, two days after retirement, tha
causes advancement. 1t is the genera