The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-08-11

81 ~ - = - -.
of the resolution to compile the list of absen-
| tees from all the Departments. Secretary Eos
| ter's reply which will no doubt set the pace
for the other Secretaries, renders the attempt
futile. In a few brief lines ne says that there
| are no such letters on file as called for by the
| Senate. That is all he says, but it is enough.
The Senators now know officially, what many
of them have long known unofficially, that
when Office holders above the grade of fourth
class clerk want leave of absence they simply
take it, without asking anybody; PARTICULAR
in convention and campaign years.
***
The case of DR.. Albert Georg. the nttache of
the Swiss Legation in Washington, whose arrest
violation of international law, the Doctor
being accused of having stolen q pocket
book, for which he was arrested, taken before
civil justice at Annapolis, Nd, and searched,
is still pending before the State Department..
Attorney General Miller held long conference
last week with Secretary of State Foster, dur
ing which the international questions growing
out of the incident were discussed. Secretary
Foster afterward declined to be interviewed on
the subject. When reporter called st the
Swiss Legation he was informed the Legation
had taken no further steps in the matter since
officially calling the attention of the State De-
partment to il, and they were now only wait
ing TO learn what action the United States
Government proposed to take. 1t was also
stated they felt no doubt but the action taken
would be entirely satisfactory to the Swiss
Government. The Legation has, of course.
made its report of the occurrence to the Swiss
Government, but have as yet received no in
structions from that quarter further than that
they should act as they saw fit.
-
In the matter Of deaths the month of July
has broken all previous records in the history
of Washington. Never, even during the raw
ages of epidemics, has the death rate been SO
high. The report of the District Health Office
shows that during July there were $40 deaths.
The usual number of deaths in the District for
enc month is less than 500, but for July the
number was almost doubled. The largest pre-.
vious mortality for any one month in the his
tory of Washington was that of April, 1891.
the epidemic of influenza, when the grip"
claim ed lots of victims. The mortality during
July was due to the excessive hot weather.
During the prevalence of the heated term of
about nine days there were g. deaths from
heat alone. Some of these were overcome and
died Immediately, and others were Frustrated
and died within few hours or days. Quite
8 large number of deaths Were caused indirectly
by the heat, which are not included in the 81.
Many persons were sick when the hot wave
came, and succumbed to the heat. The mortal
ity among children was not so great as was ex-
pected, as the number ofdeaths of persons over
DO years of age was greater than the number Of
children; but the heat was no respcctcr Of per-
sons When the grip was raging in April, 1881,
few people were away from the city, but dur
ing last month thousands had left for the
mountains and seashore. leaving a population
of only two-thirds to furnish this high death
rate.
A distinguished looking man with long
white beard went to the White House one day
last week and demanded admittanee. The
hour having passed for admitting sightseers,
the official who guards the front portals to the
Mansion informed the dignified-leoking gen.
tleman that be could not enter unless he had
business with Mr. Halford, the Presidents
Private Secretary. 81 am an ambassador and
must see President Harrison at once" said the
old man gravely, cor, If he is busy, give him
this and say viii call in person tomorrow"
With this remark he handed the usher piece
of paper and walked away. The surprised
usher took tho paper, and, gazing blankly at
the departing form, said: Well, there's the
first time I've been fooled on a crank at first
sight" The paper was q telegraph blank, on
which was written the following in a clear
Spencerian hand:
His Excellency Benz. Harrison: Please do
not let Congress adjourn before having con-
sidered and passed those very important acts
Of legislation SO very much needed to preserve
peace and the great prosperity of our dear
country, creating new power of arbitration
composed of the very best statesmen selected by
both Houses of Congress as honored by the
President of the supreme jurors; arbtrators
to settle all class conflicts and internal affairs
by arbitration to prevent war. or too hasty
declaration of war On the part of our Govern.
ment for any pretended offenses.
"PIERRE FRANCoIs."
President Harrison and several members of
his Cabinet were at the Capitol on Friday
evening, for the purpose of signing the bills
passed before the adjournment. AS soon rs the
committee of both Houses appointed to notify
the President that Congress was ready to ad-
journ if he had no further communication to
make, had interviewed him and had been told
that nothing further was to be done, the Presi-
dent was driven to the White House. and in Q
few moments he again entered his carriage, was
driven to the Pennsylvania Railroad depot and
took special train in waiting for him. and
started for Loon Lake, where Mrs. Harrison 10
stopping. Reports for the past 10 days as to Mrs.
Harrison's condition have not been at all favor
able, and the President has been extremely anx-
ious to get away, but was prevented from going
by Congress. ii being imperative that he should
be in Washington during the closing hours to
sign the bills passed. The President said he
was going for q rest, and that his sojourn at