The National tribune., 1892-08-04

bankers and business men in all parts of the
country. 1t is remarked as somewhat singular,
| that this is the first position of any importance
| in the Treasury Department that has been given
to the State of New York by Gen. Harrison
| Administration.
| An extensive scheme to swindle ex-resel
soldiers has lately been unearthed here IN
Washington, and last week the matter was
| brought to the attention of Commissioner OF
Pensions Raum. The party said to be at the
head of the swindle is one Mason, who was
lobbyist during the 4Sth and 49th Congresses
| Mason's mode of operating is not original as
similar method was tried some years ago by
other parties. Mason has flooded many local.
ties in the Southern States with circulars
headed, "To ex- Confederate Conscrpts" Thi:
circular declares that the United States had q
right to protect its loyal citizens in the South
from CONSUMPTION in the rebel army, and lts
failure to do so makes the Government liaoie
in each case where man was conscripted OF
forced into the rebel army. 1t further says
that all an ex-rebel conscript has to prove IN
| order to receive damages is his loyalty, ana
that he was compelled to enter the rebel army
| against his will. number of decisions OF
the United States Supreme Court are cited by
| Mason in his circular, which are to the effect
| that if the Government could not protect It's
citizens in such an emergency it could pay
manages that might accrue from said lack OF
protection. Mason desires to bring this matter
before both Congress and the Supreme Court,
but, as matter of course, this requires money.
His circular therefore appeals to the ex-reoel
| conscripts to send as much money as they can
spare, not less than 81, however, which is to be
used as fund for carrying out his very i'm
practicable scheme. Southern men in wash
| ington who have heard of this movement. are
| highly indignant and pronounce the whole
scheme an unmitigated fraud, and it is very
likely that the matter will be investigated by
| Pension Bureau officials
ga
| A committee of citizens of Baltimore,
headed by Mayor Latrobe, waited on the Presi-
dent and the various members of his Cabinet
ON Wednesday, July 81, and extended to them
an invitation to visit Baltimore and attend the
Encampment of the Naval Veterans which
will take place in that city in..September next.
| President Harrison promised to attend the
Naval Encampment if the public business
would permit him to do So and the members
of the Cabinent will be present If possible.
s@e
For week past the hot weather has had a
most depressing effect upon the animals at the
Geological Gardens, and the Government came
pretty near losing some valuable animals. Inc
polar bear has suffered intensely, as have the
other animals native Of the cold Northern lat
itudes, and the keepers have been kept busy in
their efforts to bring them through the hot
spell. Streams of water were kept constantly
playing on the polar bear, while number of
laborers were kept busy the greater part OF the
time sprinkling the cages and dens of the other
| animals. notwithstanding these efforts to keep
the animals cool, they suffered terribly. The
lion was the only beast that did not show the
effects of the intense heat which has been pre-
vaiing for the past week. The two big ele-
plants have been very restless, and it was
found necessary to keep them most of the time
up to their launches in the waters Of Rock
Creek, which flows through the Geological
Gardens. These big animals seemed to enjoy
themselves greatly, throwing streams of water
high into the air from their trunks. There
were no deaths among the animals. but there
were several very narrow escapes.
s#.
microscopic pen picture of President Har-
rison by NJ Diamond, an artist of New York,
which is marvel of ingenuity, has been re-
ceived at the Executive Mansion from the
artist. The picture is about "a by Is inches,
and is an excellent likeness OF the President
The face is surrounded by the American flag,
pendant on either side. The features, even to
the ears, the flags the body, and the buttons on
the coat. are all filled in with extracts from
speeches made by Gen. Harrison during his
long public career. These speeches contain
II 900 words, and the artist fittingly character
ICES them "a life history" of Gen. Harrison.
sc
President Harrison and the members of the
Cabinet are perfecting their plans for a holiday
as soon as Congress adjourns. Gen. Harrison
will leave Washington Immediately after the
adjournment for Loon Lake. in the Adirondack
Mountains of New York. the place Mrs Har-
rison has been spending the past month, where
he will drop official cares for few weeks. He
of September, and will remain there until the
meeting of the GAR National Encampment
Sept. 20, when he will return to Washington
and participate in that Grand Reunion of old
Veterans. Secretary of State Foster expects to
remain at his desk in the Department for at
least six weeks yet, as he will be busy with
Boring Sea Arbitration matters, besides the
routine duties of the Department. Secretary
of the Treasury Foster expects to take trip
to his home in Ohio, and he will speak at the
meeting of the Erie Agricultural. Association at
Sandusky. Secretary Elkins will spend most
of his time during August and September at
his home in West Virginia. Secretary Tracy
will take an extended trip along the New
England Coast and will also visit Saratoga and
Lake George. Postmaster General Wanamaker
will spend the month of August at his country
residence near Philadelphia, and will also
visit Saratoga. Secretary Noble will spend his
holiday at one of the Atlantic seaside resorts,
and Attorney General Miller will spend some
time in the White Mountains. Secretary Rusk
is now absent at his home in Wisconsin.
x**
Last week President Harrison sent the name
of Watson R. Sperry. of Delaware, to the Sem
ate, to be Minster.resident and Consul General
of the United States at Theberan, Persia Mr..
Snerrv il the leading Republican newspaper