The National tribune., 1898-12-29
CHAT OF THE CORRIDORS.


Mexico. The Governor, who is probably
the youngest man in the Chief Executive
chair in the United States, is noted for
his fine bearing and genial temper. He
is liked in the East quite as ell as the
West, and his Washington i nds are
legion. His principal business here is to
get Legislation To render effective law
which granted New Mexico about 3,fO0, tC0
acres of land for it's educational institu-
tons.
Capt. " II. Armstrong, of Indianapolis,
senior member OF the Executive Com
mittee of the Grand Army OF the Re
public, was i'm the city last week. Cart.
Armstrong came East to attend meeting
of that committee. The meeting was in
Philadelphia, and was called to plan all
the details of the National Encamrment,
which is to meet next Fall in the Quaker
City.
An issue of importance has been raised
by the Civil Service Commiss ion as to the
right of Comptroller Tracewell, of the
Treasury. to refuse to audit the accounts
OF persons appointed 10 posi,ic ms lin con-
travention of the Civil Service law" The
tention of the Comptroller to list of
clerks in the District Attorneys and Mar
shals Offices, alleged Ia have ieen APP
pointed contrary to the Civil Service act.
These appointments, il is said, were made
without examination or certihcation, and
the question was whether they should be
allowed compensation. In his reply to
the Commission Mr.. Tracewell declined to
express any opinion upon the question
presented, saving that any decision he
MIGHT attempt would be of an academic
rather than OF a judicial nature. The
Commission is trying to get a definite
answer.
An interesting event is the annual sale
of maiI-matter that has und its way to
the Dead-Letter Office. The annual sale
this year ciuded over 5,lC0 bundles OF
an approx innate value of about So, eco.
The sale was conducted in a local
auction room, and, as usual, was lively
affair. 1t is an even chance whether one
will get the worth Of what he bids for the
contents Of the sealed packages, and
much amusement and chagrin is caused
by the investigation OF the purchased ar
ticles. Many articles are specified as
| cheap or damaged, and whenever pos
sibIe enough is said of them in the De-
partment's catalOg to indicate their value
| with reasonable accuracy. In the case ci
CIGARS, ties. watches, books, and other
| Drin Ell matter, this is an obvious inpos-
sill lily, and from the buyers point OF
view the sale still remains very much
game Of chance.
| 1t is not likely, it is stated at the Navy
| Department, that the naval guns cap
turad at Santiago, Manila and elsewhere
| will form a very valuable asset. The 4. 7
inch guns from the Maria Teresa, the
| Vizcaya, and the Colon, several of which
ar. now at the Washington Navy Yard,
are not the most modern type of this
weapon. They are different in call5eT
from any guns in the American Navy ex-
| cept those Of the New Orleans and the
Albany, now being completed abroad.
I he 6-inch quick firing guns captured
also require special ammunition, not
b,ing ad toted to our 6ilch shells, so
that, except in case Of accident to one OF
the guns of the New Orleans or Albany,
there would be small likelihood of getting
any Of the captured ordnance into service.
Postmaster-Gen. Smith has abolished
a tine-honored privilege Of the Spanish
AlcaideS in Porto Rico. Since the days
of Porto I}ican history the Mayors OF the
villages have been in the habit Of placing
their official seals upon letters and pack
ages when they did not have or did not
care to put on the postage. Until few
days ago these franks" have always been
recognized by the postal authorities, and
the thirty Mayors have doubtless saved
many Span sh dollars thereby. After the
Americans took possession it was differ
ent When the Mayors seals began to be
in evidence upon the upper right hand
corner of the envelopes sent through the
mil the men in charge of the offices at
Ponce and San Juan set an Investigate n
aioot, learned of the good old CaStili N
custom and reported it to Washington.
Postmaster Gen. Smith said he had all
the veneration in the world for the Al
caldes OF Porto liico, but he must really
insist that they pay letter and parcel
postage like other good American citizens.
SO the order was issued.
i ne AMERICAN ttstCc commissioners ar
rived in Washington last Saturday, and
went directly to the White House, where
they were received by the President and
Secretary Hay. The treaty was carried
| by Assistant Secretary Moore, and legal
adviser to the mission 1t was a
morocco bound volume, about the size OF
"a volume OF the American Cyclopedia and
was carried in leather bag which never
| left Mr.. Moore's hands until he gave it to
Judge Day tn hand to the Pres ident. AS
Judge Day passed over the treaty he said
| that il represented the earnest efforts of
| the American Commissioners at Paris.
| and that il was submitted in the hope
that il would rebound to the peace credit
and glory of the American Nation. In
! accepting the treaty the President warmly
| thanked and congratulated the Commits
sioners on their work, complimenting
them upon the results accomplished
| This ended the formal proceedings. After
some general conversation all the Com
miss toner's took their leave, except Judge
| Day, who stayed to dine with the Presi-
dent. In the evening, he and his wife
| left for their home at Canton, o. The
| treaty will be kept secret for the present.
out Of courtesy To the Senate, which must
cons ider and ratify it before ii becomes
| binding. The Commissioners adm tilted
uriX 3teJy however that the MI bIiShed