The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-08-14
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
The Weeks DOingS at the Ma
tiOnal Capital
HOW THE SPEAKER HEADED OFF MR.. MORSE.

HOW THE SPEAKER HEADED OFF MR.. MORSE
Representative Morse, of Massachusetts,
has been one of the most active members in
Trying TO secure a recess of the House of Rep
rosentatives during the week of the National
Encampment Mt Boston, so rs TO allow the
soldier members to attend the Encampment
with clear cOnseiences. On Friday last he
went up TO Speaker Reed and exhibited the
petition for recess. II had 100 names attached,
and Mr. Morse began to argue with the Speaker
for recognition in order that he might intro
duce resolution authorizing the recess. Tho
Speaker, however, was firm in opposing such n
motion, and the debate between tho two be-
came quite heated No one knows what the
outcome might have been if the Speaker had
not had an inspiration.
Morse" he said suddenly, and glancng ut
his watch, " have an engagersent in my room.
i wish You would please take the chair"
1t was the first time Mr.. Morse had been
asked to preside over the House. and the temp
tation TO accept the honor even Mt the risk OF
losing his recess resolution, was too great to be
resisted. So Speaker Reed descended from his
chair and went out in the lobby, whore he
chuckled until his fat sides shook. Mr.. Morse
Will not get the recess, but the applause
which the members gave him when he took
the gavel in his hand must have been sOoth-
ing balm TO his feelings.
| NEW ARMY ASSIGNMENTS.
An order w6s issued from the War Depart
ment which states that by direction OF the
| President the following changes and assign
ments will take effect Sept. l.
lst. Brighten. John GibbOn will relieve
Maj Nelson A. Miles. in command of the
| Department of California aud of the Division
OF the Pacific, consisting of the Departments
of California and the Columbia.
I'd. Maj-Gen. Nelson A. Miles is assigned to
| n md If hn niuis e tho
comprising the Departments of Dakota and
the Platte.
Sd. Brig Gen. Alexander Med McCook Is
assigned TO the command of the Department Of
Arizona, with headquarters at Santa Fe N. M.
4th. The Commanding Generals of the De-
partments of Missouri, Texas and Arizona will
| report directly to Headquarters Of the Army.
9Th. So much of the State of California as
belongs to tho Department of Arizona is trans
| ferred To the Department of California.
The State Of Illinois is transferred from the
Department of the Missouri to the Division of
| the Missouri. Troops serving IN that State will
! report directly TO Division headquarters
The District OF New Mexico is discontinued.
Tho posts in that district will report directly to
Department headquarters.
BATTLEFIELD OF GETTYSBURG.
The House Committee Oh Military Affairs on
Friday decided to report favorably Represent
| ative Binghams bill approprating Sl2j. 900 to
mark the lines of battle and positions OF the
troops of the Army of Northern Virginia on
| Gettysburg battlefield. An amendment to the
bill proposes TO strike out the section providing
for the retention of the services of Historian
Batcheller In prosecuting the work.
ARMY AND NAVY.
The Secretary of War has received from the
| British Government u sample of the new Eng
lish service rifle. handsomely cased in poll
| ished wooden silver-mounted box. The rife
| presents remarkable contrast 60 the Ameri-
can military arm in several respects, and
notably so IN regard to the caliber which is
! No. 80, or about the size of an ordinary rocket
! pistol. Nevertheless, with this small bore, by
| the use of steel-elad leaden bullet aud a
heavy charge of quick powder. enormous We
| locity and penetration are attained. and the
rifle is sighted To shoot $500 yards, or about
/ two miles. 10 il also a repeating arm aud this
| feature presents novelty, in that the car
| tridges are Enclosed in small rectangular boxes
| which are attached at will 10 the breech mech
anism. The present was timely, rs the War Do
| partmcnt is about 90 iuaugurate set Of expert
! ments 10 determine the best form Of repeating
rifle 20 replace the present antiquated single
| shot Springfield rifle now used la the army
| service of this country.
The sailors and marines or the u. s. steamer
| Kearsarge are talking good deal about the
price they were compelled TO pay for beer while
on their last cruise in the West Indies.
| Jacks" grog was stopped years ago, an add
/ ton TO his pay being made at the time by WAY
| Of soothing his feelings but In recent years
! the privilege Of purchasing beer has been nc
| corded. This beverage, so say the men of the
| kearsaTge, has been rctailed To them at the
rate of l2l cents per bottle and this price they
| consider TO be entirely too high Some of them,
| too have expressed desire 10 know who gets
/ the profits. which must be heavy as the beer
| Is bought in large quantities.. At Koy West Is
barrels were taken aboard the Kearsarge.
! Speaking Of the matter Commander Elmer
! said that while IL was contrary to the regula-
| tions to serve out any kind of lauor on board
ship IL was permissible to sell each man cor.
| tain amount Of beer every day, and as the
| sailors would try TO get some kind Of drink
| however closely they were watched, he thought
! IL better 10 provide stock Of lager.
| Lieut.. William T. Rush aud Ensign Manning
! X. Eyre have been detached from the Boston and
| suspended for two years, the former from rank
! and duty OH regular pay and the latter from
rank and duty OH half pay. While the squadron
| Of evolution ia Brazilian waters these two
| officers in direct violation to the ship rules
| remained on shore over night without per-
mission. Yellow fever was at that time preya-
| lent ia Brazil. aud they incurred the risk of
catching the disease which might have seri-
| onsly affected the rest Of the crew Fortu-
! nately, however, nothing serious followed but
/ the prompt and severe action Of the Depart-
ment shows conclusiyely how the olicnse is
regarded.
| Court Of Inquiry has been appointed by
| the Secretary of the Navy 10 convene Mt Nor.
| folk Navy yard 10 investigate tho difficulties
| between Maj. hcLaue Eiiton. in command of
| the Marines at that yard, aud his assistant.
! Capt. William X. Brown. The latter was placed
| under suspension some weeks ago by Mai Til
/ ton Tor some violation Of the regulations the
| exact nature of which Is not ut present known
Capt. Brown claims that he has been uniustIy
treated aud that Maj. TltOn did not have the
| authority To suspend him; that the order for
| suspension should have come from the Com
mandant Of the Navy yard. The following is
| the detail Of the Court: Commander Slas
! Terry, President; Commander WIN. c. Wise,
| Capt. ii. A. Bartlett OF the Marine Corps: and
! First Lieut.. George r. Benson, of the Marine
| Corps. Judge Advocate
The Acting superintendent Of Police of
| New York City sent out general alarm To all
the police precincts Friday, announcing the
| desertlOn of 300 sailors aud marines from the
men-oi-war Chicago and Atlanta, and ordering
their arrest. BY 10 o'clock ut night 50 of the
| descficrs had been captured and lodged in the
Eidridfe and Elizabeth streets police stations
Assistant Secretary Of the Navy Solely sent
! letter TO Rear Admiral John l.. Worden United
States Navy, retired, at Quaker Ill., N. Y.
| which, after noting that the Department has
| fixed Saturday, the ODD instant, as the time
| for the embarkatiOn Of the remains of Erics-
| son, continues:
Upon this day when the Navy pays the last
| honors 70 the creator Of the Monitor. IL Is peou-
l liar N4ua.H