The National tribune., 1893-06-29
ARMY AND NAVY,

IN OFuer mas been prepared at bbe WaI bo-
partment which formally establishes the pay
of First Sergeants at $25 instead of $40 per
month, and. the pay Of Sergeants at $lS instead
of SIT per month. This increase applies only
to Sergeants of cavalry. artillery aud infantry,
and the organizations classed Herewith 1t
does not include Sergeants OF the Ordnance,
Engineer and Signal Corps
1t is said at the Navy Department that the
gunboat Machias when submitted for trial was
more nearly completed in every detail than
any ship that has been tried in recent years.
She will probably be put in commission this
week and will soon be sent to China.
Rear Admiral Walker has been given place
OH the Board charged with the inspection and
trial of new ships added to the Navy, being
made an additional member. as no vacancy ex-
isted This settles the matter which has been
worrying the Navy Department for some time,
as there was no place vacant to which the
Rear-Admiral could be assigned, and to dispose
of his case new position was created for him.
Next January Admiral Belknap the President
Of the Board, will retire, and Admiral Walker
will succeed him.
The future of the graduating class of the Ma
val Academy for this year seems brighter. and
there arc prospects that all will be assigned to
places in the Navy. OF the original class of 81
there were two who were unable to pass the
physical examination. At present there are
five vacancies to be filed, and to make room
for new men the Department had ordered a
number of officers up for promotion with the
view of making additional vacancies. Two
marine officers have failed to make the proper
physical examination, and their retirement
will make room for eight in the Marine Corps.
Admiral Harmony will be retired on July /.
and that will create room for the disposition of
another cadet. So far 20 vacancies in the line
have been assured, and these with the eight in
the Marine Corps will give total of % places
for 30 cadets leaving two who will be given va
cancies when they occur later.
1t is doubtful if the West Point Cadets will
go to tho Worlds Fair this Summer. after all.
in spite of the fact that the War Department
authorities are very much in faver of sending
them there. The authorities at West Point are
very much afraid that a junket of this nature
will demoralize the routine life at the post and
affect the whole corps. Under such copsidera-
tions the cadets may stay at home.
ABOUT PEOPLE.
w. s. Campbell, of New York. who goes to
Newcastle, England, as Consul, is an old-time
Democrat and has served in q Consul@r ca
pacity before. When quite a young man
President Tyler appointed him Consul at Rot
terdam, and under President Tyler he was
transferred to Dresden, where he remained un-
til recalled by President Grant. Mr.. Campbell
is the father in-law of Gen. Keton, late Adju-
Governor of the National Soldiers Home near
Washington.
Jerry O'Donnell. of the firm of Lamont.
0Donnell & Co.. of Chicago, was here last
week. He is a candidate for Public Printer,
and has strong Endorsements from the business
men of his city. He has no political backing,
all the politicians from his State preferring to
indorse NJ. B. McAbee. Among the commercial
classes. however. he stands high.
Ex-Gov. Curtin. of Pennsylvania, was in
Washington last week. and speaking of the
new Congressional Library. now in the course
of construction. said that it afforded him no
ordinary pleasure to make careful inspection
of it. 1T is a noble structure" said he, and
it ought to I'll every Americans bosom with
pride to know that it is the finest library
building in the world. Neither the Vatican at
Rome nor any of the great libraries of the
European Capitals can equal it They have all
been added TO at different times. Not one
sands to-day. like this of ours a unit, built
from an original plan. and that plan as perfect
for the purpose as the human mind could de-
vise / am naturally an enthusiast on the
subject, for it was my pet measure when a
member of Congress, and ! am glad to live
long enough to see my project SO grandly real
ized."