Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1901-07-20
NOTES FROM WASHINGTON.
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE. |

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE.
DiscreditabIe Records-Apr licatior
for retirement having been made by
Captain Robert h. lmDey and Com
mander De nnis Mullan. u. S. N. the
navy depai tIent has decided that
they are not entitled to be placed on
the retired list with the rank and
three fourths the sea pay of the next
higher grades, respectively, but may
retire in their present grades. The
department has construed that provi.
sion Of the naval personnel law re-
latng to advanced rank on the re-
tired list to mean that service with a
CreIitable record does not apply only
to service in the civil war, but to
general service. An officer who reach
es the retirement age, G2 years. or
who has served 40 years in tne navy,
may be retired with the tank and
three-fouIths the sea pay Of the next
higher grade If he served in the civil
war and has creditIIble record
since entering the navy. Capt. lmpey
was recently convicted by a courtmar'
tial of scandalous conduct. Had it
hot been for tnat conviction he would
have been retired in September with
the rank of rear admiral. COmman,
der Mullan was also convicted by a
court martial and cannot, thereto
be retired with the rank of captain.
Would Be Friet,dly-The STATE de
pHrtment has received a fresh com
munication from the Russian govern
ment OH the subject of the interna-
tional tariff differences which indi-
Gates that there is an apparent de
sire on the part of Russia to wipe out
the record of the last few months and
to resume commercial relations on the
Old friendly basis. A definite propcsi,
tiCn is made in this communication By
NJ. Witte. in which Russia offers to
remove all the discriminating duties
which that government has recently
placed on American hardware, ma
Chinery, bicycles and other products
provided the United States govern
ment will take similar action with re
gard to the countervailing duties on
Russian sugar imported into this
country. This government is not
likely to acce lie to the Russian pro-
posal.
Many Precious Stones-The treas,
ury department has received a report
from George Mindil the government
expert on precious stones at the New
York custom house showing that dur.
ing the last fiscal year tne aggregate
value of precious stones ani pearls
passing through his Office was $2l ,9l9,.
O53. This is larger total by far
than has been shown in any fiscal
year before and exceeds by more
than $3,000.0O0, the entire importa-
tions during the unprosperous time
of President Cleveland's last four
years in office. Mr.. Mindil says that
the placing Of precious stones in their
rough state on the free list has estab.
lished a new industry and now nearly
one-half of the precious stones sold
here are cut and polished in this
country.
A Shorthand Jl,ige-Some judges
depend for their information about a
case on memory Or on the stenOgIa
piers minutes. This is especially SO
in the matter of the testimony. Judge
Addison Brown Of the United States
district court. whose resignation has
just heen sent u the president. could
If he desired, take down every word
that was spoken in his court room
He is good stenographer and often
made notes of important statements
Of witnesses. keeping as well a run
ming record of the trial. This ability
contributed to the excellence of his
work and unloubte lly aided him in
despatching the great business which
1t fell to his lot to do.
Sultan Pays Up-The controversy
between the United States and Tur.
Key over the claims for indemnity
made by this government on account
OF the destruction Of American proper
ty in Armenia. which has several
times threatened to cause trouble be-
tween the two countries. has been
settled at last. Secretary Hay hav-
Ing received cablegram from John
&. A. Leishman, tine United States
minister at Constantinople. saying
that the sublime porte had paid him
$4,000 in payment OF the Armenian
claim and that he had deposited the
money in the Ottoman bank subject
20 the disposition of the state depart
ment.
Chinese Wan! $500, ,ooo-The Chin.
ese minister. WI Ting fang. has just
MED with the state department claims
Tor indemnity against the United
States amounting to 100000 for al.
legeI injuries suffered by Chinese
subjects at the hands of Americans
IN Montana. Ex-senator Sanders OF
Montana is the attorney for the sew
efal hundred Chinese claimants. The
injuries complained of date back to
1876, when the miners union at
butte, Mon, declared against all
'i!hese in that place. 1t Is alleged
that the Chinese were subjected tn
insult and injury t. their persons an1
their business.
Three sathers Drowned.
Springfield. Mass. July is. Jesse c.
Eiffs Stnfinn n,,,nt f,,, tt. I,