The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1895-08-29

| generally expect now 10 see him have his own
way, particularly in the election of the Penn.
| sylvania delegation 10 the National Convention
next year. and its manipulation in tho selec-
tion OF candidates for President and Vice. Presi-
dent. In this aspect Quay's success is regarded
as favorable to Reeds chances rather than Nc
kinley's although it is not believed that Quay
is committed TO Reed or any body else in such
a way that he cannot support the candidate
whom he regards as the strongest when the
National Convention meets next year. Some
of the politicians believe that it is Senator
Quay's purpose to make himself Chairman of
the Republican National Committee again, and
to manage the next campaign.
ave notice some queer idiosyncracies OF
| human nature sometimes" observed a hotel
clerk the other day. mot long ago an old
| party registered here from one of the New
England States. He was assigned to room,
and remained in the hotel for week Would
you believe it, he never asked for his key with
out making mistake. Every day he asked
for key TO some room other than his own.
Clerks are usually too busy to notice whether
guest asks for the right key. and unthink-
ingly hand out what is called for Generally
this old party discovered his error as soon rs
he left the elevator but twice it happened that
he passed the night in the wrong room, and
never discovered his error until the next DAY
One night he had just got into bed when the
regular tenant arrived and demanded posses
sion. They had quite n parley. which ended
in the old fellow discovering his mistake and
making profuse apologies / am satisfied it was
pure case of alsentmindedness, but we got so
that we watched him like hawk whenever
he demanded his key, TO make sure there was
no mistake"
Expert Myers, of the Fifth Auditors Office
last week made partial report, the details of
which are not yet made public 1t was said
that Mr.. SpofTcrd had utterly failed ia account
for moneys received for searching the copy
right files and for furnishing kindred informa-
ton in reply to Inquiries. 1t was also stated that
Mr.. Spofford had carried on the rolls positions
that were untitled; that employees received sal
aries much below those credited TO them on the
pay-rolls and that Mr.. Spofrord had offered to
make good SD 600 of alleged discrepancy. Mr..
Spofford made n long statement the other day
in which he denied in detail any wrong doing,
but said that it was true that the Librarians ac-
counts have been involved and in some in
stances much confused. IN the discharge the
onerous and duplicated duties of my double
office as Librarian of Congress and Register of
Copyrights" said Mr.. Spoford. Il have post
poned and neglected the regular balancing of
my accounts" The most pressing and imperative
duties of his Office, consisting of the daily reg
istry of copyrights. examination as TO what
was or was not proper legal subject of copy
right, the signing of all copyright certificates,
the answering Of an enormous correspondence,
involving hundreds of thousands of let
ters the purchase of books for the library
at home and abroad, the supervision of
the caialog work day by day, the ex-
animation of all copyright material received,
the incessant duty of prompt answers to all
calls for books aud information in every field
of inquiry, and the prescribing and revising of
the work Of his assistants, both in the Library
Department and in the Copyright Bureau-all
these pressing labors, from which there WAS no
escape, have led TO the long neglect of accounts
which should have been attended TO. The dis
crepancies. both in the copyright and the salary
accounts, when fully audited. will, apparently
leave sum slightly exceeding $22, 900 due TO
the Treasury, which the Librarian is ready
promptly 10 adjust. stripped of all sensation
alism," concluded Mr.. SpoIord, this is sue
cinct account of the whole matter" Mr.. Spof-
ford has deposited in the Treasury the $50, 000
Gen. Ransom's friends here are anxiously
waiting for some word from the President In
regard to his reappointment as Minister TO
Mexico. it comes out now that when Gen.
Ransom went TO New York a short time ago he
extended his trip to Buzzard's Bay for the pur-
pose of holding personal interview with the
President relative TO the pending difficulty, but
that when he reached Buzzard's Bay he was
informed That the President was too busy to see
him. There is an unexplained hitch in the
matter, and none Of the Generals confidential
associates is able to account for it.
Does anyone ever think of the woman who
brought into the world that great President,
Abraham Lincoln ?" asked an Indiana veteran
the other day There is a small town in In-
diana, Spencer County, called Lincoln. The
place derives its name from the old homestead
of Abraham Lincoln's father the farm lying
half mile from the railroad depot. The
mother Of the martyr President is buried here
in thickl wooded spot, within stones