New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-11-05
IN THE ABSENCE OF CONGRESS-.
NOTES OF PERSONS AND AFFAIRS AT
WASHINGTON.

sEEKERs-HIsTomCAL DOCUMENTS BACK
FROM THE FAIR-THE VACANT CIR
CUT JUDGEsHIP-MR. CLEvE-
LAND SHOOTING SQUIRRELS.
Washington. Nov. 4-The Capitol was deserted
to-day. visitors and sghtseers being scarce
The army Of oHiceseekers has disappeared from
the lobbies and the floors Of the Senate and House.
which for the last three months have presented
scenes Of life and activity. were almost forsaken
In the House a few members were seen. Mr.. Gull
bertson OF Texas. was In his seat, talking over
the doings OF the extra session with few friends
Mr.. Cobb. OF Alabama. entertained some Visitors
while Mr. Cox of Tennessee attending to his
correspondence. Mr. Durborow. of Illinois. arrived
about 1890 O'clock cleared out his desk. instructed
page to bring his mail and then started to catch
side the chamber absolutely empty, not even
the pages being present Few senators Were
Capitol being Messrs. German Voorhees, Cock
re, PETER, Kyle and Mcpherson. An Of these exc
the Appropriations Committee remaining to do a
days work on the Forthcoming appropriation bills
present during the morning hours in the Treasury
ness and They S say sailed na G wmd @
before going home; Outgoing trains carried many
Senators and members.
State Department officials have been uneasy ever
since they sent their exhibit to the Worlds Fair
because Of dread that some calamity might be-
fall some OF the precious historical documents in
cluded in 1t. Many of these papers, such as the
original copy OF the Declaration Of Independence
and the Emancipation Proclamation, bear a close
cenn2H S oss %Ss n be tire e v ns
precaution for their safety and preservation was
guard as an important diplomatic secret. They
served their patriotic purpose at the great Far
places in the State Department having suffered no
damage whatever by their recent experience.
For some time past the Senate had had special
force Of employees examining and counting the
books which stored away in the basement
Of the Capitol and in rented buildings of the Gov
eminent. Their explorations into the subterranean
depths OF the Capitol have been almost like Journeys
into Darkest Africa They have found more than
1000 900 books-hov many more no one can tell yet.
There are innumerable publications by Congress
at each session. thousands of books being printed
and divided in certain proportion between the
Senator's and members. each Senator having quota
running from one copy of THE Nautical Almanac"
to 100 copies of the agricultural reports There nave
books belonging to a number of senators running
back as far as twenty. years. Some Of the books
1856 and there were several tons so completely
rotted that their character could hardly be deter
mined and they carted off and sold for junk.
Senator Ransom, Of North Carolina, to-day con-
frmed the statement that the President had ten
dered to him the appointment Of United States
Circuit Judge for the WITH Judicial District embrac
Ing the States OF Maryland virginia, west virginia,
North and South Carolina, made vacant by the
death Of Judge Bond. and that ne had declined the
honor. Mr.. Ransom Is sxty-eight years old, and has
been in the Senate for twenty-five years. Senator
Daniel. Of Virginia. has been spoken Of in connection
with the appointment.
I'd to the close Of the session Of the Senate yes
terday the President sent to that body ILL mes
sages containing nominations. aggregating upward
of 1900 names. OF these 246 were the usual Army
and Navy promotions. All Army and Navy promo
tons were cleared up. and the nominations Of ex-
Senator Dawes. OF Massachusetts; Meredith n:
Kidd OF Indiana, and Archibald $. McKennon, of
Arkansas to be Commissioners to negotiate with
the Cherokee and other Indian nations were con-
nrmed during the closing hours: r Uny two
OF New-York. to be Consul at Calais France, and
John Mobley. to be Consul at Acapulco. Mexico.
be Consul at Montevideo. Uruguay. and Herman
Schoenfed. of Maryland. to be Consul at Riga
Russia. reported to have been enacted upon, were
confirmed.
President Cleveland celebrated the adjournment
of Congress by going notwithstanding to-day. Sec
rotary Gresham. who left the Arlington Hotel at
$50 a. M. went with him. They spent the morn
ing In a strip Of woods about four miles northeast
OF Woodley, where good notwithstanding Is TO be
had Secretary Lamont and Secretary Herbert were
also absent from their departments to-day Colonel
Lamont has gone to New-York, and Mr.. Herbert
busy moving into his new house.
The following official statement, announcing the
contemplated resumption of the coinage Of stand
ard silver dollars. made to-day by Mr.. Pres
ton acting Director of the Mint. who said that
lars has yet been ordered but the minis
have been directed to manufacture the ngots and
blanks so as TO be prepared to resume the coinage
at short notice. in case it should be decided to do