The National tribune., 1890-10-16
CHANGES AT THE WHITE HOUSE.

West q number OF changes were made in the
official portion of the Executive Mansion. The
library, which has heretofore been used by the
President rs his Office, will he fitted up as a sit
ting-room for the use of the family, and the Pres
ident will conduct his business in the room
adjoining the Cabinet room, which has been
occupied by Secretary Halford. President
Lincoln used this room rs his private office,
and il was there he sigued the Emancipation
Proclamation. The large oak desk made from
the timbers of the British ship Resoute, and
presented by Queen Victoria to the President
OF tho United States during Gen. Hayes's
Administration, and which has been used by
every President since, will be removed TO the
Presidents new Office. Several other changes
will be made, the Executive clerks being
transferred to the large room on the north
front which has been occupied by the Dis
bursting officer. These changes were made
necessary because of the crowded condition of
the dwelling portion of the Mansion.
THE FIRST CLAIM ALLOWED UNDER TIE NEW
LAW.
George f. Dyer. Co. F, 59th Ohio was the
first cOmrade TO have his pension allowed under
the new pension law approved June p, 1890,
on account of personal service, while Elisha z.
LisComb, OF Lebanon, n. H.. was the first per-
son 10 be pensioIed under the same law as
dependent parent. The latter was pensioned
because of the death Of his son, Thomas +.
Liscomb.
ARMY AND NAVY.
The Navy Department has decided to substi-
tute five-inch rapid-fire guns for the four six
inch breech-loading rifles il was proposed to
put on the coast-line bhttle-ships This is one
of the first direct results of the Annapolis
armor tests, which incidentally demonstrated
that the six-inch gun, even under tho most
favorable circumstances cannot be depended
upon TO pierce even moderately thick armor,
D. Ia IL.
rapid-fre gun surpasses it in efficiency, because
of its greater rapidity of fro and ease of hand
ling, which gives it greater accuracy. These
four guns will increase tho total rapid-6re bat
teries Of these ships to 80 guns the remainder
being 90 six-poundcrs and six Onep Founders.
Their armorpiercing batteries will consist OF
four 13-inch guns and four eight-inch guns,
with possibly the addition of two more of the
latter size.
The United States dynamite cruiser Vesuvius
made two runs on Thursday over q measured
mile course at Newport X. l., in which she
used the forced draft aud had all her boilers
working. She made speed at the rate of 20
knots an hour.
The War Department has advertised for pro-
posals under the provisions Of the fertilization
bill for furnishing the Ordnance Bureau pf the
Army with % Sinch, 50 iO-inch and % II inch
steel guns and ammunition for their test and
proof, all 10 be OF American manufacture.
VETERANS IN THE CITY.
d. R. Wilson, North Madison. Ne. Comrade
Wilson enlisted in tho Ind'p't Chicago L. A;
re-enlistcd as Lieutenant in the lst u. S. and
at the expiration OF his term of service he
Joined the 10th n. Y. He is in the city at
present on business relating TO his pension
case.
A delegation OF 40 Grand Army mon from
the Department of New York arrived in Wash
iBgtou from Knoxville, Tenn, on Friday even
ing, where they have been attending the Re.
union Of the Blue snd Gray. The boys Will
stay over day or two to see the sights Of tho
Capital.
GOLD NEAR THE CAPITAL.
Col. @. w. Kirk. loyal East Tenncsseean,
and who did splendid service in command
Of the loyal Sd n. c., is sanguine that he has
made his lasting fortune by the discovery Of a
rich vein OF gold near the National Capital. It
has always been known that there was great
deal OF the precious metal in the rocks which
crop out around Washington, but il was be-
lieyed that 10 did not exist in paying qugnd-
ties. OF late years Col. Kirk and his brothers,
all Of whom were loyal soldiers, have been
prospecting in the Maryland hills near the
Potomac, and have made several very rich
finds, which arc now being worked proftably
by Senator Sawyer and others Senator Saw.
yer has one 40stamp mill in operation; at the
EruIinie Mine is another Of similar size, and
also one at the Eagle Mine. The latest discov-
cry, which ~ on land controlled by Col. Kirk,
is much richer than any of its predecessors
aud the Colonel brought to The NATIONAL
TRIBUNE Office specimen worthy of Calfor-
mia in her palmiest days. The comrades will
be glad 10 hear OF the good fortune Of the gal.
Iant old East Tennesseean.
CHAT ABOUT PEOPLE
The Boston Globe has discovered that Senator
Evarts persists in wearing the shocking bad hat
for which he is noted because he believes il TO
be mascot.
The wife Of Representative John f. Russell,
Of Massachusetts, accompanies him during his
stumping tours and sits on the stand with him.
She is well posted in political matters and
thoroughly mp on the tariff 20 that she Is of
great assistance to him in selecting the weak
points Of his opponents arguments.
The papers have story that Gen. r. A.
Alger is about to buy New York paper, Of
which First Assistant Postmaster General
ClarksOn is 10 be Editor-in- chief, and Marshall
Cushing. the Private Secretary Of Postmaster
General Wanamaker. the managing editor.
This would be q strong combination, but the
parties named deny the truth of tho story.
First Assistant Postmaster General Clarkson
goes out Of Office with record Of having ap-
pointed 1885 fOurth-class Postmasters In Is
months, or an average of ~ day, including
holidays This lays over the record Of his pre-
oeceSsor-bon. n. l. 5leseuson--" by several
Senators ingalls, and Davis come mighty near
being Of the undoubted Mayfower stock, the
irsts progenitOrs having landed st Plymouth
only eight years after the
Band Of exiles moored their bark
On the Wild New England shore,
as Mrs. Hemans sings. Senator C. K. Davies
forebearE came over to Plymouth in 1922 only
two years after the landing of the rst advance
guard IN the Mayfowor, and Robert Cushman.
from whom the Senator gets his Christian
name, was the infant Col0ny's Quartermaster.
Mrs. Gen. Heizelman and daughter have re-.
turned 10 Washington for the Winter
Hon. George s. BRtche!ier, who was Ap-
pointed by tho President and confirmed by the
Senate as Minister TO Portugal last week has
been Assistant Secretary Of the Treasury for
over year, and was a popular official Most
OF tue Summer he has been Acting Secretary
during Secretary Windows absence from the
Capital As bis appointment to Diplomatic
position was unexpected, no indications have
been given Rs 10 his probable successor In the
Treasury Department.
YETERANs AS POLICE oFFICERH
Naturally the people in the District, among
whom Ii strong proportion Of the rebel SYM
pathizing element view with little favor the
law whic~prescribes that none but those who
have received honorable discharges from the
army or navy shall be appointed as policemen.
There are many hundred men in the city who
are ambitious OF welding the locust and draw
ing the pay that accompanies that function, but
whose ambition s nipped in the bud by the
lack Of tho necessary qualifications. So they
keep up continual agitation against the law,