The National tribune., 1892-07-14

the Courts.
x*x
Miss Clara Barton, whose name is dear to
every old veteran, has taken for her residence
and Office the large building at the corner of
Seventeenth and F streets, Washington which
was used as Gen. Grants headquarters while
he was in command of the army, and until he
became President. She is having this thor
onghly renovated and repaired, and will
shortly move into it the headquarters of the
Red Cross Society, of which she is President,
and also make her homo there. This win also
be the headquarters of the Committee of the
W.RC. aud Ladies of the GAR, and other
organizations of the patriotic women of
America of which Miss Barton is Chairman.
The location is exceedingly convenient for all
these purposes. It is near THE NATIONAL
TRIBUNE office, across the street from the
War, State, and Navy Departments. but a few
hundred yards from Reunion Place, and
within q square of the White House and two
squares Of the Treasury. e-'
SIS
Some time ago the Committees on 1mmigra.
tion Of both Houses of Congress- which were
investigating tho character and cost of the i'm
provements made at Ellis Island. New York
Harbor, appointed Messrs Nelson and Parker
as experts to investigate the character and cost
of these improvements, which had been made
under the supervision of the Treasury Depart
mont, it was asserted, at an exorbitant outlay
of the public money without a sufficient show
ing for the money expended, which was con-
| siderably in excess of the appropriation made
for the purpose, but which had been supplied
from the head-tax fund in the Treasury.
These experts were instructed to ascertain
what, according to fair market prices, should
have been the cost to the contractor, or to the
vision of expenditure. These experts have at
last reported to Chairmen Chandler and Stump,
of the Senate and House Committees on 1mmi-
grafton respectively. They report that their
| estimate for the nine principal buildings
which have been erected would indicate a
proper aggregate cost of $4,000; while the
work was in fact done under the contracts let
by the Treasury Department. for $11, 600 less
than this estimate. The experts also say that
they find no structural defects of Importance,
and none which the contractors are not correct
ing at their own cost. the buildings not yet
| having been accepted by the Government.
The report goes into exhaustive details, and its
| general import is that, as a whole, the work
has been we'll done, and at low cost to the
| Government.
Secretary Charles Foster, Of the Treasury
Department., last week received a telegram
| from Special Agent Williams at Port Town
| send, Wash, which confirms the news of the
capture by the revenue cutter Corwin Of the
| supply steamer Coquillan in Alaskan waters.
| Agent Williams also says that it is rumOred
that several other seizures have been made by
United States revenue cutters. Agent Will
liams has just returned to the United States
on tho Albatross, from . visit to st. Paul
| Island.
The correspondence in which Hon. Charles
Emory Smith resigns as United States Minister
to Russia, and Secretary of State Foster ac-
cepts the resignation, was given out on Wednes-
day, July 6. Mr.. Smitt'sietter is dated Phila-
| delphia, juno q, while that of Secretary
Foster is dated July 6. Secretary Foster says.
| in part: Your efforts in behalf of the famine
stricken sufferers of Russia, in connection with
the reception and distribution Of the liberal
consignments for their relief from our people,
alone entitle you to their gratitude. no less
than to that of the Russian Empire. The de-
partment greatly appreciates the services thus
rendered, and desires to offer you its thanks for
the same, as well as for the kindly sentiments
you express toward its officers"
s@4
The Bureau of American Republics furnishes
statistics to show that there has been a very
noticeable falling off in the trade between
Great Britain and Brazil since the reciprocity
arrangement between Brazil and the United
States went into operation. The Bureau shows
falling of OF the total value of exports from
Great Britain to Brazil of 10 chief articles of
merchandise during the first five months of
the calendar year 1892 compared with the cor
responding period of the year 1891, to be ST.
O2s,340.
Kate Field says in her Washington, that yis-
tors to Congress were not struck by the dig
| nifty of the attire affected by Senators and
Representatives during the recent warm
wave. ITO see great legislator strolling
around in limp trousers that would aptIy cos
| tune Joshua Whitcomb is not edifyinp. -
says Miss Field. "The absence of waistcoats
| is not crime; indeed. it is sensible fashion
if proper care is bestowed upon the arrange
ment Of the garments that remain In this
connection the fashion bulletins for Congress
should advise gentlemen who lay aside their
waistcoats to supply themselves with ample
belts or even the despised Gordon SASH il
they wish to preserve the admiration of visit.
ing constituents. 1t is very hard to have any
veneration for body of men costumed with
the lack Of care displayed by the Senate for the
last few weeks"
-.
Officials Of the General Land Office are con.
siderably worried over the talk which is lust
now current about removing that Bureau ia
the building which is at present serving as
temporary City Postofice. More room is badly
needy by both the Patent and Land Offices the
accommodations in the Interior Department
building being inadequate. For some time
unsuccessful efforts have been made to have the
Land Office removed. OF late Members and Sen
ators have been receiving letters from in ventors
and patent attorneys in all parts of the country
requesting them to introduce an amendment to
the Legislative, Judicial, aud Executive appro.
priation bill, providing for the removal of the
Land Office from its present quarters. Mem.