The sun., 1894-08-17
1IrE WASHINGTON roPrcs.
Secretary Morton Circu~vents the seed
nistributing COngressmen.

wAsH1NGroN Aug. 16.-It has long been Gus
tomary for Congress to appropriate a large sum
Of money with which the Secretary of Agricul-
ture purchases a quantity Of garden seeds and
sends them out in small packages 10 such per-
sons ms each Congressman may designate in his
district. This has proved a very effective method
Of electioneering. but when Secretary Morton
came into the Cabinet he denounced the prac-
tice. In his annual report TO Congress he rec
commended its Adjustment and in his estimates
of the appropriation necessary for the support
Of the department for this year he omitted the
item for the seed distributors. But the Con-
gressmen were not to be deprived of their per
qusite in any such manner, and when the AVri-
cultural Appropriation bill came up they inserted
amount Of seeds and for the employment OF
the usual number OF clerks to put them
mpin Up in packages and mail them; They supposed
tary Morton by providing that these clerks
should work under the direction OF members OF
retary Of Agriculture. But the Secretary has
obtained from the Attorney-Gcn an opinion
which prohibits the use ~ the appropriation for
the purchase OF any seeds but those that are
" rare and uncommon tu the country" The
Secretary proposes, therefore, under the advice
Of the Attorney -ticneral, to omit the purchase
Of the usual supply Of ordinary beet, turnip,
watermelon and flower seeds that has been an,
nually distributed for campaign purposes, and
will turn the appropriation 50 generously forced
upon his department by the Congressman back
The President has signed the act making ap-
propriations for current and contingent ex-
penses Of the Indian Department and fulfilling
treaty stpulations with various Indian tribes
for the fiscal year ending june 80. 1891; an act
making an appropriation and providing for the
cutter for service in the harbpr Of San Fran
cisco; IA joint resolution providing for AN in
NeStigation relating to the effects OF machinery
visions OF cxtsting laws providing temporarily
for the expenditures of the Government: an act
tO further amend section .,3pD Of the Revised
statutes of the United states max ing the public
land surveying manual u part of all contracts
for surveys; and AN act to enable the Secretary
Of the Interior to nay John T. Heard. for pro-
fcssional services rendered tho old settlers"
or western Cherokee Indians, ont OF the funds Of
said Indians.
by direction OF the President, Lieut.. Col
George X. Brady, Seventeenth Infantry, was to-
day placed on the retired list of the army. Dur
ing the recent strike this officer was in COM
mand Of troops at Pilot Butte. on the Union Pa
cihc Railway. He was ordered under arrest at
Fort -. A. Russell, charges of u serious Charac-
ter being preferred against him. but on account
Of the active service of the forces in the field
he could not be promptly tried. He immedi-
ately asked to be placed On the retired list and
after full consideration Of his record the Sec
rrtHry of War recommended that his request be
granted. Lieut.-Col Brady entered the army as
n private In company Of Pennsylvania volun-
teers in 1861 and was twice brevetted for gallant
services.
Inc President to-day sent TO the senate the
following nominations:
Alexander Porter Morse OF the District OF Columbia
to be agent Of the United States before the Commits
sion To arbltrate the claim OF the Venezuelan steam
Transportation Company against the Government Of
Venezuela.
Edward W Baker to be Collector of Customs for tho
district OF York, Ne.
Charles C. Perkins to be- Collector OF Customs for the
district Of Krnnebunk, Me.
Lieut.. t'o H. =. Hawkins, Twenty.third Infantry. to
be Colonel Major James Henton, Twenty.third Infan
Fourteenth Infantry to be Major; First Lieut.. W. H.
Reynolds Fourteenth Infantry To he Captain; Second
Lieut. Samuel Seay. Jr Twenty first Infantry. to bs
First Lieutenant Second Lieut. Eugene IT, Loveridge,
Eleventh Infantry, to b, First Lieutenant
The Senate to-day confirmed the following
nominations:
Michael j. Calvin or New York to he Supervising In.
spector Of steam Vessels for the Ninth district.
Indian Agents--HOrace NJ. Rebok. Sac and Fox
Agency. Iowa. Louis Pearson, POttawatomle and
John T. Joyce. Register of the Land orce at Lead.
vile. Cob; Dixon Buchanan, Receiver OF Public
Moneys at sterling, Col.
PosImasters- Massachusetts: b W. Hero. westboro;
George A. Schohold, Ipswich. Pennsylvania: q. =.
Myer, McKeesport: J. II. ossenbeck Bradford; J. l..
Knrule Sorristown; NJ = Longaker. Pottstown; J. +.
DOughrrty, Haverford. Iowa; j. e. Bryant Griswold
Frank Tanner, Iowa city; &. f. Smith, Correctionvie.
Secretary Carlisle yesterday removed from
office X. J. Macnair, Shipping Commissioner for
the port Of Providence. X. l., and appointed To
the vacancy James +. Freeman, who occupied
the place during the first term OF President
Cleveland.