New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-05-30
WASHINGTON NEWS NOTES.
Washington. May -
TIE DECORATED.-93V.

Washington, May -
THE RAwLINs STATUE DECORATED.-ssv.
eral comrades Of the Grand Army OF tie Republic
busy this afternoon draping the statue OF
Major-Cicners John a. Rawns with Natioral flags
The statue does not occupy so conspicuous place
as Il deserves, both account OF it, merits as 4
WORK of art and the distinguished services Of the
mar 70 honor whose memory 1T reared by his
comrades few years after hs death. For num-
Der of years the statue stood In Obscure. neg
lected fororn and desolate public reservation"
place which strangers in Washington never visited
and residents always avoided. few years ago.
through the efforts OF OF Rawlinss former
comrades. the statue wss removed 10 the place It
nov occupies. facing pennsylvania-avn from the
south. but IL obscure place that not one In q
hundred of the thousands wbo pass Il daily ever
takes note OF Il. This Ia even trunr now than Il
was before the fine equestrian statue Of General
Hancock which stands hundred and fifty yards
away the opposite side Of the stree. was placed
in the commanding position II occupies And yet
the Rawlns statue. almost hidden Oy the dense
foliage OF the which surround H. seems in one
respect not appropriately placed. Tie was .
modest man. whose rare and sterling qualities were
known and appreciated by compare lively few men
I'm the stirring days and trying nights Of the war;
and by none so well and deeply a. by his chief
General Grant from tho time tina, he called Raw.
Inns to his side as chief Of his staff in 1871 leaned
from - time they were inseparable companions
until cath claimed Raw,ins within ie" months
Grants first Cabinet In 1861 Rawlins surrendered
an appointment major Of an ILLINOIS regiment 70
ersi Grants staff and FOR he rest OF MS too short
career he YES the firm loyal devoted sbh dnni11
Rawlins was brilliant young LAWYER as well asa
military Service ne had gerned prominence enough
In his party 10 be nominated as canalaa,e lSr
ana he therefore knew something about me ways
and vines OF politicians regarding when MS cn'et
was slow 20 perceive what Rawns saw at glance
as his chief began 70 rise nat ne nad t9e:
was some time before Rawns COULD convince &c, h!m
Of the necessity Of M a6n me ,hr Pans r.a
dered an inestmabe service 10 his country as well
and appreciate his personal obilgations; SO deep
was hs Of this t1at e allowed nis chies OF
what re would not have permitted any other man
to d.
MOVING THE CONGRESSIONAL LIBRARY
As soon az the special session Of Congress ends
the Library OF Congress will be closed and VIII 80
remain until the books and other treasures OF the
vast collection have been removed TO and arranged
in the new and magnificent building which Is the
pride of every American citizen and the envy OF
every foreigner who visits II. The removal and In
stalation Of the library in its new and commoaious
quarters will be difficult and perplexng az well as
laborous task and Mr. sPoord Is EnsN the nss Gays
angling and systematizing the details, ana IN ms
G fSai m mgd arise n the progress
How long will it take TO move and rearrange tho
''i 1T would be Impossible e al present, was
the reply The Boston Public Library was fIonndSo
i lsyeH weeks during It's removal - VIC ~
WANTS FORMER SLAVES PENSIoNED.-The
Roy suas Myers. Of Mississippi. came 10 WASH
ington not long ago look after the bill 70 PEN
sion former slaves. He brought with MIN the sig
natures Of 600 former slaves, who desired MIN 70
investigate the matter and see what couId 'e aon'
is a remarkable negro OF the, old slave class he
is seventy-nino years old ana was save IotS
good akor with great range OF in I. fni, ~
not want an oiiico-"would not take an office as q
gift" he says.
VALUABLE AUTOGRAPHS.-Among the most
valuable collections OF autographs IN this country
Is a collection made by Arson G McCooK ana IN
nossession Of the Senate When he was secretary
OF the Senate General McCook collected autographs
from the files OF the Senate and had them carefuiiy
hound Among Other things Of interest, he founo
the nominations Of President Grants first Cabinet
According TO the custom OF the present day. the
names Of Cabinet officers are written by cierK at
the White House on separate sheet OF paper
But General Grant wrote all the names OF MS
Cabinet officers with his own hand on piece OK
ordinary legal cap. and the creases IN the paper
indicate that he carried it around in his pockes
some time before sending II 10 the Senate Inc
names of Washburne for Secretary Of State. Stew
art for Secretary of the Treasury, CresswelI toF
Postmaster-General, Borie for Secretary or the
Navy Hoar for Acknowledgement and cox Tor Sec
rotary of the Interior are all In the ch2racerstli
hand OF General Grant Another leaf in Genera!
McCools book OF autographs Is the domination o.
General Grant to be General OF the Army retired
written by President Arthur. The bill authorlzlng
the appointment passed on the last day OF the
session ending March 4. 1855. and. IT may be said at
tn. last moment, after the dramatic episode N
which Representative Wilson, now secretary ,S OF
Agriculture. conspcuOusly figured. As soon as the
bill had been passed President Arthur VINO w, was IN
the Presidents AZ the Capitol seized ms pen
and wrote out the nomination, and so hastily thae
in his signature he never added the last letter II
10 his name. The nomination was rushed INTO tine
Senate and AT once confirmed in open session IL
was the first and only time In the history OK inc
Senate when nomination was confirmed without
closing the doors But even then the great soldiers
DAYS were numbered. and he died three months
after