Birmingham state herald., 1897-03-09

succeeded H. Clay Evans. of Tennessee, on that date.
 Second Assistant Nelson succeeded J. l.. Bell, who resigned on Sept. 13, 1893, and Kerr Craige, the third assistant, succeeded Gen. Hagen May 19, 1893.
 In the interior department, First As- sistant Secretary Sims was appointed March 31, 1893; Assistant Secretary Rey- holds, April 10 1893; Commissioner La moreaux, of the general land office, March 2S, 1893; Commissioner of Pensions Murphy. May 2S 1896, succeeded Judge William Lochran, resigned. Gommis- sioner Murphy has been employed in the pension bureau since March 13, 1871, with the exception of few years. Com missioner of Patents Seymour, was ap- pointed March 51, 1893. and Commissioner of Indian Affairs Browning, April IT, 1893.
 Secretary Long started in at the navy department today with an appointment which meets general approval from all who, like Secretary Long himself, be- leve in civil service reform. He promot- ed Benjamin Franklin Peters, of Harris burg, Pa, to be chief clerk of the de- partment. MT. Peters was appointed a clerk of one of the lower grades in the department sixteeh years ago by Secre- tary Hunt upon the recommendation of Senator J. D. Cameron. He now occupies the position of appointment clerk, having risen by merit to that rank through the VdTlQuS BTdQeS. lie WAS d liSuADCi Ol the board to revise the business methods of the navy department. Under the i'm mediate direction of the secretary Of the navy he prepared the regulations govern- ing the employment of labor al navy yards and has had charge of their en- forcement. He devised the card record system in use by boards of labor employ ment at navy yards and has been the confidential and general utility man of Secretary Whitney. Secretary Tracy and rxr ha pa iaf e1af.lx assumed the duties at once in addition to his other work.
 The navy department will in all prob ability issue advertisement for armor for the battleships Alabama, Illinois and Wisconsin upon which congress placed limit of $500 per tom It is understood that no time for the delivery, of the ar nor will be specified, which will permit concerns without the required plant to compete for the work and install the necessary machinery as the delivery progresses.
 Ex-Secretary Carlisle has made no definite plans for the future. He will re- main in Washington for some time yet. Secretary Sherman has signed extrad- tion papers applied for by Sir Julian Paunoefote authorizing the delivery of Lee Waller" better known as Frank Butler, now held at San Francisco, to the Australian authorities. The diplomatic corps have been notified that the foreign ambassadors, ministers secretaries, att taches will be received at the department of state of Secretary Sherman at Il a. m. on Wednesday, and the president will re- ceive them at the executive mansion at noon on the same day.
 Steps have been taken by the war de- partment to further guard the sea coast defenses from inquisitive inspection by persons who ought not to know what pre- cautions the United States have made for protection in time of war. The rig orous regulations already in force dur ing the building of Notifications have, now that many works are approaching completion. been supplemented and em- phaSized by the following general orders from Major General Miles, commanding the army, which. though signed March 1, were not issued to the service until to- day.
 No persons except officers of the army and navy of the United States and per- sons in the service of the United States employed in direct connection with the use, construction or care of these works, will be allowed to visit any portion of the lake and coast defense of the United States without the written authority of the commanding officer in charge. Neither written nor pictorial descrip- tions of these works will be made for publication without the authority of the secretary of war; nor will any informa- tfon be given concerning them which Is not contained in the printed reports and documents of the war department.
 Commanding generals of departments will see that this order is carried into ef- feet and that the permission to visit the defenses referred ois only given for proper military reasons.
 Commanding officers, ordnance ser geants, and others in charge of fortifi- cations or any means of lake or coast defenses will exercise great care in act ing upon applications to visit the works and will grant such only as may be war ranted for good and sufficient military reasons.
 Commanding generals of department concerned will give this matter their con- tinued personal attention to the end that any direlietion of the duty herein may be immediately observed and promptly met by discipline.