The National tribune., 1896-09-10
WEEK In WASHINGTON.

WEEK IN WASHINGTON.
SUNDAY. AUG. 3o.-Senator Alien. who was
Chairman of tie late Pepuist Convention,
finally admitted over his own signature
that Bryan and Watson are eventually TO be
notified of their nomination by the Popuiists.
Mr. Allen. however, did not make tins adj
mission until compelled to do SO by Chairman
Batenap. of the Maine State Committee OF the
porrlists. who hare been writing the Senator
on the subject ever since the adjournment oil
the St Louis Convention. Mr.. Bateinan
claims that Senator Allen is not the Chairman
of the Mott icatioa Committee, and that joan
NJ Bowler, of Minnesota, IS. MIR. Batetnah
saws that he is Secretary of the Notification
Committee and that he has ia his possession
the minutes of the meetings held at the Lin
dell House in 81. T.ouis. He says that at one
of those meetings Mr.. Bowler was elected
Chairman ard himself Secretary, and that
since that time they have neen persistent IN
their efforts 10 bring about the notification OF
.~Messrs Bryan and Watson. They Thought
Senator Allen ought TO have charge OF the
details, hut could not get assurance that lie
wcnld do rs agreed.
MONDAY. AUG. 3l.-The Secretary OF Agfi-
culture awarded the seed contracts for the
wear The awards are made under new
plan, By dividing the country into SIX Sec
lions. SO as to facilitate distribution and also
10 secure seeds adapted to the several !ocail-
tics. The Department is highly pleased with
the new plan, which yields much larger
number of seeds at smaller cost than last
year. 1t is estimated that each Senator,
REPRESENTATIVE and Delegate in Congress viii
receive 10000 packages OF seeds or about
twice AS many as last year. 1t has been
found that no funds are available for the
purchase of trees, shrubs, etc, the 100000
intended for this purpose will be required
for the contingent expenses OF the Seed Bu-
reau.
TUESDAY, SEPT. 1.-Secretary Hoke Smith
closed his administration of the affairs oil the
Interior Department to-day and retired from
the Cabinet. The last papers in the routine
business of the Department were signed ana
his active work closed yesterday afternoon
To-day the Secretary Was at the Department,
hut he devoted almost his entire time 10
callers aud to taking leave Of his associates
and OF the employees in the Department. All
important matters that have been pending
have now been disposed OF, so that Dir.
Francis as Secretary, Will have clear heia
20 begin with.
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 2.-Ten thousand employees
in the War Department were classified IN the
Civil Service in accordance with the sweep
ing order of the President last May, which
: extended the operations of the law 10 practi-
cally all Government employees except those
laborers whose work did not require technical
skill or intelligence above the ordinary de-
gree The sweeping effects Ct the order, as
broadly interpreted by Secretary Lamont TO
include even laborers who perform duties re-
curing a comparatively mediocre inteiiI-
gcnce. is shown 10y the fact that IN his office
bat two persons, the confidential clerk Of
himself aud Assistant Secretary McAdoo
remain outside of the classified lists, they
being specifically exempt. Even the Chiei
Clerk of the Department and all the heads oil
divisions are placed under protection OF the
Civil Service statute.
THURSDAY. SEPT. 4.-Ex-Gov. Francis, Of Mis-
souri, took the Constitutional oath of offies
as Secretary of the Interior, succeeding Hok'
Smith, whose resignation was rendered to thu
President about 10 days ago. The oath wa'
administered by Associate Justice Harlan, O
the United States Supreme Court. in th'
efice Of the Secretary OF the Treasury
There were present TO witness the ceremon,
Secretary Carlisle. Secretary Lamont and I
nnmbsr of Treasury officials Secretar,
FIancis will take formal charge Of his De
rartment to- morrow morning. Assistan
Secretary Reynolds. Acting Secretary
made formal call on him during the fore
noon. Mr.. Francis went to the lnteriar DE
partment late in the afternoon and receives
the various heads of Bureaus. Chief Clerk
and Division Chiefs. few Of them wer
old acquaintance whom he had known Of
previous visits to Washington.
FRIDAY, SEPT. 4-The monthly statement q
the pablo debt, issued from the Treasur
Department, shows that at the close of bus
ness yesterday the public debt less cash il
the Treasury, was S37s, z97. 1856, which is al
increase for the month of S12, 342 $50, whic
is accounted for by the loss of nearly exactl
fitsf .r,Aarnf Of cash m, hand due Tn thn z
cess OF expenditures over receipts. The deh
is recapii1lated as follows: Iuterest-bearin
oebi. $50. $50 06o; debt on which interes
has ceased since maturity. Sl.622 $50; del
bearing no interest, 1872 SJ6. 476. TIL
amount, however, does not include $3.50. 456
S37 ia certificates and Treasury notes ou
siauding. and Offset by an equal amount I
cash in the Treasury.
eATrRDAY, SEPT SIT was announced to-da
that sn Indian Commission is now at wor
10 secure from the Crow aud Flathead Ii
dams in Montana a ccssioa OF portions
their respective reservations and with I'll
Northern Cheyenne and Grow Indians {,
the removal OF the Northern Cbeyennes fro
their present reservation on the Rosebu
River. at Lame Deer agency, TO the southel
portion of the Crow reservation. There a.
negotiations TO be carried on with 9TH
IndisBs in neighboriag States. Two of Il
Commission, John H. Good win of Atlant
Ga. and Charles q. Hoyt, OF Benton. Mel
have been already selected.