The National tribune., 1894-04-12
THE WEEK IN WASHINGTON.
Minor Matters of Interest I'm the Capt.

minor Matters of Interest I'm the Capital
City.
SUNDAY, APRIL 1.-The contract made by the
Postoffice Department with the Pacific Mail
Steamship Co expired. 1t was ordered can
celed by the Postmaster General in the be-
ginning of the month, owing to the non CON-
plisnce of the company with the provisions
of the contract which provided for the
transportation of mails between New York
and Colon and San Francisco and Hong
Kong under the provision of the recent sub
sidy law. The contract went into operation
Feb. !. 1892, and was for 10 years service.
"A party OF scientists from the Bureau of
Ethnology and Geological Survey visited
what is ss;d to have been a large soapstone
quarry worked by aborigines 1t is located
hear Clifton Station, Fairfax Co, Va. A stone
chisel, the smallest ever found, it is claimed,
was picked up by one of the party. The
chisel and large number OF soapstone bowls
were brought back TO Washington. The
quarry was discovered by Washingtonian
last month.
NoHDAY, APRIL 2-The President granted a
pardon to a man who was serving the extra
ordinary sentence of imprisonment for life
land five years" Henry Williams was one
of gang that "held up" and robbed the
United States mail in northern Texas in 1879.
The leader of the gang. the notorious Cantrell,
u
similar sentence in 1887 and 1888, which was
each time refused. President Harrison also
refused TO give him pardon in $780, but two
years later committed the term of impriSon-
ment to IA years. This sentence expired
last January, and Cantrell was set free. As
Williams had been punished as much as his
leader and had given every evidence of a
repentant disposition and desire to lead
better life, he was pardoned.-A bill per-
y1,,. <,c al tod
trio railway between this city and New York
was introduced in the Honse by MIR. Catch
ings. IL is designed to run trains at the rate
of l20 miles an hour over this road. The
company is 10 be capitalized at SIS, 600, COO
and the charge for transporting passengers is
not 10 exceed two cents per mile.--The
Grand Jury this afternoon presented an in
dietment in Criminal Court No. against Col.
Frederick c. Ainsworth for manslaughter
in the Ford's Theater disaster case. The liz
dictment details what is alleged to have been
Col. Ainsworth's failure to do his duty. re-
shifting in the death of z. b. LOTUS. The
presentment had originally been drawn
against +. c. Ainsworth and George w. Dant
for manslaughter, but no indictment was pre-
scented against Dant.
TUESDAY, APRIL 3.-The debt statement issued
to-day shows net increase in the public
debt, less cash in the Treasury during March,
increased $9,05S, $50. The non-interest-bear-
ing debt decreased SIG. 647.25. The cash in
the Treasury decreased SHE, 33979. The
balances of the several classes of debt at the
close of business March 81 were: Interest
bearing debt. 1854 $40 $50; debt on which in
terest has ceased since maturity, 81 1854, 100 26;
debt bearing no interest, 1878. 593 047.92 To-
tai, $1,016,3 9S 09S.l8
APRIL 4.-General Agent Shell
m ha
President concerning the introduction of ST.
berian reindeer into Alaska by the Govern
ment- The plan is pronounced thoroughly
successful, though slow progress has been
made owing to lack of sufficient appropria-
tons During last Summer 127 reindeer were
purchased in Siberia, 124 of which were safely
landed at the station. This made total of
346 in September Herds of 100 reindeer each
have been given to four mission stations and
distribution TO various other stations will
follow as the herd increases.-The annual
distribution Of seeds by the Agricultural De-
partmeut has been practically completed
though the quota of several Congressman
still remain 10 their order. The work was
commenced last Autumn, and about 1000, 900
small paper bags Of seed have been distrib-
utec this season. The amount distributed is
30 per cent greater than last year, and each
Congressman received 5000 more bags of seed
than in any previous year.
THURSDAY, APRIL 5.-The House Committee |
on Agriculture decided to report adversely
the bill introduced by Gen. Cogswell for an !
appropriation of 100000 for the extermina-
ton Of the gypsy moth in Massachusetts on
the ground that il is not the function of the !
General Government to make appropriations /
Tor this purpose.-The Pension Bureau has /
been notified Of the arrest and conviction of
William l. Hunter, pension attorney of
Mineral BluB, Ga. for taking an illegal fee in /
pension claIm.-Rev. Father J. A. Walter
pastor Of St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church, |
died to-day.
FRIDAY, APRIL 6-The Chilean Commission. |
which has been in session here several |
months adjudicsting claims against Chile by |
Americans, and three claims submitted by |
Chi.eans against the United States, will ad- !
jOurn on the 9th instant under the treaty
entered into between the two Governments |
ii rs considered unfortunate that the time !
could not have been extended by the Chilean 4
Congress to allow Of the completion of the /
entire work. As it is, some of tue important /
cases must remain unsettled, or until some |
other treaty is entered upon for their con-
slderatiOn. The Comm issions work so far |
SIS allowing claims by either country. has
amounted TO little. Chile's claims against /
the United States amounted 10 about $3.50
wv. OF which bree-fourths was for the seizure I
OF the Itsta.--At the request Of Superin.
tenGent Stump, Postmaster General Bissell /
agreed to establish sub postoffice station AT
Ellis Island, y. y, for the convenience Of /
Immigrants aud others. Felix Livingston
Will II IS said. be appointed in charge of the .
ststion.-Mr. Dunphy N Y. d. intro
duced IN the House a bill authorizing the
President 10 appoint a commission of four
persons, one each from the War. Agricultural
Postotice, and Interior Departments, to exam
lne and report upon the feasibility and desira.
biilty OF constructing a boulevard from the /
Atlantic 10 the Pacific Ocean. The bill was /
introduced at the request of Dr. Jno. T. Nagle.
the Chiei OF the Bureau of Vital Statistics of /
New York. The Commission. Mr. Duuphy l
says, IS to report upon the cost Of the boule- /
Va.o, the character of the roadbed, and the 4
several States through which it will run from 1
New York 10 the Pacific slope
'ATURDAY. APRIL THE official comparative |
statement Of the receipts aud expenditures |
OF the United States for the first nine months 1
OF the current year shows that the expendi- |
lures have exceeded the receipts $50, 432. OOO /
For the month Of March just closed the cx-
pendltures exceeded the receipts 6,295. 0OO !
The decline in receipts is attributable almost
exclusively to customs duties, which have
fallen of from sl9,664.S74 in 1893, TO ST.
3oS95a in March. 1894 The decline of
Sl5D0O,O00 ia expenditures for the fiscal year
SO far is shown in pensions alone. which have
fallen from $3.50, S05065 in 1888, to $l07, ISL.
zS6 in 1894.
CHAT OF THE CORRIDORS.
The Supreme Court convened last week with
foil bench for the FIRST time since Justice La.
mar died, in January. 1893. Justice Jackson