Rensselaer Republican, Volume 22, Number 23, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 February 1890 — WASHINGTON. [ARTICLE]

WASHINGTON.

The President Wednesday sent to the Senate the nomination of Blanche K. Bruce, of the District of Columbia, to be Recorder of Deeds in the District of Columbia. Mr. Bruce was born of slave par ents in Prince Edward county, Virginia,, March 1, 1841. He went to Mississippi in boyhood, subsequently removed to Illinois* but returned to Mississippi in 1869. His education was limited. While following the occupation of planter he held the positions of Sergeant at arms of the State Senate for two years, sheriff one year, tax collector of Bolivar county for four years, and county commissioner for three years. He was elected Senator in Congress for the term commencing in 1875 and ending in 188 T: in~Mav. 1881. he was appointed Register of the Treasury of the United States. Two years ago Mr. Bruce came to-Indianapolis and made the city his headquarters while engaged in lecturing, He has relatives now living in the city. Secretary Windom Wednesday afternoon issued a second call on national bank depositors for a surrender of 10 per cent, of government iunds held by them. The conditions of the call are similar to of the fii’st call, with the exception that banks that hold less than the minimum of government deposits ($50,000) are called upon to surrender all and close up their accounts with the governmentThere are about six or eight banks of this class. The direct tax bill, which passed, Tuesday, with only Senators Berry, Blair, Call,, Coke, Plumb, Vauce and vest voting in the negative, makes it the duty of the Secretary of the Treasury .to credit to each Territory and State in the United States and in the District of Columbia, a sum equal to all collection, by set-off or otherwise, made from said States and Territories and the District of Columbia, or from any of the citizens :or inhabitants thereof, or other persons, under the act of Congress approved August 5, 1861, and amendatory acts thereto. It also appropriates the necessary sum to reimburse each State and Territory and the District of Columbia.

Civil Service Commissioner Roosevelt has submitted to the full commission report of his investigation into the alleged violations of the civil service law in the New York Custom House just prior to the last Presidential election. He finds that, political assessments were universal in the Surveyor’s office, and quite general in the Collector’s office. He recites the methods employed to exact contributions. He bitterly arraigns the practice, and those responsible for it he likens to jackals. The contest in Congress for the location of the World’s Fair has so far resulted in favor of New York.