The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1896-12-04
NEWS FROM WASHINGTON.
A Column of Both Home and Foreign
Happenings
ARRANGED FOR THE FIRESIDE.
Which Will BE of More or Less Inter.
est to the General Reader.

the last fiscal year the arrivals of i'm migrants
In this country aggregated 443.267, two
thirds OF whom were males. or these 240,-
566 were landed and 2,799 were debarred and
deported at hte expense of various steamship
lines by which they came.
or those deported 776 were found to be
under contract to perform labor in the Uni
ted States made prior to their arrival and
2,023 were returned rs belonging to other
prohibited classes.
In addition 23S who had become public
charges within year after their arrival
were returned to their countries
The Commissioner General states that he
knows ofno immigrant landed in this coun-
try during the last year who is now Il burden
upon any public or private institution. The
amount Of money brought into the country
by immigrants was fully S4.9l7,3lS. and
probably largely in excess OF that.
The report says statistics do not justify the
conclusion that our alien population is grow
ing in undue proportions. The figures for
the past year compared with the average an
nual immigration for the preceding ten
fiscal years, discloSes q decrease OF over 21
per cent
1t is stated at the Navy Department. in ex-
tenuation OF the fact that the court of inquiry
in the battleship Texas is held behind closed
doors, that 1t is not thought advisable to give
publicity to tho probable weakness in the
ship just ut the present juncture when the
eyes Of other nations are directed to our ma
val and military affairs. 1t is learned that
the investigation is developing some start .
ling facts about the structural strength of
the ships hull which has caused SO much
concern since her keel was laid. The most
remarkable thing about the recent flooding
OF the ship is that the water tight doors leak
ed and other compartments were flooded in
addition to that in which the accident oc-
CURED. 1t is now developed on account of
lack of stiffness in all the bulkhcads of the
ship and consequent WarpinS OF the frames
and plates. that none of the doors when
closed fitted hermetically. as they should
and the cellular system of tho vessel is there
fore practically worthless
While the findings OF tie naval court, which
Is investigating the recent fouudcriuS Of the
battleship Texas, have not yet reached the
department it is learned that without extern
sive alterations. it is very doubtful whether
the Texas can be again ordered to sea. Ii is
understood that evidence Was adduccd to
show that 6l OF her compartments leaked
when her engine room was flooded and that n
leak sprung in any one OF them ut sea would
have surely caused the total loss OF the ship.
Not only were all tho alleged water tight"
doors found to be abortiye. but in the opin-
ion OF at least one member OF the court her
whole bulk head system is utterly useless.
~ Although the House committee on appro-
priations meets November Goth for the COM
mencement OF work on the appropriation
bills the estimates Of the various depart
ments have not been completed The law
requires these estimates TO be submitted to
the Secretary OF the Treasury by October 1st,
but this law has always been ignored under
all administrations In partial from the est
mates will be ready when tho House com
mittee meets but will net be made public.
A medal cf honor has been awarded to
Torreston l.. Taylor, late n first lieutenant OF
the Twenty-third regiment OF New Jersey
try in the battle of Chancellorsville. During
this engagement he saved the lives of two
wounded comrades by conveying them from
the field TO place OF safety
The Treasury Department has issued n cali
for the redemption OF United States per
cent. bonds to the amount OF $4,000. 600 at
face value Issued under the acts Of July /,
1862, and July 2. 1864, in aid OF certain Pa.
cinc railroads. The bonds commonly known
as currency 6's, being due January /, next.
The State Department is informed that the
President OF Nicaragua has granted amnesty
to over 500 persons implicated In the revolu-
tion OF last February and the conspiracy OF
September 8 last. Tho members Of the rebel
government and the principal generals OF the
defeated forces are not included in pardon.
-
The postofflce department has complaints
against fifty or sixty presidential postmasters
throughout the country. the President pro-
hibiting them from taking an active part in
politics. Most OF these cases are In the
West, particularly Illinois and Iowa 1t is
hardly probable that the Postmaster General
will take action against ail the offenders. but
deal only with the mos, iagrant.
Consul General Lee says that the rumor
that he may not go back to Havana because
Spain objects to him has no foundation in
fact. He certainly would havo heard it IL
there were any truth in the idea HIS rela-
tions to General Wevlcr have been cordial,
and when they parted several weeks ago
they exchanged photographs bearing auto
graphic expressions Of friendship. There
can certainly be nothing against him. as off,
cially rs consul general Of the United States
in the present situation, Spain could hardly
take an exception to his performance Of
duty
The collections Of internal revenue for the
month OF October were 3.275 205. a de-
crease from those OF 1895 OF S475,OOS The
amounts credited to the several sources are:
Spirits, 81, 90S 945; tobacco, q, ,633, l67; fer
mented liquors, 1857 500; ocomargarinc,
S97,873 filed cheese. SSl3; miscellaneous
ESQ., ,805. The only increase was 522, ,0S7 from
fermented liquors. For the four months
there were decreases OF Si24 800 in total re-
ceipts from those OF tho same period In
1898.
Although II is claimed 10y many that tho
proper place for the inaugural ball is the new
building for the library Cf Congress- those in
authority claim to hav" good reasons why
the ball shall not occur th"r" and will refuse
their consent 10 exposing tn" splendid struc-
ture to the incOnSruOuS us" proposed with
al incidental risks. The building however
will be open to the inspection II vlsilOt%
At Memphis, Tenn. Postmaster Armour