Evening Star Newspaper, September 25, 1897, Page 13

THE EVENING STAR. PUBLISHED DAILY EXCEPT SUNDAY. AT THE STAR BUILDINGS, 1101 Pennsylvania Avenne, Cor. Lith &t, by Kew York Office, 49 Potter Puilding. ‘The Evening Star is served to subscribers {2 the city by carriers, on their own a-cou at 10 cents per week, or 44 certs per month. Copies at the counter Z cents each. By mail—anywhere in the United States or Canada—pestage prepald—50 cents per menth. Saturday Qcintuple Sheet Star, $1 per year, with foreign pestage added, $3.00. (Entered at the Post Office at Washington, D. C., as second-cla. + mail matter.) 57 All mail subscriptions must be paid In advance. Rates of advertising made known on appl ee : Che Lvening * The Evening Star is the afternoon paper in Washingtos that receives the dispatches of the Associated _Press. It is therefore the only one in which the reader can find the complete news of the world, directly trans- mitted by telegraph, up to the moment of going to press. WASHINGTON, D.2 C., SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 1897—-TWENTY-FOUR PAGES. ee es i P ties that we control. above the average—and prices possible. gument. Ladies’ Tailor-llade Suits We shall specify a half dozen —and they will lead you to see the many others that are exceptionally attractively priced. We want to call your particular attention to the ele- gance of the making—not a bit like what you have known as ready-made heretofore. No custom tailor can make a bet- ter showing. And they will fit you perfectly when they leave our hands to go into your wardrobe. We are confident we are pointing to a consid- erable saving. Navy Blue and Black Cheviot Walk- ing Suits. made with fly-front coats that gre lined all through with silk Serge: ski are pew cut and lined with per © pecial 1 2 price, ° Black, Navy Blue a reen Cheviot Suits, fly-front Ju ket seams, aml lined all through w Dla taf- fh sit Skirts are cut right, and are pere lined. pee, $13.50 price, ° ° sian Ti fouse Suits, made novell cl in the Waists are silk on the fronts; h perealine. $15. Special price, Mned with ine and bound with velvet. Special 925. [Tice, ‘ ing Suits, made of z 1; jackets have t bined suit is lined } with Roman striped taffeta silk. Special $33. Ladies’ Capes. Here is a good big value for your consideration. If you get a Cape—and you cannot get a more comiortable gar- mient for fall wear—you can- not get one for the price that will give you any better sati price, eseagegegoasrasoagorgongegeagenseagententondbagregegeasoatoatoagentasteetoatenteegengeegecgeteatoatengongenectecteateesontenteateaengergerteetorgesteatesfontectesteeseste stone sere estos soatoatontenteng sgatoatoaseasengeniegteatoatontengengesgeguateasengengengeegugecteetoateacengengeogesgesgeceaseanensenengengegeatonzengeogesgoatoateaseaseegeeegeateeseageetoateatengegy % faction. They are stylishly % made, in perfect accord with 4 the latest fashion—and _ well- eg hack ely tin hand sed ‘ proper len md with toll aii Special $15. : s es e Ladies’ Dress Skirts. From the cheapest one we show—to the best—quality ams ahead of the price. You can rely on all you see here being all right in style, and hang. Our maker knows how to make them to please the most particular among price, Sedodoadagendnncnndnnngendeneniedetdendenndandnand And our cost lines are finely drawn. power cash has to dictate we have exercised—to your profit. If you will do us the honor to inspect—we are not fear- fui of the results. Such a Kine of garments must win your, favor. On Monday we shall quote some of the special prices that will be in control of some of the more conspicuous qualities. They ought to add to the temptation of worth’s ar- Special Prices on Ladies’ New-Style Suits, Skirts, Capes and Silk Waists for Monday- PERRY’S. We have every reason to congratulate ourselves upon the reparations we have made for this season in Ladies” Suits, Wraps, Waists, etc. We have every reason to feel thoroughly satisfied with the selection of styles that we have made. Every indication points to your complete satisfaction. fully chosen stock—full of rich, handsome, exclusive novel- It is a large stock—catering to every taste—coming within the reach of every purse. It is a stock that is characteristic of the “Greater It is a care- Store” — with ' values Just as snug to the cost line as Whatever Black Sicilian and Novelty Cloth Skirts, cut in the latest styles; lined With perealine and bound with ¥elvet. Special $5.00. price, Figured Gros Grain Skirts, newest effects, lined with percaline and bound Special price, Brocaded Satin Skirts, in a fine as- sortment of patterns, made in the latest styles, lined with percaline, pre 98.50. price, Figured Gros Grain Silk Skirts, new : styles, Hned with changeable taffeta silk. 3 mee, OL 1.50 price, ° ° Tmported Black Cheviot Cloth Skirts, je with lapped seams, cut in new kk perfect’ hang, and lined all through ith hes taffeta silk—in colors and Black. Velvet bound. Special $10. Ladies’ Silk Underskirts. It is a fashion that has grown to the popularity of a fad. And no wonder, they are so attrac- tively shaded and shaped this season. We mention but three lines—they are three big values. Ought not to take you very long to make up your mind to get one of these new ones—and now—while these special prices make it so easy. Chanzeable Taffeta in all the new shade corded flounce. Special price, price, Underskirts, made with deep $5.. made with deep corded flow wi percalive and bound wit Le Special price, $6.50. ta Silk Urder- newest patterus, made Jn Je, with dust ruffle. Special § 1) 2, price, Ladies’ Black Silk = » SredoeteeSensongontongoegoeteegen tes ntoatortoroedonosdentensersesseesre sensors orcoreenzondonzer Garces ser Sos eres Zordorcodtan loans deste eeaceatoasnatnraresmeseetestesteet We foresaw the demand— provided for it—and instead of having to increase the prices —we are in a position to make special offerings of these —as perfect fitting, and made of as fine grades of silk as any you will find. It is a very bargain-like opportunity. ‘4 oats Black Taffeta Silk Shirt with tucked blouse bishop ‘sleeves and Whit linen « Special 5 price— ° Black ta Sill Shirt THE NATIONAL GUARD Meeting of the Nati‘nal Rifle Asso- ciation Will Be Postponed. OBSTACLES HAVE BEEN CLEARED AWAY Opinions of Authoftties Regarding the New Silhouette Targets. ELECTIONS OF‘OFFICERS Guardsmen generally, *:d especially those perticularly interested rifle practice, have been on the anxiov* bench for a fort- night past as regards “e second annual meeting of the Nationa! Rifle Association. The understanding was. ‘hat the. meeting would take place at the ‘srdway range the week beginning October #: ard the appear- ance of the program o/ events has been eagerly awaited. The d‘:ay in circulating the program has been d\2 to the impossi- bility cf securing, as so7.\ as was desired, the approval of the Cor missioners of the District and the Treasur? Department offi- cials for the expenditure from: the District militia appropriation of ‘Aoney to be used as cash prizes in connect!sn with the meet- irg. All obstacles, it is tought, have now keen cleared away, but “ie time of prepa- ration for the matches is so limited that it has been deemed advisals’: to postpone the meeting. So far as is now known, the competitions will be helu: the week begin- ning October 11. The matter of the ex'enditure for the purpose mentioned had first to go the rounds of the District Cc’-.missioners. Next it was forwarded to the treasury Depart- ment, and rested there styeral days. After the treasury officials wee convinced thai everything was all right, the papers were returned to the District uilding, for an- other journey through official channels. It is hoped that from now ‘2 everything will be plain sailing. Selection of thi Teams. The selection of teams fr the rifle match- es and the practice of ‘he teams when selected will occupy thc: greater part of time and attention for th: next few weeks. ‘The range is open jaily fiom 1 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Mondays are set eside fcr skirmish practice, Wednesdays for long-distance fir- ing, Thursdays the National Rifle Associa- tion matches and Saturdays for long-di tance practice. Inspector,of rifle pract will issue certificates for ammunition to members of the guard who for any reason failed to complete the official practice on the range the day set aside for the practice of their respective orgarization: ‘The Ordway rang= has been leased to the 4th Artillery, United States army, for the nonth beginning October 18. The regulars will have entire possesion of the range for ‘their practice during the period mentioned, £0 it behooves District guardsmen who have not completed their scores to take ad- vantage of the opportunity to face the targets prior to the beginning of the meet- ing of the National Rifle Association. A short railroad track has been con- structed at the range for the moving tar- get to be used in one of the new competi- ion: The target will be operated by means of a drum and 2 wire rope. Elections of Officers. A special order has been issued from headquarters, directing the enlisted mgn of Company C, 2d Battalion, to assemble at their armory, 915 E_ street, Tuesday even- ing, October 5, at S o'clock, for the purpose of electing a first lieutenant and a sccond lieuterant. The order directs Capt. Charles Somner Domer to preside at the election. In obedience to special orders from head- quarters, the enlisted men of Company A, 1st Separate Battalion, will assemble at their armory, O street between 6th and 7th streets, Monday evening, October 4, at 9 o'clock, for the purpose of electing a sec- ond Heutenant. Capt. John H. Campbell, Company B, 1st Separate Battalion, will preside. e No Longer Guardsmen. Because of removal from the District, Private Harry Kimmel, Company A, 2d Battalion; Private Reuben H. Taylor, Com- pany A, Ist Separate Battalion, and Private Thomas Glasi, Brigade Band, have been honorably discharged. Privates Andrew Hogen and Louis 8. Sinclair, both of Com- pany’“A, 1st Separate Battalion, and Private Frank Jones, Company A, 1st Battalion, have been discharged in the interest of the service. Ambulance Corps at Wor! The ambulance corps begins drill season by claiming the record for the largest at- tendance at regular meetings of any or- ganization in the National Guard. The corps is to be seen on the streets in the neighborhood gf the armory eyery drill night interpreting the drill regulations for the ambulance corps. The commissioned offices are filled ard an election will soon be held to provide for several vacancies among the corporals. Lieut. Fayles is un- tiring ir jhie efforts to add to the efficiency of the command. _ ‘A banquet will be given soon, when it is hoped to assemble the old members and organizers of the corps, as well as the new members, in a grand rally. Company A, 2d Battalion, The monthly meeting of Company A, 2d Battalion, postponed from September 6, was held last Monday evening. Capt. Ed- wards directed the members of his com- mand to make active preparations for the La Waists, with blouse front and tucks and plaiting of sil new sleeves, with — turn-back edged with plaiting; white linen Special $ Fi ° price— Ladies’ Black Taffeta Silk Waists, made with full fronts, trimmed with accordion plaited ruffies of silk and clusters of tacks; leg-o'-mutton sleeves and bigh stock collar, Special $ 8 ° price— small e bac ies, collar, -PERRY’S, “NINTH AND THE AVENUE.” Established 1840. Telepione 995. z aerate sone enteetenesenteetoneenteetetoeteentenecetoedoateeetoadeeetnaetoeteodetoaboenfeedeteateetetnateeee The Frigate Constitution. From the Boston Transcript. Of late much is written in our new: papers abcut the old frisate Constitution, and many schemes are devised to keep the & ant old ¢ t affoat in New England waters as long as she can be floated. Los- ton is the place of her birth, and every loyal Bostonian loves the old dock where, in 1797, she first saluted salt water. Every eid North Ender. e:pecially, holds that dock, now Constitution wharf, in pious reverence. One of my early boyhood recollections 1s going with my father, who was born in Charter street, to visit the spot where, in his eighth year, he witnessed the launch, and he described to me all of the interest- ing scene. There are but few citizens who can remember the old frigate when she went out of commission, yet there are a few, and a very few at that, who have sailed in her when she was sound and seaworthy. ‘There is a gentleman yet residing in Bos- ton who is intimately known to our busi- ness and literary world, who made a voy- age around the worid on the noble’ vessel, gecupying three years, from 1843 to 1846. ‘This gentleman is Mr. Benjamin F. Stevens, row, and for many years, president of the New England Mutual Life Company, who, when a lad of eighteen, started on that memorable voyage under the captaincy. of Capt. Jobn Percival (‘Mad Jack’ z ——__-eee.. “Wan ads. in The Star pay because they bring answers. opening of the drill season. and to com- plete rifle practice scores. Their terms of service having expired Messrs. McGlue, Hazard, Orr, Walters, Cohen and Mec- Queeny were re-enlisted. The basket ball team representing the company is indulging in regular practice. Excellent progress has been made, and Capt. Edwards aniicipates some difliculty in selecting a permanent team, as the can- didates are unusually well matched. Those who are practicing are Messrs. Clark, Dodge, Walters, Guista, Collins, Boulay, O'Connell, Rowland, Heffner, Vaughan and Godey. Sergt. Thos. Davis, captain of the team last year, has not returned from his summer vacation, but is expected’ to as- sume charge of the players October 1. Plans are under way for the redecorat- ing and furnishing of the company’s rooms. A school for officers will be opened the first Friday in October, and a drill for re- cruits is to be held the same evening. The executive committee was instructel to arrange for an entertainment next month in the quarters of the company at the armory building. Efforts are to be ex- pended in the direction of enlarging the iubrary of the company. Unfavornble Opinion of New Targets. In connection with the adoption of the sillicuette targets for the regular urmy and the National Guard of several states, the Army and Navy Journal has the following to say: “The matches at Sea Girt w:re the first opportunity which the riflemen of the Na- tional Guard have had of testing the new army silhouette targets. Their opinion, based upon this test, was strongly unfa: verable to them, both for use in matches’ and for purposes of instruction. > “They thought that the off-hand target was much too large for fine shooting, and not of a proper shape to render a score made upon it a true criterion of the skill of the firer. Its area is many times larger than the old eight-inch bull’s-eye, A shot which strikes low and nearly a foot to the Fight will count five, although it justly | should not score. more than three. So also one which strikes at the right elevation and close to the left. side of the figute, so as to be far closer than the former, counts but four. One which is two inches below the center of the gente counts nothing, while one which strikes four feet below, if it ricochets into the et, counts five. All these make luek coun} e skill. They considered that the tal ‘was even worse for purposes of instruc! . Che object of this is to train a so! to Shoot as close as possible to giveB point, and to do this it is indispensable that he should know where his shots are going, so that his er- rors may be seen and correctéd. It is also important that he should be trained to shoot low. Upon this ‘get, however, the Tow shots go into the‘bank, and, if the earth is damp, cannot seen. The men, therefore, always sheot high, so as to see where their shots strike. Size Should Be Reduced. “General Wingate and a number of others were of the opinion that if there was any military value in practicing at a mark of this shape (which they did not believe) it should be reduced in size, and that its base should be placed upon a horizontal line bisecting the center of the target. The lower half of this might be colored green to represent the ground. The target would then resemble a man lying down as much as the present one does, which is not much. If this was done a law shot would be seen and given the value which justly belongs to it, and a high one no more. At’ the same time, the men would be trained, as they ought to be, to shoot low. “The mid-range target brings in the ele- ment of luck to about the same extent as the other. A high shot-to the left will hit the elbow of the kneeling figure, and count five, while a shot six inches below, which is a much better one, counts but four. Close shots under the figure count nothing, while very low shots, if they ricochet, count as bulls. £ “It was pointed out fhat the marksman can control his elevatiow much easier than the effect of the wind. Yet this target, be- ing practically a perpendicula? line, gives no greater score for a good ‘elevation than for a bad one. Both count five, while close side shots count but four. This is reduced to an absurdity when it is recalled that the bullet from the new army rifle is greatl® affected by the wind. Yet the rifle is not furnished with a wine gauge by which the effect of the wind may be counteracted. “The same general objections also apply to the skirmishing target, the shots strik- ing the open spaces between the figure, into which space the bullets are easily car- ried by the wind, counting as misses. In other words, the targets were considered by the practical shots of the National Guard as being ‘theorists’ targets,’ which the National Guard should have as little to do with as possible.” Notes, . The companies of: the Ist Battalion will driil until further notice in accordance with the following schedule: Company A, Mon- days;Con pany C, Toesdays; Company £, ‘Thursdays, and Company D, Fridays. Word has been received from Asheville, N. C., that Fir. Lieutenant Richard J. Harden, Company 4, 4th Battaiion, who has been critically ill for mere than a year, is rapidly improving. The rcguiar monthly meeting of Com- pany A, 4th Battalion, Tuesday evening next is to be made a sort of gala occa- sion. The company means to resume work the first Tucsday in Jctober in earnest. Preparatipns are in progress for an ente tainment at one of the loca} theaters about he first of November for the benefit of the company. A red ‘lag aisplayed in front of the L street armory yesterday caused somewhat of a commotion among those interested in the property. It was soon learned, ho ever, that the flag was mercly a notice that an auction sa’ of some government property was in progress within. Captain Robbins, with a corps of assistants, burned a big wagon load of old property several days ago on the commons near the jail. For a time the party experienced con- erable difficulty, because the residents in the locality somehow or other were laboring under the impression that the property being Gisposed of was contami- pated with yellow fever germs, and that the health of the neighborhood was threat- ened. The members of the Engineer Battalion are congratulating themselves that Color Sergeant W. W. Cookson, who succumbed to illness very suddenly at Sea Girt sev. eral weeks ago, is able to be out, and on the rapid road to recovery. Sergeant Cookson after reaching home was found to be suffering from remittent fever, and his condition was considered critical for some time. He hopes to cut very much of a figure in the mstchés at Ordway next month. a GEOLOGY OF THE KLONDIKE. How the Rivers Are Changing the Country. Herold B. Goodrich in Lesile’s Weekly. A recent explorer in a part of Alaska as far removed from the newly-discovercd Klondike region as Washington is from Boston has suid: “That country is one- half made; the glacicrs are slowly doing their work, the mountains are smoking and the rivers are yomiting out quantities of quicksand.” What fs true of the Cook's Inlet country of southern Alaska is also true, in a measure, of the valley of the Yukon. There are, however, some differ- ences. In the region of the gold fields there are no glaciers. Active volcanoes, too, are so far away that it is only by the occa- sional reports of Indians or prospectors who have made a longer trip than usual that their existence is known. And yet ne can see, through all the valley of that great river of the north, abundant evi- dences of the unformed character of the country. The one thing which Strikes the traveler, be he layman or geologist, is the immense amount of work which the streams are performing. The Lewes river, down which he takes his way fo the diggings, rises, as is known, in a sertes of lakes, the largest of which is over thirty miles longs. The country in the upper. lake region is moun- tainous, with torrents plunging down through rough Valleys from the eternal snow. t The contrast between this water of the lakes, which is clear, and that of the stream emerging from them is remarkable. The latter soon es turbid, being full of sediment, so that‘one cannot see more than a quarter of an incl below the sur- face. “A basinful taken out and allowed to stand clears itself in time,,and a thick de- posit of mud is fount in the bottom of the receptacle, ET, The current boils ¢n@ flows very rapidly, and as the boat ts along a sound is beard like that of fi . Upon search- ing for the cause of ‘this sound it is found to lie in the grating “againgt the bottom of the boat of the very fine garticles of sand carried in suspensidh.. From -the moment. of entering the Lewés river until the end cf the trip this seufd is mever absent. A truly enormous amotint of material is thus borne along by the Yukon and finally emp- ted into the immense delta at its mouth in Norton’s sound. ° Managing the W: n With a Whip. From the Kansas City i. It has always beer a question with the country newspaper nfan what he would do if an indignant woman set out to horse- whip him. So: earg ago W. W. Wick of Topeka was rut i€ @ country paper and a woman assaii him on the main street of the town. He gathered her up under his arm and peraded around the square. She kicked ang; squirmed, but he marched laughingly alorg, displaying her to the crowd that had gathered. It mortified the woman so much that‘gshe left town on the first train and never.Sothered the editor afterward. - ——_- e+ ___ If you want anything, try an ad. in The Star. If anybody has what you wisa, vou wil get anvanswer, 3 SIXTH AUDITOR TALKS Office. ferment in the Past. CLERKS GIVEN HEARINGS —————— There has been a great deal of interest here over the action of Sixth Auditor Hen- ry A. Castle, who has begun a reorganiza- tion of the office under his charge. There. are seven chiefs of divisigns and about 50 clerks in the office of the sixth auditor (au- ditor for the Post Office Department), and they are looking forward with the greatest interest to the extent of the reorganiza- ticn that is to be accomplished in the force. A Star reporter today asked, Captain Castle to. give his views regarding the ap- plication of the civil service law to the government service and the manner in which he thought his office should be gov- erned by it. Captain Castle is an old ad- vodate of civil service reform and it has always been understood that his appoint- ment as sixth auditor was made largely upon the record he made as a practical civil service reformer during the five years he was postmaster at St. Paul, Minn., which place he held until last November. He has always been a stanch republican, and took a prominent part in politics im Minnesota during the thirty years of his residence there, being editor-in-chief of the St. Paul Dispatch, a leading republican paper, for ten years. During the war he Was Captain of an Illinois regiment, taking up his residence in Minnesota shortly af- ter the close of hostilities. Civil Service Reform. “Civil service reform has manifestly come to stay,” replied Capt. Castle, in reply to @ question by The Star reporter. “There will be differences of opinion as to its scope d the practicability of its extension to all branches of the public service. There will be reactions if it is extended too fast or too far. There will be friction and incon- sistency and dishonesty at times in its ad- ministration, but the general principle sound. It has been therouhly tried, and it has been accepted by the intelligence of the American people. It will never be carded, but, on the contrary, it will con- tinue to extend its operations wherever ex- perience shall show that its methods are practicable. For more than fifteen years the civil service law has been in operation in the pi offi@s of all the leading citie of the United States. Each of these office: has been an object lesson to the business public, and to all its patrons. The marvel- ous accuracy and celerity of the posial service is largely due to this beneti: stem, and the peaple have become accustomed to this efficiency that they never consent to see it impaired. If attempt we made to destroy or seriously cripple the civil servic ‘tem in these post offi ry commercial body, every labor organization, every business corpora- tion and firm, the churches, the colleges, the schools and the whole population would rise up in earnest, angry prot these object lessons in the post offices have in a great measure inspired the demand which is visible in many sta’ actment of civi ice laws applicable to all branches of state, courty and municipal government. Thi s already been complied with in several of the largest states of the Union, and the reform is thus vigorously marching on. “What has been stated refers to cities of 50,000 population or over, where this re- form has been longest in operation, and has become most thoroughly perfected. In the smatier c' where it has been in operation for a orter period, the results are not yet so fully apparent, but ti and experience will render the people of these less populous communities cqually enthu- siastic.” “How, according to your observation, does the administration of the law in the depariments here compare with that in the city post offices you speak of?” Merit System Ignored. “As a rule the requirements of the civil service law have been honestly carried out in these post offices and the results at- tained have fully vindicated it. The same system has been ostensibly in force in the departments at Washington during sub- stantially the same period of time, but, ewing to a variety of circumstances, the law has not been properly enforced in many of these departments. The merit system, as applied to promotions, has been to a considerable extent ignored, and the old, vicious practice of promotion by politi- cal influence has been allowed to prevail. The idea apparently still lingers among employes of several of these departments that the success or failure of political par- ties throughout the country, if not the fate of the country itself, largely depends upon their partisan activity. And the senators and representatives from whose states or districts these employes come apparently attach enormous weight to their yptes and influence at their homes, sometimes a thousand miles away. If there ever was a time when this was important, that- time has now passed. In my opinion, we will not have another democratic President in this country for thirty years. “The people of the United States have had a dismal ex- perfence in that line, and have received a lesson which will last for a whole genera- tion. Consequently, the zealous partisans employed in the departments in a clerical capacity may now, it seems to me, with- draw their attention somewhat from the political field at home and devote their surplus energies to the discharge of duties for which they are paid salaries by the general government.” “Does the civil service law, then, tend to interfere with political activity? Political Liberty Guaranteed. “Not necessarily. On the contrary it guarantees political liberty, and encourages such political activity as does not interfere with the pezformance of official duty. The salient point is, that political activity ceases to be a ground for official promotion in clerical positions, and merit alone becomes the criterion.” “What will be the effect on the republi- can_ party? ‘The party will gain immensely by an honest enforcement of the law, and lose irretrievably by any backward ‘step. The principle is so thoroughly intrenched in the popular intell’gence that its abandonment in the face of past pledges will be very generally resented.” “What bas been your previous experience in administering the civil service law?” “During my service of nearly five years as postmaster of St. Paul, under two ad- ministrations of opposite politics, the con- duct of the office was entirely free from any political considerations. Its two hun- -dred employes were recruited from the eli- gible civil service list, and were promoted, removed or retained solely upon their merits. I found the office in good condition when turned over te me by my democratic predecessor. When my term cf office closed I did not know the political affilia- tions of one in ten of these two hundred employes, and the office was turned over to my democratic successor efficiently o! ganized, just as ary large business institu- tion should be. The office ranks at home and in the department here among the best in the country. I have been an active republican for more than thirty years, speaking, writing and working in every campaign since 1964. But when I take an Policy Pursued in Reorganizing His ALL PROMOTIONS BASED ON MERIT Says Political Activity Gained Pre- Seet in half. eer oo about it. sult kim about your eyes. 1103 Pa. ¢ Balto. Store, 108 N. Eutaw st. ts a se eateries, official oath it involves a pledge to obey the law. Ard the postmaster serves his party best who keeps the best post office. The best offices are these where the civil service law is most carefully observed.” “How dees that expérfence compare with your experienc: here, @s auditor for the Post Office Department Condition of the Auditor's Office. ‘When £ came to Washington to take charge of this bureau I expected to find similar corcitior It is said to be the largest accounting office in the world. Its five hundred employes are engaged upor the important work of adjusting the ac- counts of the entire postal service, with its $90,000,000 of receipts and disbvrse- ments. We keep a separate ledger account with each of the se thousand post offices in the country each of the postinast railway clerks, post office clerk letter car mail contrectors others, the We receive, the 23,000,009 money orders issued annual- ly in the United States, aggregati amount many hundreds of millions of dol- lars, All this vast and responsib' is done in this bureau over whic beea called to preside, and wher vested with many discretionary p: though entirely concerned with p¥ ters, this is a bureau of the Tr partment. “I expected to find here a well-organized and administered business — ins Where the purely business operations com- mitted to its care would be conducted on the same basis that they would be in a railroad office, bark or large manufactur- ing establishment, if one of such exte: operations could be found. I discovered, investigation, that while there was no uni- form or consistent record of the efficiency of the clerks, there was a very clear record as to the politics of every employe. it appeared also that two-thirds et least of employes relied, and aiways had re- ed, to a much greater extent upon po- litical influence to secure promotion than upon any record they had made for ef- ficiency in the discharge of their duties. T was at once overwhelmed with appli- cants for reinstatement, restoration and promotion, each applicant backed by a long string of politicai indorsements, and only a few of them making claims for preferment on grounds of efficiency.” “What action did you take on those ap- plications?” Has Proceeded Slowly. “I did not take any action. I waited to get my bearings. Meanwhile my attention was called to a report made by the demo- cratic Secretary cf the Treasury to Con- eress last winter, showing that a very jarge number of rapid, arbitrary and ap- mail parenily partisan promotions had been made in my bureau during the past four years, among those clerks ¢ by him in that report as democrats, and ihat # corresponding number of seemingly arbi- trary and partisan reductioas in salaries had been made by him among those who were classed by him as republicans, many ef them ex-Union soldiers. Loud complaint was made to me by the persons who had been thus reduced, muny alleged cases of glaring injustice were pointed out. [ have patiently labored for four months to learn what 1 could as to the merits or de- merits of these complaints, to acquaint my- self as thoroughly as possible with the personnel of the office and to study the re- quirements of the service. These promo- tions and reductions aaving vecome ac- complished facts, there is no way to reme- dy any injustice that had been perpetrated therein, except by an exhaustive process of individual investigation. It was final Gecided to settle the matter once for all by proceeding carefully with such an in- vestigation. We have taken a list of these rapid and arbitrary promotioas from Seere- tary Carlisle's official report and have called upon seventy of the beneficiaries to show whether the promotion has been jus- tified by subsequent work and present efti- ciency. I call the promotions arbitrary be- cause we do not find in the files of this office a single paper showing that they were made on grounds of merit, but we do find some papers on file recommending them on the sole ground of democratic par- tusan activity.” “What is the proposed process of adjudi- cation?” Clerks to Be Given Hearings. “Each one of the clerks who has thus been catled upon to justify his promotion will be given a fair and judicial hearing on the merits of the case. If it is found that the promotion was justified, or has been vindicated by the efficiency of the person promoted as compared with his fellow em- ployes, he will not be disturbed. If it is found, on the other hand, in any case that the employe had not earned his promotion by his services and has not vindicated it by his efficiency, and is not now earning —We sell Glasses for just half what any one else a can take your oculist’s prescription to any optician in town and get his price for filling it and we'll cut that price exactly —Dr. F. Proctor Donahay, a graduated scientific optician, has charge of this department. If your eyes trouble you he will make an exhaustive examination of them free of charge b: best and most approved method in ey He will tell you just what i you glasses that will right the wrong. Pay a little each week if you wish. Closed all day Monday. Castelberg’s Nat’l Jewelry Co., Ave.--Next Star Office. fetablished 1846, the No guesswork the matter and give Better be safe and con- tence. the salary he receives as compared with other clerks in the office, I shall recom- meni io the Treasury Department such re- duction as is deemed just, in order that other more efficient and more experienced clerks who were arbitrarily reduced that these persons might be arbitrarily promot- «a 1 Ihave restored to them a portion, at least, of the salaries they have lost. “There is little danger that injustic iM be done in this proc for my dec'sion must be indorsed and approved by a ca ful committee at the Treasury Depa before it will go into effect, and the whole transaction will be made a matter of record in the files of the department. My desire is by correcting these cases of apparent injustice, leveling up and down the salaries in the office on a basis of present efficien to prepare the way for a future consis‘e enforcement of the letter and spirit of th 1 service law. I shall hope to devi some fair system of efficiency record, un form in results throughout the bureau, and thereafter base ali promotions or redne- tions on merit e. 1 shall iry to make the clerks understand that they do not need the ‘influence’ of senators and repre- h tati to secure justice, and that no influence will avail them to secure prom: tion or prevent reductions when they are Jusuy earned.” ‘sAre there special reasons for enforcing the merit system in your bureau?” “Perhaps there are. As eady stated, largest accounting office in the The probable adoption during the present administration of the postal sav- irgs bank system or the postal telegraph system, or both, will vastly increase its labors ‘and resporsibilities. If both these additions should be made, the ferce of this office within five years be increased to one thousand clerks. “The absolute necessity of condu>ting its affairs on the basis of purely business meth and arranging the salaries of its employes on the ground of merit only will be more and more apparent, as its labors and the number of employes increase, If 1 am to be held respon for its efficiency I shall most strenuous’ insist that it be placed upon this basis and ke m “Is it practicable to apy methods co promot inal appointments?” Promotions Based on Merit. “There was no trouble about it in the St. Paul post office with two hundred em- ployer. Not only that, it is obligatory. The letter of the civil service law makes it a penal offense for the appointing officer to inquire as to the politics or religion of an original appointee. The spirit of the law reaches equally to promoticns and re- ductions, since cach of these involves on the record a removal and a new ap ment to the higher or lower gra ator er congressman has, legally, no more excuse for asking me to promote his friend pceuse he is a good republican than be- «use he is a good hardshell Baptist. You claim, then, that your curren ceedings with the cle Justified on Most emphaticall true, as alleged, Uhat any promotions and reduc- tiuus were made by my p srounds of pure partisanship, they i clear violation of law. If th S90 promoted are less efficient th: reduced, the wrong can be under the provisions of t lation of the Treasury Departm wiil be invoked for that purp cases where clerks having higher are less effi “In salar: nt than those having I salaries, the fact shall be re: the salaries rm be arran ground of merit enly.’” The Old Coppers. From the Atlanta Constitution. What becomes of all the old copper coin? There are 199.9% pennies somewhcre. Nobody knows wh: has be- come of them, except that once in a while a single specimen turns up in change. A few years ago 4,500,000 bronze 2-cent pieces were set afloat. Three million of them are still outstanding. Three million 3-cent 2op- per pieces are scattered over the United States, but it is very varely that one is Seen. Of 800,000 % cents, which correspond in value to English farthings, not one has been returned to the government for coin- age or is held by the treasury. Congress appropriates about $100,000 yearly for re. coining the silver coins now in possession of the treasury. These are mostly haif- dollars and are not circuiated, because there is no demand for them. Not long ugo the stock of them amounted to over = 000, but it is only about half that ‘now. The money set aside for recoining is not intended to pay for the cost of minting, but it is required to reimburse the treasury of the United States on account of the loss which silver pieces have suffered by abra- sion. The lost amounts to $#@ on every $1,000, and it has to be made good in order to set the treasurer’s accounts straight. PROOF POSITIVE. From the Fiiegende Blatter. think my dogs could not save a man from drowning. Just wateh!” .