The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-02-20
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
The Weeks beings at The Ma
iiOnal Capital
GEN. AuoER BANeuETED.

GEN. ALGER BANQUETED.
Commander.in- Chief Gen. r. A. Alger visited
the Encampment of the Department OF the Po-
tomac on Monday evening, Feb. IL. lie was
escorted TO Grand Army Hall by Capt. Edgar's
company OF the Old Guard. The Department
Encampmeut was in session. aud recess WAS
Immediately ordered. aud hand shaking COM
menced. which lasted fully half an hour. or
until every veteran had grasped the hand of
the most popular Commander the Grand Army
has ever had. The General was then conducted
20 the platform. aud made rouSing speech,
which was interrupted by applause at almost
every sentence. After the speech making was
concluded, Gen. Alger was escorted by the Old
Guard TO the spacious dining room at Nillards
Hotel, where tables capable Of seating 800
guests were banked with flowers and covered
with all the delicacies OF the season. After
partaking of the good things speech making
was again in order and Gen. Alger addressed
the veterans. Addresses were also made by
Senator Hawley. Secretary of War Proctor,
Congressman Allen aud t. ]. Henderson. of
Illinois: Indian Commissioner Morgan, Gen.
CUtcheon and Gen. BUrdett. Representative
ID. b. Henderson, Of Iowa, closed the speech
making aud aroused the veterans 10 the high
est pitch of enthusiasm. the boys jumping to
their feet. throwing up their hats and yelling
like Comanche Indians. 1t was after O'Clock
when the banquet ended.
LOYAL LEGION BANQUET.
The LOYAL Legion Of the District of Columbia
and their friends assembled TO the number OF
go at the Arlington Hotel on Wednesday last.
the occasion being the annual banquet of the
Legion. Around the well filled tables were
distinguished men in every walk Of life, the
Judiciary having able representative IN
Associate Justice Samuel L. Miller, while the
Regular Army was represented by Gems. Scho-
field aud Miles. Quite number of Members
OF Congress and Senators were also present.
Senator Henderson presided in his usual happy
manner. and the affair WAS voted by all for
tunate enough 20 be present one Of the pleasant
est parties ever given by the Washington Com
mandery. Owing 20 the fact that il WAS the
anniversary of the birthday of Abraham Lin
coin. the special toast OF the evening was a
tribute % the memory OF the martyred Presi-
dent. fitting response icing made by Associate
Justice Miller. OF the United States Supreme
Court. Senator John Sherman responded 10
the sentiment regarding his distinguished
soldier brother, Gen. W. T. Sherman, the toast
being placed between the topics of the Army
and Navy. To Senator Plat was assigned the
task Of p0rtraying the benefits of being n Con-
gresham. aud he showed great ability in hand
ling. 10 him. a familiar subject Gen. Nelson A.
Miles responded 10 the toast, The Volunteers"
and was particularly well mp on the subject,
having been one Of them himself; Representa-
tive CutcheOn responded to the toast THE
The Navy" Remarks were also made by
Representative Allen and Senator Higgins, and
all had good time.
TROUBLESOME CLAIMS DISPOSED OF.
A number Of claims. which have given con-
siderable trouble 10 the War Department and
Treasury officials. have been at last disposed of
by decision OF the Supreme Court. The cases
were those Of the supernumerary officers who
were dropped from the Army in 1871. The law
Of $50 calling for the reduction Of the Army,
required that the undesirable officers should he
dropped or before January !. 1871. That
day being Sunday, the order discharging the
EupernumcTares was not issued until the fol-
lowing day Jan. 2. This has been the cause OF all
the contention. Those concerned claimed that
the law had lot been complied with in the time
specified. and hence the order Of discharge was
nal and void. A test case claiming pay from
the date given was carried up through the
Court OF Claims 10 the Supreme Court. which
has decided that the intent Of the law was too
plain 70 admit Of its defeat by mere techni-
calIty, and hence the action Of the Court of
Gains dismissing The claim was affirmed.
GEy. NELSON A. MILES DIEED
Senator Squire. Of washing ton. gave dinner
ia honor Of Gen. Mics AZ Chamberiins on Sun
day. al which some OF the most distinguished
men il civil and army life were present. The
menu was superb. and embraced every delIcacy,
and was served in q style only known 10 the
boss caterer Of Washington. Speeches were
made by Gen. Miles. Senators Squire Stanford,
Alien and D0lph. Col. Tom Oehiitree, Gen.
SchOfeld, Congressman Wilson. Gen. Arson q.
MeCOOk, and others. il WAS one Of the finest
dinners imaginable, and everybody enjoyed
themselves 10 their utmost.
MANNED VETERANS
The following Representatives OF the Manned
Soldiers League were before the House Com
mitfee on Invalid Pensions last week, and
made very strong arguments in favor OF the
passage Of House bill 300: Benz f. Wilde
cOmbe Eesichester Pa: James NJ MeGee
R0zboro, Pa; A. q. Rapp Gen. II. S. Hude-
kOPer. J. ii. Il. Storey Philadelphia, Pa: JAS
" Shaw. Bradford, Pa c. A. Norton, 81. d.,
Washington, ID. G.
NOBLE WOMAN CONE
Imogcnc Dinsmore, wife Of A. f. Dinsmore.
died ~ Washington, ID. g., Jan. 81, aged z2
years. Mr. Dinsmore was born at Detroit.
Mich, FEB. 3 1914. aud became a resident Of
Washington immediately after her marriage in
November. 1857. and has ever since resided
here. Ia 1877 she united with the hetropol-
itaB Presbyterian Church, Of which she has
ever since been active and valued member
Her husband having long been an active member
oft!Ie Grand Army Of the Republic berattention
was drawn TO the necessitOus condition Of many
oi the families Of cz-s0ldiers. She, in January,
ADyh "A lt1iAGDG frtEA IN llG organization OF
Womans Relief Association auxiliary to
Fariagut Post, No. 10, GAR, and was elected
its President.
The energy, courage and fidelity that charac-
ferized her domestic aud religious life were
likewise shown in the discharge Of her new
duties. No obstacle discouraged her no
labor WE too great 90 be undertaken, IL
want OF suffering was 70 be relieved, and
though tie demands made upon her were
neither few nor light. she never jeopardzed
the welfare 81 Der home nor neglected the dear
ones gathered a. its Preside. When unusual
duties came TO her. they were met by increased
energy aud greater effort. Ia January 1883,
she %us reelected Pres dent Of the Association.
and ih tie following July the Association WAS
changed into a branch Of the Womau's Relief
Corps and made auxiliary 10 Post 30. 10 as
Corps 80. ;. AT the reorganization Of this
charitable body Nrs. DHsmOre was elected is
presiding officer, and ia January, 1880, was re-
elected ~ HAT Office. Mrs. Dinsrnore united
with au unusually attractive personality an
eatbcs.Hcss 81 manner aud an amiability OF
desperation that attafhed 20 her all who were
bTougat within tie circle Of her acquaintance:
Wni.e her iaithfulness IN friendship aud her
tendency to cover the faults and shortcomings
q. 0iLr.s wiih the vail Of charity retained the
many friends Gbc won. 10 her tact and ez.
ce..cDt Judgment as presiding officer Is owing
10 "a great argrec. the harmony aud prosperity
- lfc E1TpsOf which she was 50 long a beloved
md an