The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-05-29

| was an enjoyable one and will long be remem-
bered by those who were present.
ARMY AND NAVY.
Congressman Milton Dclano, of New York,
who is interested in the use of dynamite in
shells, recently described the experiments
/ which have been made at Perryvile N. Y.
! The gun used in the trial was 9-inch Blakcly
| rifle which was captured from the rebels during
| the war i'm Charleston Harbor. 1.-THE principle
| involved" said Mr.. Delano, g is the use of an
air cushion TO modify the impact of the powder
without losing its force. With charge of 30
! pounds of powder 250-pound she'll carrying
over l6 pounds of No dynamite, which is 70
! per cent. nitroglycerine, was thrown against a
! cliff a third of mile distant, exploding when
it struck, and tearing out Of the rock hole big
| enough for six men 10 stand in. We have Tired
the gun successfully six times, and believe we
have solved the problem of the use OF high ex-
| plosives from ordinary guns"
The Secretary of the Navy has at last &C
| cepted the dynamite cruiser Vesuvius. His
| action WAS based on a report from Engineer-in-
| Chief Melville. 10 the effect that in the recent
trial of her machinery. she developed an aver
age of 3S3S indicated horsepower, or 63S over
the contract requirement. Although these
| figures have not been verified by the testing of
| the indicators used on board during tho trial,
Commodore Melville said he had no hesitation
in recommending the acceptance of the vessel.
| The Department viii now consider the question
of payments 10 the contractors for the vessel.
| There is still retained about 100000 of tho
contract money, of which about $4,000 is esti-
mated TO be due the Government as penalties
for non-Completion within contract time.
These penalties began TO run over n year ago
and ceased last October by order of the Secre-
tsry, at the time OF the first trial of the vessels
armament. 1t is probable that the Secretary
VIII hold that the penalties must stand, and
that the contractors will apnly IN Congress for
relief
Frank Manning and James Tighe, enlisted
men OF the Army on duty ut Fort Monroe, Va,
had n officially a short distance from the fort.
On their return to their barracks, and while
Iighe was seated and preparing his rifle for tar
get practice, Manning came TO the door, rife in
hand, and shot him through the head. causing
instant death. The extreme penalty for his
crime will undoubtedly be meted out 10 him.
The orders assigning Capt. Thomas O. Sell
fridge 10 the Boston Navy-yard was surprise
10 everyone at the Navy Department CaptC.C.
Carpenter, who is ia command of the receiving
ship at Boston, Immediately requested TO be
detached. He is senior TO Selfrdge in rank,
and his request was honorcd by his assignment
10 duty az the Portsmouth Maynard, where
Commodore Skerrctt is in command. II had
been supposed that Commodore Joseph Fyfe
would be sent to Boston. 4" What are we main
tanning long list Of CommodOres for, " asked
"A uahdA oillNti. u Hutu AAIun are 10 nc plaCtu
IN charge OF Captains2 The custom is an I'M
fortunate 10 establish, and means the
supremacy Of personal aud political influence
over existing regulations" Capt. Carpenter
relieves Capt. August kautZ at Portsmouth.
kautz VIII be given command Of a ship The
only ono available ut present, and the one TO
which he is credited, is the Pensacola. which
arrived Friday acNew York. The Enterprise
will probably be given to a Captain, unless, as
a Bureau officer suggested 10 day influence
shall have provided for all the Captains, and
left COmmcdorcs alone available for the detail.
There is q funny condition Of affairs at Fort
Sheridan, near Chicago. and officers on duty
there are trying their best to get transferred
as soon as possible. The buildings now in
course of construction at the fort viii be the
finest in the country, the officers quarters be-
ing simply elegant The situation was recently
explained by Capt. Penney, 9th Inf, who Is
stationed at the fort. THE Government is
erecting lot OF residences for the officers he
said, "on a scale OF grandeur far beyond what
we have been accustomed to. and in the nature
Of things very far beyond the requirements Of
the service. u viii take a whole years pay TO
furnish one Of the new houses SO that il will
not look bare. Then suppose an officer is will
ing 10 spend a years salary in that way. Jus.
as likely as not he will be ordered TO New Mex
leo or Wyoming Territory at q hours notice,
and Is the Government only allows a Captain
AsVtb PNAiln III nhEENRt nc must tttNtf lthNG
all his Inc things behind him or sell them for
whatever he can get If nc could take them
away they would be OF no use 10 him. for his
quarters out there are most apt 10 be a tent or
q hut"
The War Departments order OF last month
relating 20 the holding Of civic positions by
Army officers las been amended and repub-
lished. The order provides that No officer OF
the Army on the active list shall hold any civil
Office, whether by election OF appointment, and
every such officer who accepts or exercises tho
functions Of civil Office shall thereby cease TO
be an officer Of the Army, and his commission
shall be thereby vacated" The order adds
that any Office created by State statutes Is.
within the spirit Of the law quoted above, a
civil Office, and an officer of the Army on the
active iist cannot lawfully accept or hold such
an Office, whether in State military Organiza-
tiOns or otherwise"
VETERANS rs THE CITY.
T. A. Stanley. Sd Mass. Cav. osawatomie.
Kan. COmrade Stanley IS prosperous farmer.
Theo. Hof. l03th Pa, Deer Park Md
Gen. James x. OBeirnc, Captain, J7th n. Y.
Gen. OBeiTne was recently appointed Inmi-
grafton Commissioner at the Port Of New York,
and Is In the city on business connected with
his Office. lie obtained the title Of General by
being appointed Deputy Provost Marshal. Gen
eral Of the Delenses Of Washington during the
war.
Maj. George w. Steele, the recently appointed
Governor Of Oklahoma Territory, arrived in
! Washington on Wednesday, qualified rs Gov
| ernor on Thursday, and left for Indiana on
| Friday. He will Immediately go to Oklahoma,
aud will 81 once enter upon the duties Of his
Office. Gov. Steele anticipates plenty OF hard
work in his new position.
CHAT ABOUT PEOPLE
The credentials of Hon. Calvin s. Brice
/ United States SenatOr-elcct from the State OF
Ohio for six years commencing March 4, 1891,
were presented ia the Senate on Thursday last
/ by Senator Payne, aud in accordance with the
usual custom they were read aud placed on
! file. Dir. Brice was Captain ia the 1S0Lh
! Ohio
| First Assistant Postmaster General Clarkson
! was given a dinner by the Norfolk Club OF
Boston, Mass, on Friday evening last. Among
! the guests present to honor Gen. Clarkson were
! the Governor and Lieutenant Governor of the
State, tho Mayor Of Boston, the Collector of the
Port and the presiding officers Of the two
! houses OF the Massachusetts, Legislature.
Secretary Of War Proctor, who has been max
ing visit 10 New England, returned to Wash
| ington on Thursday. While he was absent he
visited his family at Rutland, Vt. During the
| trip he made an informal inspection Of the
Watervliet Arsenal, Forts Hamilton and
| Wadsworth, and proving grounds at Sandy
Nss.N H. Il II