The morning call., 1891-03-25
GROFF'S SUCCESSOR.
Quite a Lively Time at The
White House.
Secretaries Noble and RuSk Indulge In a
Heated Discussion.
Bids for Public Building Sizes at Stockton
and Portland = Contract Let for
Dredging Napa River.
Special to THE MORNING CALI

WASHINGTON, March 2-Land Commits
s'oner Croft leaves for Los Angeles next
Monday, accompanied by his family. He
will locate there and enter upon the practice
of the law, hoping the change will prove
beneficial TO his health. Commissioner
Croft was at his Office to-day and held an
informal reception, which was attended by
every clerk and messenger attached to the
office.
At the Cabinet meeting to-day there was
quite scene growing out of the vacancy
created by Groff's resignation. Secretary
Rusk has been interesting himself in behelf
Of Ex-Governor Stone of Iowa, and just be-
fore the Cabinet meeting Rusk reached the
White House and improved the opportunity
to speak to the President about the matter.
While talking over the situation Secretary
Noble arrived and observed that Rusk was
having something to say concerning the
Land Commissioner vacancy. He had
few days ago learned that Rusk was press
ing Ex-Governor Stone, and as a result was
somewhat nettled He told Secretary Rusk
III the presence of the President and two
other members of the Cabinet that it was
outside of his jurisdiction to give attention
TO appointments in the Interior De part
ment. He considered it little short of a
personal insult, and should it come from
one whose opportunities had been better for
barring the rights of another he would re-
gard it as a gross violation OF political
etiquette.
RUsKs REToRT.
This provoked the head OF the Department
OF Agriculture to retort that all decency
political and otherwise. was not the direct
outsrOwth of association with the legal lore
of Missouri. He said Stone had signed the
first commission of any kind Noble ever had.
He referred to Noble's commission as Colonel
Of the Third Iowa Regiment, which Stone
signed as Governor Of Iowa, and it is
aimed used his influence to have Noble
honored with that position. About this
time in the heated controversy the Pres-
dent interfered and the matter was dropped.
After the Cabinet meeting SECRETARY
Noble remained to have talk with the
President about the COmmiSSiOnerShip. 1t
is understood he favors Carter of Montana
strongly, while the President is inclined to
Stone. 1t is believed that Noble will have
Carter appointed, or at least defeat Stone,
whom he diSllkes.
PUBLIC BUILDING SITES.
Bids for the Government building site at
Stockton, Cal, will be opened ON the Sth of
next month ut the office of Supervising
Architect Windrim, aud the follow.
ing day bids will be o. ened for the Portland
(Oregon) building. The bids will simply be
opened and scheduled. The law requires
that the department shall have Il special
agent make a personal Investigation after
the bids are opened before any site Is Sc
lected. Should none of the locations suit
the department, the special agent will make
report of the best possible point, and also
report how much the same can be secured
for. Should it be impossible to get the
property at fair price, they will enter into
condemnation proceedings Five bids have
already arrived from Portland, four from
Stockton, and two more are coming.
IMPROVING NAPA RIVER.
Thomas II. Williams Jr. of san Fran
cisco was to-day awarded the contract for
improving Napa River, between the rail-
road bridge aud Carrs Bend. The wOr k
consists of the removal of snags, roots.
stumpS, oyerhanging trees and the dredging
of sand and gravel bars. As estimated, the
work Will cost $1,000, and it is to be com-
pleted by the 1st of September.
CALIFORNIA PATENTS.
The following California patents have
been granted: Nicholas Anderson, Marys-
vile, portable elevator; Newton NJ. Bell,
San Francisco, manufacturing boraX; Will
lam +. Bowers, San Francisco, swinging
base reel; James Martin, Iemescal, flower
nOIueT, sidney L. Mllier, 1dSduena, HuSn
tank; Ernest Narj0t San francisco, gas
engine; Ernest l.. RansOme, San Francisco,
Illuminating panel in concrete floors; John
II. Wallace, San Francisco, switch stand
NAVAL ORDERS.
Past Assistant Surgeon Stephen S. White
has been detached from the naval rcndez-
vous at San Francisco and ordered to
temporary duty on board the San Francisco,
and then to the Baltimore. Paym&ster
Arthur Burtlz has been ordered from the
Charleston to the San francisco. Pay
master w. Goldsborough has been ordered
from the Charleston to the San Francisco.
Chief Engineer Phillip Tuck has been
ordered from the Charleston to the San
Francisco. Chief Engineer Fletcher A.
Wiloon has been ordered from the San
Francisco 10 the Charleston. Assistant
Engineer John L. Cow has been ordered to
appear for examination for promotion.
CALIFORNIA PENSIONS.
The following CaIifornians have been
granted pensions: Original - George A.
Stephenson, Henry Schaefer, Christopher
Srharefer: increase. William r. Harris;
original widow, Harriet F., widow of Daniel
O. Davis