Rensselaer Republican, Volume 22, Number 6, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 October 1889 — WASHINGTON NOTES. [ARTICLE]

WASHINGTON NOTES.

1 Land Commissioner Goff decides that husband and wife can not obtain two homesteads by living in separate houses. . A reference to the docket of the U. S. feupreme Court, which resumed its sessions, {Tuesday,develops the fact that 12,000 cases hre yet to be considered. Assuming that no more cases were filed until October, 1892, it would take these three years ht the present rate of speed to clear the existing docket. In the claim of John H. Lunderville, late » private in Company K., Tenth 'Vermoht {Volunteers, on appeal from the Commissioner of Pensions, Assistant cSecretary Bussey Wednesday rendered a decision in (which he aeviews and rescinds the “order” which was issued by the Commissiorer on April 25,1889, and which abolished the rating of (2 per month and established for the same the sum of $4 per month, in all cases dating from March 27, 1889. The pneumatic guns of the cruiser Vesuvius were officially tested on the Delaware River, Thursday. The projeetiles were thrown from one hundred to three hundred sad fifty yards beyond the required mile. The contract required that fifteen shots be fired in thirty minutes, five shots from each gun. Fifteen iron plugs, weighing 887 pounds eaeh, were fired in seven minutes and a fraction. The air compressors Were not working during the time,although it would have been allowable, and yet at the end of the firing the reservoir contained enough air to fire eight more shots at mile range. A statement prepared at the Treasury Department shows that the total amount of Standard silver dollars in the Treasury, against which certificates may be issued,is $5,076,171. Of the total coinage of $341,199,650 silver dollars there is in the Treas ory $282,829,333, against which there is in circulation $277,733,162 of certificates. The ( amount of standard dollars in circulation is | $58,370,817, and the amount of silver cer- j tificates in the Treasury is $2,582,205. The ! gradual decrease of the silver balance is 1 being urged upon the administration as an j (argument in favor of an increase in the coinage of silver dollars to the maximum limit of $4,000,000 per month. Under the {present system the minimum limit of j $2,000,000 only is coined.