Rensselaer Republican, Volume 22, Number 45, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 July 1890 — WASHINGTON. [ARTICLE]

WASHINGTON.

It is estimated at the Treasury Department that there has been a decrease of about #20,000,000 in the public debt since June 1. This will make the total decrease for the fiscal year $87,800,000, as against #114,000,000 for the previous fiscal year. The Navy Department has issued a circular inviting proposals for building the three 8,500-ton coast line battle ships whose construction was authorized by the naval appropriation act passed by Congress a few days ago. The vessels are to cost, exclusive of armament, not more than #4,000,000 each, the term armament including, besides the guns and ammunition, al] armor of turrets, barbettes, gun shields and armored tubes directly pertaining to the protection of the guns and loading positions. All parts of the vesseU shall be of domestic manufacture.

The President has approved tne uavai appropriation bill, the invalid pension appropriation bill, the postoffice appropriation bill and the jointresolutions providing temporarily for the expenditures of the government. Tho actual reduction of tho public debt in June was $20,685,726. The Pension Office issued during the fiscal year just closed 151,658 pension certificates. The number issued during the preceding year was 145,292. Of the number Issued during the year just closed 66,637 were original pensions, which is an increase of nearly 15,000 as compared with the number issued during the preceding year. The President spent the 4th at Cape May. The corridors of the Capitol have been cleared, by order of Speaker Reed, of all caterers and vendors. One of the latter has had space in the corridor for twenty nine years.

The conference committee on the silver bill met to (Jay but came to no conclusion. In fact, the members did uothing but talk over the situation and indicate what each desired in the way of silver legislation. The ultimatum of the silver men was presented by Senator Jones, of Nevada, who said the only thing they would agree to would be the purchase of 4,500,000 ounces, instead of dollars’worth of silver monthly; that the standard dollars coined therefrom should be legal tender aud redeemable in .coin, and that there should be no traffic in bullion by tho government. These propositions were generally discussed. The President mado nominations as folx lows on the 2d: To be general appraisers of merchandise: George C. Tiucher, of the District ol Columbia; George H. Sharpe, of New York; James A. Jones, of New York; Cnarles 11. Hum, ol Illinois. Louis R. Walters, ol Pennsylvania, to be Assistant Treasurer of States" at Philadelphia. Charles Wilmore, of lowa, to be Supervisor of Customs for the port of Burtiugton, la.