New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-02-02
IN AND OUT OF CONGRESS-.
REPRESENTATIVE FISCHER PUSHING
HIS ROMER SHOALS PROJECT.

FREE SEED DISTRIBUTION EXPLAINED BY sEcRE
TARY MORTON MEETING OF THE SMITH
soNrAN REGENTS - NOMINATIONS
BY THE PRESIDENT
Washington. Feb l.-Representative Fischer OF
Brooklyn who recently introduced a bill appro-
priating So 900 for a survey by the engineer officers
OF the Army Of Romer Shoals In New-York Harbor
appeared to-day before the subcommittee on Forti-
hcatiops and explained briefly the ultimate pur-
in position there for the better protection OF New
York Harbor. Mr.. Fischer laid before me com.
Survey showing the contour and cross sections OF
the shoals He explained that only two acres need be
reclaimed. at an expense not exceeding Si~'o~
Secretary Morton has issued interesting cir
cular regarding the annual Government seed dis
tributior in which he shows exactly what the seed
for the various sections of the country has cost.
the amount purchased contracted for. and
makes a comparative statement with preceding
years. showing that the plan which ne mas
adopted gets nearly twice as much seed ana or a
better quality. Attention is also called to the fact
that under his system only germinative seeds are
obtained. The total appropriation for seeds this
year was sI3OODO. with $4,000 additional for test
Ing inspection. and other expenses OF distribution.
This $4,000 bought 19053,s:'9 packets OF Vege-
table seeds. 10i2. 5Od packets of flower seeds. and
229 49, quarts OF field seed. such as corn. timothy
than mills. each packet Of flower seed less than
mills and each quart OF field seed only fraction
oyer cents. The total weight of the seed pur.
distribution 1t would require scyenty-fye mall cars
meni Of handling this amount Of seed is estimated
nj SloOo0O The vegetabl' aud field seeds would
@ in n' parts Of thu co"ny al
read PIT up in packages and labelled ready N for
toms plan which he enumerates are; Twice as
much seed for the money appended prompt ON p! ana
dsaiors in different parts Of the country who com
pete with each other as to excellence Of seed,
amount supplied and price and through me he scen-
which Was never done before" The circular closes
as follows: The only further improvement that
nm DE S E snd erattons
Of seed by Governmental agencies.
The Regents Of the Smithsonian Institution met
this morning for the purpose OF completing the
business left unfinished at tho session last Wednes-
day The Board approved the appointment by the
secretary OF Richard Rathbun as assistant secre-
tary OF the Institution. with duties connected with
the charge OF it's bureaus other than the National
Museum The Board also passed resolution that
a committee OF five should be appointed by the
Chancellor to consider measures FOR promoting promoting tne
reaus. This committee was composed o. Gardiner
O. Hubbard John Is. Henderson and William l..
mittee: Senator s. NJ. Culiom and the secretary
OF the Institution. G. d. Walcott. Of the Geological
Survey will have charge OF the museum for the
present. I'm addition TO his other duties.
The President to-day sent to the Senate the fol-
lowing nominations: Martin \. Knapp of New
York to be an Interstate Commerce Commissioner
"a renppolntmenr: J.. ". Kickbusch. ir.. of Wis
consin Consu! at Stettin Germany: H. f. Davis
Of the District OF Columbia. to be Attorney OF the
United States for the District Of Columbia; W. r.
Judce for the District OF Nebraska: Colonel John
NJ. Wilson Corps OF Engineers 10 be Chie' OF I'm
giners with rank Of brigadicr general Lieutenant
folonc, c. A. WIcloT TO be colonel. Major e. c.
Hood to be lieutenant-colonel and Captain Con-
slant Williams to be major
The opposition the confirmation OF w. u. Nc
Hugh to be District Judge for the District OF Ne
raska, whose nomination was sent TO the Senate
on December ., had become so determined and the
Committee the judiciary had 20 manifestly
reached the conclusion to hold the up, that
the President to-day Withdrew the name OF Mr..
McIIugh and sent in that of William H. Munger.
Mr.. Munger Is said to he old resident of the
State and to stand high with the bar and the gem
eral public He lives i'm Fremont, about nifty miles
ives. OF Omaha. He has been a lifelong Democrat.
and was identified durins the recent campaign with
Thurston and Allen speak well OF him as man
and as II lawyer
The venerable Senator Harris, Of Tennessee who
has been i'll for weeks. is said to he consid-
erably improved In health this evening In fact,
az one OF his Attendants said he Vas sitting up
affairs with all his characteristic vigor of Ian
guase
The act of Congress granting to the Muskogee
Oklahoma and Western Railroad Company the
right to construct and operate a railway through
okla homa and the Indian Territory has become a
law without the Presidents signature the statu-
tory ten DAYS having expired without action.
The bnttle-shp Oregon left Acapulco Mex, yes
terday. for San Francisco on her return 2.ooO-mle
tha
vessel The training-ship Alliance reached New
port News this morning. after escaping from her
precarious position ashore near Cape Henry on
her return from slx-mOnths' cruise with appren.
tices. No report Of her mshap has reached the
Department, but II is declared that she Is unin-
jured.
4 MYTHICAL FASHION BAZAAR
All sorts OF people trying all the time to
work all sorts Of fraudulent tricks and lodges on
the gullible residents OF the rural districts as