Birmingham state herald., 1895-11-27
NATIONAL CAPITAL GOSSIP The Gold Reserve Is Growing
 Beautifully Less. A SCRAMBLE FOR OFFICES Several Combinations Are Being Made by the
 Anxious Candidates OUR NAVY IS AFRAID OF ROUGH WATER The Cruiser Minneapolis Is Waiting for Smooth Water Before Starting for
 Europe-Change to Be Made in
 Battleship Construction.
OUR NAVY IS AFRAID OF ROUGH WATER

Washington, Nov. 26.-Auditor Bald win and Logan Carlisle, who are investi- gating the recent destruction of the treasury records by colored laborer for the sake of the stamps upon them, inti- mate that there are others connected with them of more consequence than the colored laborer.
 The president has designated the rev enue cutters Levi Woodbury, A. J. Dal- las, Samuel Dexter, Alexander Hamilton. W. H. Crawford and Schuyler Colfax to perform special winter cruisings upon the dangerous coasts of the United States. This action was taken in con formity with a section of the revised statutes providing that "the president may, when the necessities of the service permit it, cause any suitable number of public vessels adapted to the purpose to cruise upon the coast in the season of se- were wea ather and to afford such aid to distressed navigators as their circum- stances may require, and such vessels shall go to sea fully prepared to render assistance"
 The recent offer of the treasury to pay express charges both ways on gold de- posted for currency is beginning to bear fruit as several offers were received at the treasury today. All were accepted. It is explained that if the offers are made direct to the nearest sub-treasury by the tender the transaction will be greatly facilitated. The treasury gold reserve at the close of business today stands at ESQ., 924650 Gold was withdraw at New York today as reported to the treasury to the amount of s1, ,130000 of which $730,000 was in gold bars and $40O000 in gold coin
 There are the usual conflicting reports today regarding the contest for the house offices. With the arrival of upwards of 100 republican members the lines are be- ing more tightly drawn and greater in- terest is being excited as to the result.
 One of the reports in circulation was that the defeated candidate for clerk would probably be given the office of ser geant-at-arms as a compensation for his failure to secure the office of his choice. The two candidates for this place are ex- members One is MT. McDowell of Penn sylvania, and the other General Hender- son of Illinois. So far as can be learned there is no basis for the belief that the clerkship will be settled in this manner. McDowell fatly says that he will be a party to no such arrangement adding: q am a candidate for the clerkship I want that or nothing I would not have the office of Sergeant-at-arms or any other office but that of clerk if it were presented to me on a silver salver.'
 MT. w. J. Glenn of New York, who is a
 
 formed an offensive and defensive all- ance wIh the Mcdowell forces, and MT. Benjamin E. Russell of Missouri, who Is also a member of the McDowell- Glenn combination as the candidate for ser geant-at-arms, were present in MT. Me Dowell's private apartments today when that gentleman made the foregoing re- mark. When he had concluded Messrs. Glenn and Russell each announced their disapproval of any proposition which looked to their acceptance of any office except that for which they have an nounced themselves.
 You may say for me- said MT. Glenna that I came here to make the fight for the doorkeepership. I want that office, and I want >no. other. If fail to secure it I shall go home. I do not intend to remain here and ask the support of my friends for anything else"
 MT. Russell was equally positive. in his assertion that he wanted the office of sergeant-at-arms, and failing to get that he proposed retiring from the race
 It is expected that the nineteen repubii- can members of the Ohio delegation will be in the city tomorrow The major part of that number, it is said, will be here this evening. It is their intention to hold an informal conference tomorrow and decide what action they shall take as a body with reference to the house offices It is believed that the Ohioans will agree upon candidate for post master. If this be done they Will give him an united support and endeavor to effect an arrangement which will result in their candidates election.
 E The twenty-three southern republicans will caucus on Thursday night. It Is reported that they will be practically unit for MT. W. s. Tipton of Tennessee, who Is making sturdy hght Tor door- keeper.
 { General Henderson's friends adopt a conservative tone in discussing his chances Their candidate is man of great popularity, who Is widely known to public men as result Of his long ser- vice of twenty years in the house. Gen. erai Henderson's personal popularity is believed to be one of his greatest ele- ments of strength, and his packers are very hopeful today that he will win.
 This belief, however, Is ridiculed at MT. , if is said that MT. McDowell and the other members of his combination will enter the caucus with the 28 votes from Pennsylvania 2S from New York and ID from Missouri absolutely certain. The New Jersey votes are claimed Tor tne members are said to be committed to them. in addition to sufficient number of votes whose location 1t is not now de- siruble to make public, which will insure ndt only McDowells election, but that or Glenn and Russell as we'll
 A new feature In the battleship con struction was authorized today by Sec retary Herbert in his approval Of a re- port submitted by the special board of officers of which Rear Admiral John G. Walker is president, convened to consider the plans for the Kearsarge and the other batfleship, for which provision was made by the last congress. The matter upon which the secretary passed relates to the position of the ram on these vessels. Heretofore the navy department has fa- vored the plan of placing the point of the ram 5 feet inches below the water line, which was a compromise between the Eng;ish and French ideas, the latter plaring the ram point on the water line and the British having 1t II feet below,