Birmingham state herald., 1895-12-31
NATIONAL CAPITAL GOSSIP The Treasury Gold Reserve Is
 Gradually Sinking. THE TEXAS IS A FAILURE Secretary Herbert Will Not Discuss the Naval
 Boards Report. RUSSIA IS AcCUMULATlNG GOLD Her Object IS to Go on Gold Basis," Says the American Consul-A Supposed Swindling Scheme Has Come
 to Light.
RUSSIA IS AccUMULATING GOLD

Washington, Dec. 30.-At the close of business today the treasury gold reserve stood at s62, ,195,1 ,151. The withdrawals of gold at New York today for domestic purposes" was s652,0OO.
 The report of the naval board of in- spection on the result of its trip in the battleship Texas last week was received at the navy department today and it is said that it indicates that the Texas has not proved herself to be superior vessel. Secretary Herbert declined today to say anything about the contents of the re- port but he will probably give out statement on the subject It is known, however that the report has made changes In firing the turrent guns the hydraulic gear for moving turrets was so badly constructed that in one instance it took two hours to discharge the gun. The bottom of the ship was also consid- erably shaky. It was said at the depart ment today that it was not unlikely that the Texas would be placed out of com mand and extensive repairs made.
 The senate today confirmed the noml- nations of Robert s. Chiffon, Jr., or the District of Columbia to be chief of the consular bureau of the department Of state and the following postmasters: Florida-A Hewitt Hill, Eustis.
 Texas-John r. Anderson Lockhart.
 John Karel United States consul-gen- eral at St. Petersburg, has made report to the state department, which has some interest in connection with the utterly unsupported rumors about Russia hav- ing recently rendered gold to the United States. After giving the values of Rus ' sian gold currency under recent ad- justment of the Imperial bank, MT. Karel concludes his communication with this paragraph:
 q understand that the object of the minister of finance of the Russian em- pire is to accumulate in the imperial vaults as much gold as possible, with a view to establishing ,sa the future Rus stan finances on gold basis"
 A supposed swindling scheme Of new c der has come to light A man calling himself John Mcdonald of Waynesboro, N. C., during last November sent to the director of the mint here sample of gold ore, upon which the export charges were 40 cents Director Preston refused to receive the ore. The next thing heard of the matter was the receipt by Director Preston of a letter from Mcdonald, stat ing that the ore had been assayed by the Charlotte N. C., assay office, and that the ore had been sent to New York par ty, who had sent him a check for $220, drawn on blank of the Chambers National bank of New York and signed
 
 treasurer Mcdonald enclosed this check to Director Preston, and stated that the Waynesboro bank had declined to cash it Mcdonald says he suspects the check is a forgery, and if it is, he will prose cute the party Of course, there is no such person as "John L. D. Roame, Unit ed States treasurer" and there is no such bank now in existence as the Chambers National bank On the left hand side of the check is the name, "Froman Broth CTS"
 The president today sent to the senate the following nominations:
 J. H. Outhwaite of Ohio, to be mem Der of the board of ordnance and fortifi- cations.
 ostmasters-Virginia, T. c. Hum- phreys, Berkley; Louisiana, Lou s. Flour nov, Rus.in.
 The tariff bill passed by the house promises to be wedge that will open wide the doors of debate in the senate. | Already there are mutterings among the | senators whose constituents have been neglected in the house, and 1t will be wonder if the whole tariff question Is not opened up in the senate. The amend | ments already offered by Senators Bur rows and Quay show that those tarift | experts believe the scheme of the house | too narrow. MT Mitchell Of oregon IS ready to offer another amendment pro- | vifiing for the re-enactment of the Nc | Kinley bill wool schedule in toto MT. E Eyshurston of Nebraska, mindful Of the | interest of the beet sugar growers of his state will offer an amendment intended to revive the sugar bounty, proposition ,non which the republicans themselves are divided and to which the democrats have declared their undying hatred.