Omaha daily bee., 1889-06-17
Too Much Praise Bestowed Upon
Cleveland's Secretary.
SEVERAL BAD CONTRACTS MADE.
The President and Cabinet Preparing
for Their Regular Summer Vaca-
tion-Captain Meredith at
the Capital.
WASHINGTON BUREAU, THE OMAHA BEE.
5l3 FOURTEENTH STREET,

the American navy. column alueF column
of laudaton was found in the democratic
newspapers throughout the country, and
odious comparisons were frequent. Now
one of the staunchest democratic papers in
this city, which pays particular attention to
army and navy news, calls attention to the
fact that the contractors for the new ships
are acting in remarkable manner. 1t states
the fact that the Petrol and the Baltimore
are months behind hand and that in spite of
the reat success of Secretary Whitney in
making contracts the government is exacting
the daily penalty for delay from the contract
ors for each of these two vessels. The
Columbia iron works of Baltimore, which
had the contract for building the Petrol,
found it more advantageous to complete
fleet Of ferry boats than to fill their contract
with the United States, and it is SAID they
are making more money by paying the gov
ernment penalty of 500 day than they
would by completing the vessel in the time
limited, and neglecting their private inter-
ests. Then, too, the accident to the Charles
ton will delay her second trial trip for ut
least two months, and now, that Secretary
Whitney is out of office, it is discovered that
his contracts secured no better results than
those of his predecessors.
THE OFFICIAL HOUSEHOLDS OUTING.
President Harrison will probably spend
neqt Sunday at Cape May and later in the
week will move the family to Deer Park,
where he has leased the cottage of eX-Sena-
tor Davis. The house is of wood ana exceed
ing unpretentious. Its two and a half stories
in height and is painted n sagegreen tint
with roof of red shingles. The broad piazza
is provided with hammocks, in which the
president can restfully blow ringlets fro m
porfectos, or nap when inclined so to do.
The furnishing of the cottage is exceedingly
plain, but none the less comfortable. Straw
mating and Smyrna rugs cover the floor.
The bedroom suits are Of the most rustic
pattern, and willow wickers with bamboo
tables are to add to the convenience of the
presidential family. The white house gard
ener is beautifylng the front piazza with rum
ming vines. The presidents neighbor will
be Stephen B. Elkins, of New York. Others
who have cottages close by are ex-senator
Davis Mayor q. +. Latrobe, of Baltimore;
William A. Hannway and Miss Mary Gar
rett. The beautiful grounds surround
dences afford glorious opportunities for
the president to romp with his
| grand children, while, if he Is SO disposed,
| fishing and boating are whiting walking dis
tance. During the latter part of July or in
| August the president and Mrs. Harrison will
| probably run up to Bar Harbor and remain
| for week or two the guests of James G..
| Blaine Mr.. Blaine leaves within week
| for his summers recreation. Mrs. Blaine
| and the remainder of the family 20 with HIM.
| Secretary Noble will probably remain here q
greater part of the summer. He has leased
| the beautiful residence of Mrs. Titfiny, on
Connecticut avenue, and Mrs. Noble has re-
| solved to stay with him, except that now and
| then she may enjoy few days at Cape May
| or Atlantic City. Secretary Benjamin f..
| Tracy will seek to escape the heat as fire.
| quently as IS possible by trips to Manhattan
beach and other seaside resorts A tour in
| Guiding the various navy yards is also on his
| programme. Uncle Jerry Rusk will remain
| here to see that the white house lawn is
| properly trimmed. Secretary Window may
| take trip soon to his old home in Mime
| sofa. Secretary of War Proctor WILL find a
| cool spot among the Green mountains OF
| Vermont
CAPTAIN MEREDITH ARRIVES.
| Captain William Nj. Meredith arrived in
| Washington tonight He comes to see how
| he stands with the administration and what
| his chances are for securing the appointment
| as chief of the bureau of engraving and
| printing. Mr.. Meredith said, tonight, that
| he would call upon Secretary Window on
| Tuesday, probably, and ask that he be deli
| nitely informed what the department intends
| to do in this matter He is anxious to know
| at once what his chances are that he may be
| enabled to close business matter which is
affected by his candidacy for this position
ALIvELY WEEK IN PROSPECT
During the present week Washington will
owing to the fact that two different associa'
| tions of uniformed knights-namely, the
Catholic Knights and the Sons OF America
| are to be here in annual session. The
| of enthusiastic men, who will per
spire aud march and enjoy themselves
| in that manner q few days. But the great
| gathering for Washington will be in Oc-
tober, and The preparations are being made
| just now for one OF the most successful trl-
epniel conclaves that the knights Templar
| of lhe United States have ever INDUCED in.
Every hotel and large boarding house will
| be filled with the Templars and represents
| tives from nearly every state and territory
are expected One Of the reasons why it is
believed that this Washington meeting will
| be the most successful is that George Wash
ington, who was himself commander of q
lodge in Alexandria, lies buried Mt Mount
Vernon, and hundreds of knights and their
families will desire to make the trip which
this opportunity will afford. Already many
of the states have registered with the Local
officers here and delegations are expected as
follows: Massachusetts will send twenty
three Communicates, Illinois twenty-five, In
diana six, Michigan seven, Minnesota three
Missouri three, Nebraska two, New YorH
lseighteen, Ohio eighteen and Pennsylvania
| tWenty-onc.
| MILITARY MATTERS.
First Lieutenant Charles IL. Ronesteel
| Twenty-tifth infantry now in this city, has
| been granted an extension OF his leave unit
| June 80. He will then report to the com
| mandinE officer at Fort Sidney, Neb.. FOL
| duty. He came east to attend the wedding
| of his sister.
CAPTAIN j. w. Summerhayes, assistant
quartermaster, u. S. A., arrived in towr
| last week from Niobrara, where he has beer
stationed for the past four years. Presden
Harrison has just appointed hlm to stat
position, ana he will leave for the Division
Of the Pacific where he has been designated
early next week.
THE FLOODED FISH PONDS.
The superintendent Of the carp ponds ha
just finished the job of running of the differ
ent storage holes for young fish, which weri
so thoroughly filed up with water durin
the flood. These ponds, which contained
young carp, were not so much affected b.
the freshet as some of the others, and IL /
estimated that a hundred thousand of tn
little wigglers have been saved, and tina
there will probably be enough to supply IN
demand for the present season. The heay
lest loss occurred at the ponds containing
new species of fish known as the Colder
Idea This fish was recently introduces
from the Danube, and the first supply wa
ready for shipment After great deal o
care, extending over o period of severa
years, 10000 Of these fish had been hatche
and would probably have been sent out thi
| year, but now the total number remaining
only about a hundred. The carp ponds wer
covered to the depth of nearly six fee
with water, and besides the damage done b