The National tribune., 1899-03-02
CHAT OF THE CORRIDORS.

In spite OF Speaker Reeds propensity t.
| let fly the shafts of his sarcasm at thi
| AdminIstr alton, in spite of his attitud,
| toward Expansion, and even in spite o
| the opposition of the two Senator'S he has
succeeded in bagging for friend the
J finest appointment in the State of Maine
/ This Is the Collector of Customs for Port
| land, which pays salary of $4,000, and il
| goes to Weston +. Milliken n substantial
BUSINESS man OF the city. This office is
an oldtime sore with the Speaker He
quarreled with Senator Blaine about it
and for many years would hardly speak to
him. Then Senators Frye and Hale in
sis ed on their right to control the APP
pointment, and his relations with them
became exceedingly strained:
Tom Reed may be autocrat of such a
minor affair as the United States House OF
Representatives, and boss mere men
around as he will, but when il comes to
an association of women he is not de euce
high SO to speak. The Daughters of the
American Revolution sat down on one of
his choicest rulings with a dull, crushing
thud.
Benz. Engel, one of the best-known
veterans of Washington, died Feb. %,
after a long illness. He enlisted in the
lst U. S. Dragons i'm 1851, and afterward
served in the I'd u. S. Dragons, in which
regiment he rose TO be Sergeant-Aajor.
He was a fine, intelligent soldier. and
during the rebellion il came to him to
perform many services requiring unusual
courage, intelligence and discretion. lie
was with Gen. Hancock when he galioped
up to Gettysburg on the afternoon of the
first day, and he helped to form the line
of-battie on Cemetery Hill, and stop the
retreat He was discharged in August,
1865, and appointed to an important clerk
ship in the office OF the Adjutant- General,
where he remained until his death. He
was noted for his executive ability, strict
integrity, and phenomenal knowledge OF
the laws and records OF the Army. Engel
was a jealous GAR. comrade, and be
longed to Kit Carson Post, 2, of Washing
ton, the Union Soldiers Alliance, the
Masons, and the Elks. Adj teen. Corbin
issued very complimentary memorial
order, upon his death.
Secretary of the Interior Hitchcock
took formal possession OF his office Tues
day, Feb. u, and the several thousand
employees os the Department came up in
line TO pay their respects TO their new
chief. Later in the day he attended "a
Cabinet meeting, and met his new as
Sociates.
The biggest cannon in the world is to be
placed in the defenSeS of Washington. 1t
weighs 12b tons, is 10 inches caliber, and
the ball weighs 1890 pounds. 1t may be
termed an investment in insurance, for il
will probably never be fired at anything
but floating target, for drill purposes.
Et%
Mr.. NJ. S. Smith, Secretary Ayers bust
ness partner, tateS most positively that
the Secretary has no intention of resign
ing. Secretary Alger himself says that he
has no intention of "going out under
fire."
/ met ex-senator Henderson, of Ne
braska, on the street last week, and was
glad TO see that he was in excellent
health and spirits. The bullet near his
spine, which he received while leading
his regiment in the charge at Loveioy's 5
Station, troubles him greatly at times, as
good shape. He is in Washington on
business for his road-the Chicago, Bur
ington & Quincy-and has no desire to
re-enter political life in any way.
A swindler has been doing" the august
Senators in new way. His plan was to
write to each OF them as an old friend
make kindly inquiries as to his health
and that of different members Of his
family, and in conclusion request certain
public documents, which have value at
the second hand book stores. The Sen
ator would imagine that il was from some
friend whose name had temporarily
passed out of his memory, and comply
with his request. 1t has been discovered
that nearly every Senator has received
such "a letter, and most OF them had done
as requested.