Evening Star Newspaper, May 8, 1897, Page 1

THE EVENING STAR. PUBLISHED DAILY EXCEPT SUNDAY, AT THE STAR BUILDINGS, J101 Pecnsylvania Avenue, Cor. 1th St, by The Evening Star Newspaper Company. 5. H. KAUFMANN, Pres't. Few York Offce, 49 Potter Building. ‘The Evening Star is served to subscribers In the city by carriers, their own account, at 10 cents Ber week, or 44 cents per month. Copies at the counter 2 cents each. By mail—anywhere in the United States or Canada—postage prepaid—50 cents rf mont Saturday Quintuple Sheet Star, $1 per year, with fore added, $3.00. (Entered at the Post Office at Washington, D. C., as secoud-citss mail matter.) evan suliseriptions must be paid in advance. Rates of advertising made known on application. Che Zvening Siar. No. 13,786. WASHINGTON, D. C., SATURDAY, MAY 8, 1897-TWENTY-FOUR PAGES. TWO CENTs. | WAS GLAD TO RESIGN Mr. Taylor Almost an Ex-Recorder Now. CHEATHAM'S PROBABLE APPOINTMENT The Kansas Man Denies Charges Made Against Him. TREATMENT OF CLERKS ee Recorder of Deeds C. H. J. Taylor will ex-official by the middle of next probably earlier. His successor will, unless all s fail, be ex-Representa Cheatham this week the President Stated that he would send the nomination of Cheatham to the Senate this week. He was also to send in the nomination of Na- tional Committeeman Boyd of North Caro- lina as solicitor of the internal revenue department. The failure to send in Cheat- ham’s nomination this week is easily seen. The President expected that Recorder Tay- lor would have sent in his resignation earli- €r so as to permit a clear field for the nomi- bation of Cheatham. Taylor iela off until y. the resignation being received The Senate was not in session yes- be week, today. teriay and the nomination could not have this week under the circumstance, ate will meet Monday. is believed by all who have kept up ith the situation that Taylor was gently en a hint that it Would be best to re- s that he has all al t that he would r be get out when a successor was name is different from the attitude of Taylor a the beginning of this administration. He was at the White House then on a number of occasions to see the Pres to express his high opinion of the chief utive. While there he stated to sev- le that all he wanted wa: to be eral pec let alon It to s said that the President has decided sive three good places to the cojred . and has picked out three of the lead- fill them. Cheatham is one of th or B. K. Bruce is another and the State Senator Green of Ohio. It sitively gsserted by friends of ex- nator Bruce, although it does not come from official sources, tirat he will be made «r of the treasury. Ex-Senator Green given a good diplomatic post, it He Feels ReHeved. Recorder of Deeds Taylor was all smiles in the best of spirits when a called upon him at his office in the city hall this morning, and, after he had expressed hi: nks for “the very fair ner.” as he termed it, in which The yesterday renorted the tender of his om, Mr. Taylor remarked that he Star repor ma Was feeling remarkably well for a ma who had lost or was about to lose his offi- cial head Why, sir,” continued the man from Kansas, feel like a boy in, now that m about to get rid of the cares and y of my office. I never had a gray r until after I had been made recorde:, my wi theartedr at I had atistied to ferring tot could not understand my evening until I told ed. I am truly pleased out. blished statement that 4 compelled one of his female clerks, © woman, to hend over to him two- f ber salary, $40, every mor.th, Mr. rv characterized it as absolutely false have never annoyed, nor have I in any ‘atever molested or interfered with, my employe aid Mr. Taylor. “Equally false.” he continued, “is the state- it that the civil servic y me guilty of engaging in the sale ard barter of public cffices. And the id: sident Cleveland or his private Thurt made away with epert in the case is no His Resignation. * continued Mr. Taylor, ‘to cor- rect the impression that President McKin- ley demanded my resignation. The facts in the matter,” he explaine: Soor after Mr. McKinle at the White 1 wt “are these: “s inauguration I House and informed tt I was ready and willing to resign he desired my resignation. I that I would not insist upon the ear tenure of office. So, you see, I only myself to blame for going out the completion of the usual term of years. calle him Ww ienever i ident politely wrote me ye te as ready to nominate my that my resignation be accepted. In reply I which was afternoon, when IT t my resignation, to t upon the qualidication of ‘my The Next Recorder. course,” explained the recorder, “I did not ask the President who my succes- scx will be, nor did he intimate who he Wil nominate. But I am confident {t will be cither ex-Representativ. atham of N Carolina, or my p ex-Sen- lanch K. Bry I am ‘ faformed that Cheatham ‘will be gi. my place and Bruce the registership © treasury. But if, as I most nat- xpect, the people of the District ose Cheatham's appointment and om as recorder of deed: on the t he is not a District man, then not be the ie. bit surprised to uce made recorder of deeds and 2 appointed register of the treas- Cheatham is nominated as my t the Senate Dis- to whom his nomination to report against con- «round that the office is a You will remember that tumittee reported “against my con- solely on that ground, and as senators on that committee against me in committee are ators McMillan, Gallinger, Proctor, Baker of Kansas, , Smith and Martin, I shail ex- Pect them to be consistent aud vote against Cheatham. On the other hand, Bruce is a District man.” At the White House. The resignation of C. H. J. Taylor ot Kansas as recorder of deeds of the Dis- trict of Columbia was received at House this morning. 1 is as follows: ave the honor most respectfully to to you my resignation of the office T of deeds of the District of Co- to take effect upon the qualifica- accessor.” e were no new developments in the ership fight at the White House to- tor Thurston has a candidate for the It was very t Jace in L. L. Lindsay, a prominent _ politician of Nebraska, and sub- mitted the matter to the President, but received no ouragement. A. B. Casey of New Jersey and W. E. of New York, chairman ard sec: ively, of a meeting of repre- colored eltizens of the country, © a few days ago, presented a me- to the President asking for recogni- ticn of the negro race in the appointinents to be made. The concluding paragraph of the memorial was an appeal in behalf of ex-Representative Cheatham to the re- cordership of deeds. Cheatham is alluded to in the memorial as a typical representa- tive of the negro rac Dr. Purvis, who wanis to be reinstated as surgeon-in-chief at Freedman’s Hospital, President. @ew and talked with the NINETEENTH BOARD Mr. Wight and Mr. Ross Sworn in as 0om- missioners, Mr. Ross Made President—Assignment of Duties, With Some Changes, The ninetesnth board of Commissioners cf the District of Columbia under the pres- ent form of government organized for busi- ness this morning, and consists of Commis- sioner John W. Ross, president, and Com- missioners John B. Wight and W. M. Black, captain of engineers, U. 8.’ A. There was a notable stir at the District building this morning. A new board of Commissioners was about to take com- mand of the District ship, and the clerks were imbued with the active spirit that per- vaded the building. Promptly at 9 o'clock Mr. John B. Wight arrived. He greeted the clerks pleasantly on his way to his office, and then sent for Secretary Tindall to put on the finishing touches that would make him a Commis- sioner. A moment later Dr. Tindall arrived with his old corporation Bible, that has in- ducted into office governors, mayors, mem- Lers of the legislature and’ common coun- cil, Commissioners and other officials, who are required by law to take the oath of allegiance, and swear to faithfully and hon- estly perform the duties intrusted to them. The Eible is a small affair, covered with leather, and having rudely carved on its cover a plain cross. Secretary Tindall pre- sented the Bible to Mr. Wight, an@ he ran his finger through the leaves and let it rest upon a verse. Then the oath was adminis- tered, in which he swore to support. the Constitution of the United States and faith- fully discharge the duties of his office. The verse upon which Mr. Wight's finger rested was the 9th of the 31th Psalm, and reads as follows “Oh, fear the Lord, ye His saints, for there is no want to them that fear Him.” In the meantime Commissioner Ross had arrived, and Secretary Tindall repaired at once to his room, where the oath was again administered. Commissioner Ross followed Commissioner Wight ani with de- liberation inserted his forefinger in the leaves of the sacred book. The reporter noted the verse. It was the thirtieth verse of the tenth chapter of Kings and seemed most appropriate. It runs as follows: “And the Lord said unto Jehu: Because thou hast done well in executing that which is right in mine eyes, and hast done unto the house of Ahab according to all that was in mine heart, thy children of the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel.” The swearing in con- stituted the regular program ef the official proceedings, and the new board of Com- missioners was ready to organize. President of the Board. As president of the old board Commis- sioner Ross called a meeting for the pur- pose of formally organizing. Commissioner Wight occupied the seat formerly used by Commissioner Truesdell, to the right of Commissioner Ross. The courtesi day had already been exchang board proceeded at once to business. first thing to do was to organize. Commissioner Ross promptly moved that Commissioner John B. Wight be made president of the board of Commissioners. This was as promptly seconded by Engineer Commissioner Black. Before the motion was put, however, Commissioner Wight en- tered an objection. He did not desire tae office unless ft was the wish of the admin- istration that the republican member of the board of Commissioners shou!d be its presi- dent. After some discussion. Commissioner Wight proposed that he visit the White House and learn the wishes of the execu- tive. Mr. Wight went to the White House and was promptly usner2d into the pres- ence of the President, where he explained his mission. The President replied that he ad no wishes in the matter, save an or- ganization that would Lest serve the inter- ests of the District. That he left the mat- ter entirely in the hands of the Commis- sione At ll o'clock the board promptly recon- vened. Commissioner Wight explained his interview with the President, and then re- quested Commissioner Ross to withdraw his motion. This was donc, and Commis- sioner Wight promptly nominated Commis- sioner Ross for the presidency of the board. He was promptly elected. Commissioners Wight and Black were then chosen acting presidents in the absence of the president. ‘The best of feeling prevailed at the meet- ing, and the positions of the Commissioners at the board table remain the same. Assignment of Duties, After the reorganization had been com- pleted the question of assignment of duties came up. Several changes were deemed desirable for the common good and were made, the new assignment reading now as follows: Commissioner Ross—Auditor, collector of taxes, assessor, almshouse, Washington Asylum, assessment of general and special taxes, attorney for the District, charities, gauger of liquors, reform school, schools, workhouse, property clerk, street sweeping, licenses. Commissioner Wight—Fire department, Chesapeake and Ohio canal matters, chim- ney sweeps, coal inspectors, Columbia Hos- pital, coroner, flour inspector, harbor mas- ter, hay scales, health office, insurance companies, lumber inspectors, markets, paupers, police, sealer of weights and measures, telegraph and telephone service, inspectors of wood, boliers, steam engi- neers. Commissioner BlackBuilding inspector, elevators, fire escapes, bridges, contracts, sas and meters, lamps and gas, parking commission, railroads, improvement and cpair of highways, inspectors of asphalt and cements, river front, sewers, survey- or’s office, water department, inspector of plumbing and plumbing board, under- ground conduits, superintendents of prop- erty, streets and roads, subdivision of land, computing engineer and permit clerk. The changes are as follows: Commission- er Ross gets the auditor and collector of taxes, and Commissioner Wight takes the fire department, boilers and steam en- gineers, while Commissioner Black has added to his many duties the control of the offices of the building inspector, with elevators and fire escapes. Makes a Change. ‘The first change that will strike a citizen when he visits the Commissioners’ office is the new arrangement of Commissioner Wight. Instead of having a private office, where all business was formerly attended to, he has moved his desk into the main room with his secretary, and there will meet and personally attend to all the wants of citizens. At a certain hour each day (hereafter to be decided upon) he will repair to his private office to get up his work, leaving his secretary to look after the main office. Mr. Wight brought his own secretary with him to the office. He is Mr. J. Van Allen Shields, who for the past three years has been the private secretary of the man- aging editor of The Evening Star. Mr. Shieldg is thoroughly fitted for the position which he has been called upon to fill, be- ing a young man of broad and modern views, well educated, a graduate of Colum- bian Law Scheol, and an expert stenog- rapher and typewriter. Mr. Shields 1s of the muscular Christian type, being an active and effective worker in the ranks of the Christian Endeavor Society, and one of the star players in the Saturday Night Bowling Club. He entered upon his duties today. Two Transferf. Mr. Fred. Alvey, who wes acting private seeretary to Commissioner Truesdell, has been transferred to the auditor's office to fill the position made vacant by the trans- fer of C. R. Unger. The latter takes the a made vacant by the resignation of F. Entriken. ey The AT THE WHITE HOUSE Number of Callers at the Executive Mansion Broke the Record, URGING THE SELECTION OF DR, HUNTER —_+—___ New York and Salt Lake Want the President. CASE OF BROKER CHAPMAN President McKinley and Secretary Por- ter handled an immense gathering today, @ record breaker in point of numbers. It is estimated that between 300 and 400 per- Scns were in the rooms of the President and secretary from 10 o'clock until 12 o'clock. After the hour of noon they came in great numbers. During the morning a large delegation of Kentuckians, headed by Senator Deboe, saw the President. The delegation paid a call in the interest of Dr. Hunter, who was aefeated for United States senator. The President was asked, as the unanimous request of Kentucky republicans, that Dr. Hunter be given a good foreign appoint- ment. Senator Deboe, as the spokesman of the delegation, told the President that Dr. Hunter's services to the revublican party were such as to merit appointment. The delegation stated that it preferred to see Dr.«Hunter made minister to Chile, but if that place had been decided upon the matter would be left in the hands of the President. , Senator Deboe was assured by the Pres- ident that Dr. Hunter's standing was first- class. It is now definitely settled that if ap- pointed to a mission which will be satis- factory Dr. Hunter will not push his con- test for a seat in the House. The delega- tion which visited the President this morn- ing did not confer with Dr. Hunter as to his wishes. The delegation was composed of Senator Deboe, Attorney General Tay- lor, Auditor Stone, Treasurer Long, John P. Ernst, Samuel’ J. Roberts, ex-Repre- sentative John W. Lewis, Representative Colson, Representative Pugh and Leslie Combs. Senator Deboe has not yet taken up the matter of the best federal places in Ken- tucky. The following postmasters, how- ever, have been decided upon: John Meyer at Newport, J. E. Stevens at Hickman and O. B. Happy at Mayfield. it is not known how Senator Debve stands in reference to Brutus Clay, son of Cassius Clay of Kentucky, but it is sald by Ken- tuckians that Brutus Clay will get an ap- pointment in the foreign service. It is asserted that K. J. Hampton, re- publican state central committeeman of Winchester, will be appointed United States marshal for Kentucky. He is one cf the most popular republicans in the state and is a great friend of Senator Deboe. President Invited to Utah. Jvdge G. B. Barch of the supreme court of Utah and Mr. George Q. Cannon, one cf the presidents of the Mormon Church and father of Senator Cannon, visited the White House and ail the executive de- partments today to invite the President and the members of his cabinet to attend the semi-centennial celebration of the founding of the Mormon Church in Utah, to be held at Salt Lake City Juiy 24 next. The President's Memorial Day Plans. General J. R. O’Beirne, General Geo. B. Loud, Colonel E. G. Tuckerman and Major E. M. Condon of New York, represent- ing the Memorial day committee of the Grand Army posts of New York city, called on the President this morning, accompanied by Representatives Low and Shannon, to invite him to participate in the Memorial day exercises In New York. The President said to the committee that he wanted to accept an invitation to West Point on Me- morial day, and if he did so he would try to reach New York city in the afternoon. The Chapman Case. It was admitted at the White House today that the friends of Elverton R. Chapman, the sugar witness, had asked the President to pardon him. A number of the friends of Chapman have called on the President and talked with him. The President, it is learned, has not intimated that he will grant the pardon, but he has intimated that there will be no prospect of his exercising clemency until Chapman has nade amends in the way of an apology to the committee whose questions he refused to answer. This apology would also have to be accompanied by a full retraction of his course and an ex- pression of regret. This might be looked upon by the President as a vindication cf the law and sufficient warning to witnesses in future cases of the kind. lven under these circumstances the President hes not said anything positively indicating the par- don of Chapman. Alaska Appointments. Senator Burrows, accompanied by Wm. M. Ebner, a prominent business man of Alaska, conferred with the President about Alaskan nominations. The President will take up Alaska miatters in the course of a week or two. . National Committeeman Lyons of Geor- gia spoke to the President in behalf of Col. H. P. Farrow for an auditorship. The im- pression is that Colonel Farrow may be given a deputy auditorship. Mr. Lyons saw the President a few days ago about General Longstreet for railroad commis- sioner to succeed General Hampton. Mr. Lyons strongly believes that General Long- street will be appointed. Chief Is-par-he-cher of the Creek na- tion, a fine representative of the Indian race, was at the White House with Sena- tor Bate today. He has arranged for a long interview in a few days. S. B. Calla- han, the private secretary of the big chief, and G. W. Grayson, delegate of the Creek nation, were with the chief. South Carolina visitors during the day were E. M. Brayton, one of the leaders of the Brayton faction; Dr. Clayton, state chairman of that faction, and candidate for postmaster ut Columbia; W. W. Rus- sell, candidate for United States marshal, and D. T. Bounds, candidate for the post office at Greenville. They will see the President again. Representative Pickler is asking the ap- pointment of W. S. Glass of South Dakota to a consulship, that of Glasgow preferred. Gold Democrats Call. Ex-Mayor Wm. R. Grace of New York and Henry Watterson of Kentucky were among the distinguished Visitors of the day. Mayor Grace was in the President's room some time, and later had a confer- ence with Secretary Porter. It is believed that be is asking an appointment for a gold democrat. Senator Kyle and Terrell Patterson of South Dakota saw the Presidcut. Mr. Pat- terson 13 a candidate for an Indian agency. Senator "Hawley and Representative Sperry of Connecticut indorsed the appli- cation of Mr. Le Doux of Maine for the consulsh‘p at Three Rivers, Canada. Granted a Private Audience. Logan Union, No. 2, Woman's. Veteran Relief Union, Auxiliary to the Union Vet- erans’ Union, wes granted a private audi ence with Mrs. McKinley yesterday after- noon. The secretary of the mion, Miss Jessie McGowan, standing at the right of Mrs. McKinley, introduced each member. ‘Those present included Mrs. _ H. Beck, president; Mrs. Samuel M. Titer, B.V.P.; Mrs. S. S. Poynton, J.V.P.¢ Mrs. E. J. Ying- ling, chaplain; Mrs. Georgianla Evans, cou- ductress; Mrs. C. A. Kibbey, Mrs. M. Burk, Mrs. M. Myers, Mrs. J. R. McConnell, Mrs. Kate Hamilton, Mrs. B. Winters, Mrs. J. F. Ferry, Mrs. H. Wheeler, Mrs. F. Avis, Mrs. N. Atkinson, Mrs. L. Seward, Mrs. Florida Bogia, Miss M. F. McGowan, Miss A. Yingling, Miss G Holmay and Miss Levis Seward. 4 Messrs. Ellis and Tongue, the Oregon members of the House, talked with the President about Oregon men who have made application for positions. Ex-Senator Warner Miller, Senator War-. ren, National Committeeman Kerens of Missouri, Representative Pearce of Mis- souri, Representative Mills of Mlinois, Sen- ator Proctor, Senator Nelson and a host of others were callers. -: Pardoned. The President today granted pardons and commutations to several men convicted of violating United States laws. They were as follows: Fred. Hartwell, eenvicted in New York of counterfeiting; fine remitted. Charles P. Alford, convicted in*Georgta of counterfeiting; sentence of two years com- muted to expire June 1897. W. B. Thom- as, convicted in Missouri April 30, 1895, of counterfeiting; sentence of four years com- muted to tvo years. W. H. Morrison of Missouri, convicted April 30, 1895, and sen- tenced to four years; sentence commuted to two years. J. T. Sparks and Island Sparks, convicted in the Indian territory, February 4, 1897, of theft, and sentenced to one year each; unconditionally pardoned. Too Many for Him. The crowd was too large to handle in full today, ard shortly after noon this sign was put on the door of Secretary Porter’s room: ‘The President and secretary are out, and will not return to the office this afternoon.” RESIGNED AS SECRETARY District Commissioner Wight and the Board of Trade. Committees Appointed to Express Re- grets and to Prepare for the Visit of South American Merehants. District Commissioner John. B. Wight has sent President 8. W. "Woodward his resignation as secretary of the board of trade, a position he has filled since the crganization of that bedy with. signal use- fulness and earnest and unremitting devo- tion, In the letter Mr. Wight, among other things, says: “In severing my relationg with the di- rectors and with the board of trade in this official capacity, I beg leave to express, through you, my sincere ‘appreciation of all the courtesies which Ij have enjoyed from the members of the boar4 of direc- tors and of the board of trade. If I have done anything to advance the Interesis of the beard and«through the® board. the in- tercsts of the District, I am amply. repaid for whatever time and effort I haye-given. “I trust that the board of trade may con: tinue to grow in prosperity and in useful ness, and I assure you that ig will always be my pleasure to co-operate Wit it’ im any way that I can.” : The Quention 6f a Suceéssor. It is probable that no’ permanent suc- cessor to Mr. Wight a® secretary will be selected until the autumn meeting. Mr. Arthur O'Neill, who has been the very capable and energetic assistant secretary for the past year, will perform the duties of secretary until that time. . Heretofore a secretary has been selected from among the mem@ers of the board of directors, but it it believed that the growth of the board and the rapidly increasing importance of the duties of a secretary will require the appointment of some one who ¢an give his entire time and attention to the position. This view is held by a large majority of the directors. The board of directors of:the poard J:a& appointed a committee consisting of Presi- dent Woodward, Dr. Samuel E. Busey and Mr. John Joy Edson to draw up a memorial suitably expressing the regrets of the 4i- rectors and of the board of trade at losing the services of Mr. Wight aa seeretary. The directors have also appointed a com- mittee, consisting of President S. W. Woodward, Charles J. Bell and John Joy Edson, to make arrangements for enter- taining the fifty South American mer- chante who will shorily visit this coun- try as gueste of the Philadelphia mu- seums, when they come to Washington. The entertainment here will probably con- sist of a tour through the city and a lunch- eon and recention at the Arlington Hotel. The party will probably be in Washing- ton about June 8. Rintene eet): 3) PENSION OFFICE REORGANIZATION. Rumors of Contemplated Changes Among the Clerks. There is a feeling of uncertéinty among many clerks of the bureau of pensions over the report that diviajon chiefs are planning the reorganization of the force by promotions and reductions. It is claim- ed by those who favor this reorganization that during the last administration there were many cases in which favorites were prcmoted because of personal or political reasons. The general scheme for reorgani- zation under the new chiefs will be ap- proved by Commissioner Evans before it is put into effect. —_—__~-e+___+___ APPLICATIONS FOR PLACE. = Some of Those Who Want Treasury Department Positions. The following applications have been filed for places under the Treasury Department: W. R. Smith of Lexington, Ky., to be reg- ister of the treasury; M. H, Ewers of Tu cola, Ill., to be collector of customs at Sit- ka, Alaska; B. F. Alford of Kentucky, to be surveyor of customs at Louisville,,.Ky.; J. P. Tanner of Ilincis, to be appraiser of customs at Chicago, W. S, Steel of Penn- sylvania, to be coiner in mint at Bhiladel- phia; G. W. Hogan of McLeamsbora, Ill., to be collector of. internal revenne at Cairo, lll; L. 8. Wilcox of Champaign, Ilk, to be collector of internal ravenue at Spuingfield, Tl; William Daniel of Longyiew,; Texas, to be collector of internal revanue ag Dallas, Texas; T. J. Reid of Missoni, ta be in- spector of steam vessels at St Lougs, Mo.; 8. W. Gould of Cleveland, . t@ be in- spector of steam vessels at IN. Y¥.; James H. Green of Buffalo, N, % to be inspector of steam vessels at Bi lo, MR. CALHOUN’S ASSISTANT. George W. Fishback of Missouri Se- lected an His Secretary.. George Welton Fishback of Missouri has been selected by W. J. Calhoun as a secfe- tary to accompany him to Cuba to assist in the conduct of the Ruiz investigation. Mr. Calhoun does not speak Spanish, while Mr. Fishback 1s not a minted with the language, but alse with h cus- toms, legal and social, gnd. ponsequently will be a valuable assistant tojhis principal in the investigation. foF some time secretary-of the ‘unite Bistes legation at Buenos Ayres, and recently accompanicd the delegation of business men from the United States who visited South America. Mr. Calhoun was tor; an hour today im consult As- oes he oo re) e scar it flied by “Mra "Rule's ‘Mtieenets statement ‘J = the ate Migs ert rich she husband's lite, ' BEE: ee. SPECIAL P. 0. AGENTS|J4PAN AND Hawati Counsellor A. W. Stevens Not Going to Hono- Principal Topic Before the Civil Serv- ioe Investigating Committee. REPORTS ON THE LAW'S WORKING Exemption of Chief Clerks and Chiefs Favored. SOME STARTLING CHARGES The Senate committee on retrenchment and reform in the civil service resumed the inquiry into the operations of the civil service law this morning. Letters from several government officials and heads of bureaus and departments were laid before the committee and read. Acting Indian Commissioner Smith rec- ommended the continuance of the present laws, with the repeal of the limit of ninety days for temporary appointment, because the ecivil-service commission is not always able to supply men in that time. Director Wolcott of the geological survey reported that the civil service classification covered all offices in the bureau, had oper- ated satisfactorily and should not be changed. The commissioner of railroads, Gen. Wade Hampton, recommended the continuance of the law. Secretary Bliss Favors Certain Ex- emptions, A letter from Secretary Bliss of the In- “In my opiion this department should each have the right to appcint a private secretary or confidential clerk. The chief clerk of this department and the chiefs of division should, in my opinion, be These officers occupy confidential relations to the Secretary, and on their briefs or recom- mendations he is dependent to a large cx- terior Department said: the commissioners of exempt from the classified service. tent for the proper conduct of his office. I am of opinion also that the special agéats, such as land and timber inspectors, mineral land commissioners, and particularly the special Indian agents, and the appointment of such, should be more directly under the control of the Secretary, who is responsible for their actions, and who must depend upon them very largely for his knowledge of affairs in distant regions. “The grave responsibility resting upon the Secretary of the Interior for action taken upon the recommendations of such officers makes it necessary, in my opinion, that he should have a controlling voice ia their appointment. Ht might be practicabie to form an examining board within the de- partment, say, of the Secretary, or acti e secretary, ard the four commissioners, who should make such special examination of applicants for these offices as may be ju- dicious.”” Secretary Bliss states that-civil service rules have been promulgated in the De- partment of the Interior and carefully ob- served. on sie A letter from the commissioner of pen- sions was received and read. Colonel Evans recommended that the following positions be exempted from the classified service: The chief clerk, appointment clerk, private secretary, chiefs of divisions, special ex- aminers and physicians composing the med- {cal examining boards. He asserts that these positions should be under the control of the commissioner in order to insure har- monious and effective organization. « The commissioner of the general land of- fice, in a letter to the committee, made the following statement: “Civil service rules have-been promul- geted in this bureau to the fullest extent, leaving only the commissioner and assi: ent comthissioner, with the laborers, ex- empt from its operations. “The existing rules of the civil service should be modified so far as the bureaus of all the departments are concerned in re- spect to their application to chief clerks, chiefs of divisions, receiving clerks and confidential clerks, the inspectors and also to all special agents of the departments, includizg mineral land commissioners in Montana and Idaho, mine inspectors and principal examiners’ of land claims and contests.”” Continuing, the letter of Commissioner Hermann said: “These officers sustain close confidential relations to the heads of the departments and the bureaus, the special agents being required to have the qualifications of de- tectives, which qualifications can only be tested by experience and’ observation and by reputation, and nat by any civil service examination. Commissioner Hermann Argues ot Length. “The chiefs of divisions should be espe- clally exempt from the classified service, because their relations are not only con- fidential to the bureau head, but they con- stitute the last line of demarkation be- tween the political relations of the admin- istration and the justly clerical or civil service divisions of the departments. The chief of a division is its presiding officer. and should possess the qualities essential to a presiding officer, and his general de- portment should be such as to command the respect and add to the discipline of the corps. He should be selected especially as to his general fitness as such chief. “If it is assumed that the dominant party should shape the legislation of the coun- try in consonance with the policies which it sustains, it has a right to know that the chiefs of divisions, who firet shaped recom- mendations as they are called for through the various divisions, are in perfect sym- pathy with the party policies. The most important legislation in Congress emanates from the division in the form of reports on measures pending in Congress, and which are usually first submitted to the heads of the departments, and by them to the heads of bureaus, who, in turn, submit to the chiefs of division: “The chief clerks are confidential advisers of the heads of bureaus and departments, and are the custodians of important secrets which involve the public interest, while at the same time they should be in the high- est sense acceptable and personally agree- able to the one who must repose confidence in them. “The heads of departments and bureaus can all be trusted to select only such-per- sons for the particular places named as shell have all the necessary qualifications and fitness therefor. “The heads of departments are allowed by the civil service rules personal confiden- tial clerks and secretaries, whereas the heads of bureaus do not possess this privilege. The commissioner's personal corresepondence is opened by his clerk, and money contained in sald letters to him is first received and valuable secrets affecting the interests of the service are thus reveal- ed to him by such correspondence. “In my opinion the civil service law should be amended, but not repealed as a whole; amendments would bring the sys- tem more within the true intent of civil service reform and would strengthen and not impair it.” : Commissioner Harris Jadorses the Law. ‘The commissioner of education, Dr. Har- ris, wrote to the committée, in part, as fol- lows: _ “I ‘think the civil service law should be continued as it is and not repealed. it seems to me that the existing law of Con- gress in regard to civil service does not heed any amendment, because it already pees a pbicssreened and through him, to i service commission, sufficient pow- ‘er to: develop'@ perfect system. The proper lulu. Reports of Trouble With the Republic Have Been Mi itated— Statement at the Legation. Tacoma, Wash., saying: Pacific steamer Pelican, from the orient, of the Japanese legation in the United once to aid aru, Japanese representative at Honolulu, watian government. Stevens, counsellor of the legation, above dispatch. abandoned as unnecessary. Recent advices to the legation show that people of that country, are in no way agi- Japanese government emigration to Hawail. It is also stated that the dispatch of a Japanese warship to Honolulu was in no serse a menace, hut was intended simply to restrain any possible demonstration by the Japanese tere, in co: sequence of the exclusion of Japanese immigrants The authorities are desirous of securing indem- exclusion of Japanese immigrants. The exclusion. In this connection it is stated that an offer by the Unitcd States to use its good offices in securing a settlement of the frovkles would doubtless be accepted by Japan. ° has put a stop to all / WHEATON RETIRES, GE Conclusion of Active Military Service of Over Forty Years. Maj. Gen. Frank Wheaton, - commanding the department of Colorado, retired from active service today on account of age. He entered the military service in 1855, being appointed from Rhode Island, of which state he was a native. He served throughout the war with distinction, and won three brevets for gallant and meritor- Spottsylvania and last -at Toloptomy and Celd Harbor, for which last servive he was brevetted major general of volunteers. He Was also in command of a division of the Oth Corps engaged in the defens: of Wash- ington ai the time of Early’s raid. In April Gen. Wheaton, then a brigadier gen- eral, was promoted to be a major general over the bead of Gen. Brooke, in order to permit of his retirement with tne hignest rank, a consideration which his war cerv- ices had earned. The promotions that will fotlow result of this retirement have not yet been arranged, and there is a Vigorous struggle in progress among a number of army of- ficers tor preferment. —-o-____ GEN. -TYNER’S APPOINTMENT. Right of the President to Except the Place From Examination Criticised. The appointment of General Tyner to be assistant attorney general for the Post Office Department has been -riticised by some as a violation of the civil serv law, in that the place being under the Post Office Department was included within the classified service by an order of President Cleveland. Civil Service Commissioner Procter today Stated that when Presiaeat Cleveland cr- deved the classification of the Post Office Department it was not supposed that the place of atsistant attorney general for that department was within the scope cf that order. When it was found that such was the case the matter was brought to the attention of President McKinley, who excepted the place, allowing the xppoint- ment to be made without examination by the civil service commission. The announcement that the President had excepted this place after it had been in- cluded” in the classified service, even if such classification was the result of a mis- take, has created surprise, as the commis- sion has contended that whea once a place was included in the classified service by order of the President, under authority of the civil service law, such action had the force of law and could not be rescinded except by act of Congress. é At the office of the civil service com- mission tcday it was stated that this view of the effect of once including a place in the classified service was the accepted opin- ion of the commission, but it was not gen- erally understood that the President still retained the power to “except” any place from examination and to make the eppoint- ment without the iniervention of the com- mission, the place still being in the classi- fied service, the only restriction placed upon such power being the provision that he could make “necessary” exceptions, ++ ———-— COMING OF MARQUIS ITO. The Former Japanese Premier Ex- pected Later in the Monti The Japanese officials here and in New York are making great preparations for the reception and entertainment of Marquis Ito, the former prime minister of Japan, who is expected in this city about the end of the present month. According to recent infor- mation from Tokio, Prince Takehito of Arisugawa has been appointed to represent the Emperor of Japan at the diamond jubi- lee of Queen Victoria. He is making the journey to London by way of the Suez ca- nal, Marquis Ito has also been appointed to act in a similar capacity. He will make the trip to England by way of the United States. Marquis Ito is known as Japan's greatest statesman. As Count Ito he was prime minister of J: during the war with China, and in in recognition of his services, the emperor promoted him to the renk of marguis and conferred on him the Grand Order of Merit and the Grand Cor- don of the Order of the Chrysanthemum, a distinction never before conferred on any one outside of the imperial family. Hot Springs Hospital Admissions. President McKinley has amended the reg- ulations governing admissions to the Army and Navy General Hospital at Hot Springs, Ark., by adding to the class of persons to be admitted to the hospital honorably dis- C soldiers and sailors of the regular and volunteer army and navy of the United States, under such conditions and reguia- tions as may be prescribed by the surgeon general of the army and approved by the tary of War. ———————2-—___ Mr, Roosevelt at the Navy Yard. Assistant Secretary Roosevelt made an official visit. of inspection to the gun fac- tory of the Washington navy yard this afternoon and was received with the honors eee ee ees ite of aid, Lieut. Sharpe. A telegram was received here today from ‘The Northern brings advices that Count Okuma, Japan- ese minister at Washington, has been in- structed to dispatch the American adviser States, Mr. D. W. Stevens, to Hawaii at in settling the Hawaiian trouble. It is expected that Mr. Stevens and Counsellor Akyami, sent from the for- eign office at Tokio, will assist Mr. Shim- in conducting negotiations with the Ha- A Star reporter who visited the Japanese legation here today was informed that Mr. was not going to Hawaii, as indicated in the It appears that when trouble seemed im- minent a short time ago, the Japanese au- thorities instructed Minister Hoshi to have Mr. Stevens proceed to Hawaii. Subse- quently, however. the situation became more pacific, and Mr. Stevens’ trip was the Japanese goverrment, as well as the tated over the Hawaiian situation. The ious services, first at Gettysburg, then at- Greeks were retreating from Pharsalos w: THE STAR BY MAIL, Persons leaving the city for any period can have The Star mailed to them to any address in the United States or Canada, by ordering ft at this office, in person or by letter. Terms: 13 cents per week; 25 cents for two weeks, or W cents per month. Invariably in advance. Sub- scribers changing their address from one Post-office to another should give the last address as well as the new one, OO ———— TURKS OCCUPY VOLO ees Foreign War Vessels Land Marines to Guard the City. TORKISH MASSACRES IN EPIRUS Rumors of Further Dissensions in the Greek Cabinet. —— NEWS CONFLICTING ———_>—__—_ WAR VELESTINO, May 8.—The Greeks have evacuated Volo. Detachments of marines have been landed from the British, Rus- Sian, French, Austrian and German war- ships off that place to guard the tcwn. The foreign consuis have arrived to con- fer with Edhem Pasha, the Turkish com- mander. As this dispatch is being cent the Turkish troops are entering Volo. The Greeks who fled to Almyros will re- join the main body of the Greek forces at Domokos. Begin Wholesale Massacres. LONDON, May 8—A dispatch Daily Chronicle from Athens says: “Celonel Manos wires from Arta that the Turks have begun a wholesale massacre of the inhabitants in the interior of Epirus, Almost alf the inhabitants of the village of Kanvarina have been murdered, a few only escaping to the mountains. From oth- er parts women are arriving at Arta in the most miserable condition, begging pro- tection for their husbands and children, who are being murdered by the enraged Turkish troops. Many of these poor crea- tures have gone mad. Some are unable to articulate a single word: others relate un- speakable atrocities. “The blockade of the coast of Epirus wii begin at 6 o'clock Saturday morning (:o- Gay). Both Greek squadrons have been ordered there for that purpose. “Gen. Smolenski’s brigade has been or- dered to join the main army at Domokos. The Greek losses during the fighting at Velestino yesterday are estimated to have been over 300. to the Cabinet Crisis Impending. LONDON, May &—The Athens spondent of the Daily News says: “It is persistently rumored that a cabi- net crisis is impending. M. Raili and his colleegues advocate energetic preparations to continue the struggle, while the king de- sires to avoid further bloodshed.” ATHENS, May 8.—A dispatch from Arta says that Fuad Bey, the Turkish comman- der, through the Greck priest at Arta, has issted a proclamation to the Christian popvlation, ordering them to lay down their arms, as, otherwise, their villages wiN be burned. The environs of Kanja, in Turkish ter- ritory, are burning. War News Confui LONDON, May 8.—The news from the Seat of war is still somewhat confusing as corre- to the exact positions of the Greeks; but it appears certain that Gen. Smolenski at Almyros and Domokos is not in a geo- graphically strong position. The Turks have full control of the read leading from Thessaly to the valley of Spherchios and Lamia by the Mochluka Pess, while no obstacie exists to prevent them from advancing by Turka Pass and cutting off all communications with Do- mokos and Lamia. At no point during the retreat of the Greeks from Pharsalos on Wednesday was there anything like a rout, although their ranks were mowed by Turkish shrapnel. The Turkish lines advanced quietly and irresistibly, the gaps closing up instantly as if the men were not only indifferent, but actually unconscious of the fire. The Greek wounded who were found at Pharsalos said that the Greeks hardly made a@ pause after entering the town, the re- treat beginning almost immediately. They left behind them great quantities of army biscuits, 2,800 shells, a large store of musketry and ammunition, but they took their field guns. The retreat was noi the result of a general plan, for the position could not have been carried without ener- mous loss. Therefore, their sudden retreat must have been due to the fact that the troops could no longer be trusted to fight even from the strongest position. Real soldiers would not have quitted the Greek positions on the hills without a terrible re- sistance. The Greek loss is estimated at 250. The streets of Pharsalos are now full of Turk- ish soldiery, chatting gaily and drinking eagerly at the wells. All the adjoining vil- lages are deserted except by old men, who have taken refuge in the churches, Turkish Artillery Practice Bad. LONDON, May 8.—A dispatch to the Daily Chronicle from Domoxos, dated Thursday, says: “The Turkish artillery practice when the luckily, very bad. Some confusion marked the beginning of the retreat, but this soon disappeared. The rear guard behaved re- markably well, and the artillery remained until dawn, guarding the entrance to the pass. “The troops marched all night, and reached this lofty position soon after dawn, They immediately began preparations for a resolute defense. Heavy guns have been already admirably mounted. "There is no sign of the Turks on all the brcad plain, 1,200 feet below. The Greeks are in excellent spirits.” ATHENS, May 8—The newspapers of this cyy published a report yesterday to the effect that Volo would be declared a nevtral port, and that the Turks, therefore, would not occupy it. The minister for foreign affairs, M. Skou- lovdis, in an interview, ts quoted as saying that the powers have not yet taken steps to communicate with the Greek ministry on the subject of intervention, although he understood the powers were discussing seme form of intervention. Whether it weuld be direct intervention or simply mediation, M. Skouloudis could not sey.