The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-10-24
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
The Weeks DOingS at the Ma
tiOnal Capital.


ence OF Maritime nations.
Delegations from every country that has
merchant marine reported ia due form, and
after organizing and listening Ia speech OF
welcome 10y Secretary Blaine the Congress ad-
ionrned 10 the Executive Mansion aud was
presented TO President Harrison, who after
wards gave the members an elegant luncheon.
Rear-Admirai Samuel II. Franklin, U. = n,
who WAS elected President OF the Maritime
Conference, is Chairman OF the delegation APP
pointed by President Harrison to represent the
United States, aud is one Of the most distin-
Ruished officers in the American Navy, both IN
his digniied aud imposing personal appearance
sud his gallant military history before ana
during the rebellion.
BE is a Younger brother of Gen. William Is.
Franklin, formerly u. ). Army, (who COM
Inanded Burnside's left Grand Division OF the
Army OF the Potomac at fredericksburg, and
was born Aug. "a. 1925. IN Pennsylvania lie
was appointed Midsaipman Feb. Is, le4l, and
was promoted 60 Passed Midshipnan IN 1917,
while serving under Commodore Connor in the
Pacific during the conquest OF California, when
he especially distinguished himself. In 1880
he was promoted 10 Lieutenant, which rank
he held when the war began.
In ls61 the addition of new grades in the
Navy advanced him 10 acknowledgements
which rank he held during his very brilliant
fighting service and until promoted 10 Com
mauder July -. 1865. lie WAS promoted TO
Captain in August. lS72; To Commodore, May,
1851, aud Rcar-Admiral Jan, 1855. Has last
service on the active list was In command OF
the European feet, which he held until placed
on the retired list in August, 1857, on reaching
O. years ofage.
This Maritime Conference is q new thing IN
the history OF seaiaring nations. and bids lar
10 open upa better state Of things for " them
that 90 down 10 the sea In great ships"
The objects directly in view are 20 prepare
plan hy which the ships OF all nations shall
have tE0 same rules OF navigation a. sea- sig
mails, running lights and "ruivs OF the road.
These are the main points. but these are 10 ne
elaborated 10 suit ali If itcan be done. hut there
are other matters that wii be more earnestly
discussed. for on these points all men who FOL
low or know the sea well agreed
There are port rules Of anchorage and quar-
antine that need amending 10 make things
equal 90 every ship that sails into any port,
home or foreign; aud there. too, are unwritten
laws OF salvage and the requirements OF yes
sci making prosperous voyage TO abandon ITS
course 10 save a crew or a dereliet- Ii is to the
credit OF the sailors Of All nations that not more
than bali dozen instances IN al are known
where help was asked by vessel in distress and
the appeal disregarded by greedy shipmaster,
bat ID such things might be regulated by an IN
tenational agreement Of maritime law, even
such occurrences could be prevented.
conference viii be presented 20 the governing
OF legislative authorities of each representative
nation for confirmation. and upon such con
frIDation will become the law Of the world for
every craft that floats On green OF blue water.
SIMON cAMERoSs REBEL STATES MAP.
A ueII-known resident veteran in Washing
ton is Mai. James q. Thompson. who is and
has been Tor years Chief Of Division in the
Money Order Office Of the P0stOfiice> Depart
IneHt, aud is pretty well known 10 newspaper
men a. an industrious and able writer.
During the early part of the war ne was a
member Of the list y. Y. and bad intimate
friend in the War Department who had been
an old sch0nlmzte. This friend was Mr.. NJ G..
Cold. who is now as official in the q. 5. Mint
al Philadelphia, aud possessed 20 such extent
the coz fdence Of Simon Cameron. then Sccre-
iary al Var. that Mr. Cameron appointed him
% the then siBecure position Of Librarian Of
The Har Department, inr the purpose OF utiliZ-
ing Isis services as Private SecFetary-thsre
being then no specific provision for such an
Official.
The Library then was a mere irregular and
small collection Of books thai were tnmbled
into 3 few locked eases Ia small room close
by that Of tie Secretary, aud the room was
simply private working room OF the head OF
tbe Department.
Here Aisi. Thompson was wOHt TO informally
drop IN when bis military duties permitted 20
chat with bis old scb00iiBate. and he tells an
interesting story Of uBwrittcu history thst
cssHAiig came under bis observation one day.
4 rn3eiy-drawn map 81 portion Of the
United states lad the boundary lines OF is
polltlcsl divisions drawn 30 strangely ar 10 at
tract Tb0mpsOu's attention So it lay on the
tahie and be closely examined IT for few
Is inHtes.
Tie n.sp was ahout e0z3O inches In size. aud
was Hr. fameron's idea 81 what the map Of the
United States should look ike alter the rebel
lion Was suppressed. This was IN the latter
part Of January or early IN February, 1852
aud lot very long before Dir. Cameron LEFT
President LncDlH's Cabinet
Mai. Thompson DESERVES this map. as nearly
a. he can reCollect, a. fol5ONs: The name Gi
every Southern State except those along the
border Has simply wiped Out 81 existence, and
not ore 81 the southern State lines as they
then existed was retained. even the liues along
tie border being altered. Delaware was ab-
s0rbea by Pennsylvania and Maryland, and
Mary land also took ia the eastern shore Of Eir
ginis. Virginia was divided. and the ancient
name disappeared. Natural lines were adopted
% form new States and Louisiana west Of tbs
Mississippi was thrown with Texas To make
four new States. bur none 10 come into the
Union uHtm 1850 Florida was obliterAted
siaies taking the place Of Mississippi. Georgia
aud Alabama getting q coast line a her ex
peuse"
The Hsior thinks that as the map was pri
vale property. and prepared for Mr. Cameron
70 illustrate bis idea Of the proper course 4
take in tae future, il Was Of course taken awsy
Nhen tEe PenHgylyaHia statesman ielt the Cabi
net AID may possibly be found among th,
papers left by him az his death.
il would be interesting 70 study that maj
over.
ARMY AND navy oRDEEA
Capt james H. Gageby. ID Inf, now on leay,
81 atsence AZ JOhnBt0wn. Pa. has been ordere.
q duty in the recruiting service
First Lieut. James Il. Richards, IT, 4tl
Cas-, on leave al Springfield, Mo. has beer
Ordered 70 conduct detachment Of recruit
from Aew York 10 tie Department Of Arizona
firat Lieut.. Frank s. Harlow. lst Art serv
ing - Fort Monroe. Va ordered 20 duty a
West Point, relieving First Lieut.. VIM Mott
9Th lHa. ordered 70 join his company az th
expiration al bis sick leave.
second Lieut.. Edward W. McCaskey, els
Inf. ordered 70 conduct a detachment Of r.
cruiis from New York 70 the department O
tie Platte.
Second Lieut.. Edward r. McGiachlin. IN
6ih Art, ordered 10 duty al Fort Douglas. Utah
Leaves d absence have been granted Arm
officers a. follows: Capt Chas T. Hargous. 5il
IDf, six mouths; Capt Hiram g. Ketchnm
zSd IEi., four months: Capt. =. W. Thibaui
etb lBC. - days extension; Capt. Valery HaT
ware. Assistant Surgeon, one month 5 ex tension
Board consisting Of Capt. john Y. Greer
OTdnaDce Department; Capt. ThOs. J.. Casey
5r, Engineer Corps, aud First Lieut. Henry
Reilly 9Th Art. has been appointed by diTec
o f..k ~