The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1882-11-10
WASHINGTON T

The japanese Legation deny the charge
tnat their Secretary was appointed with q
view of influencing action ON the Japanese
Indemnity bill now pending before Con-
gress.
Postmaster General Howe has made an
order giving poStmasterS discretion In re-
turning letters to writers upon application
and production of proof. Heretofore this
power has been vested only in the Post
master General.
The Washington monument has attained
the height Of the goddess of liberty on the
capitol dome. The latter is 2S7 feet above
the ground, which is 80 feet above the PO-
tOmac. The monument, standing on lower
ground, is now $50 feet high, and has 22O
feet, including so feet of roof, to go.
The charges made in the several newspa-
pers recently that Clerk McKenny, of the
Supreme Court, has been implicated in the
improper use of documents whereby he de-
rived pecuniary benefits are again renew
ed, and it is understood the matter has
been formally presented to C~hief-Justlce
Waite.
Commissioner Mcfarland, of the general
land office, Is In receipt of information that
in ffty-fve fraudulent presumption cases
tried in northern Minnesota, not one of the
preemptors appeared in the hearing, and
the cases were declared in favor of the gov
eminent by default. This result is graft
flying to the department, and Mcfarland
thinks it shows beyond question the exist
ence of a conspiracy to defraud the govern
ment.
The Census1 Bureau is again the subject
of unfavorable comment. This time the
Agricultural Division is at fault. The en-
tire work of 213 clerks for one year has been
thrown away because of it's absurd errors.
Five times more acreage was shown under
cultivation than the total acreage Of the
United States. The figuring is being done
over again with all its bombastical flourish
es and expensive tomfoolery. 1t would seem
that the Census Bureau is. mangling every
thing it touches.
Frank II. Howe, Chief Clerk of the Post
Office Department, has resigned to accept
the position Of Assistant Acknowledgement
in the Department of Justice. Nathan
Smith, the old and reliable Assistant Chief
Clerk in the Office of the First Assistant
Postmaster General, will act temporarily as
Chief Clerk of the department. The duties
of the office have never been c%ongenial to
Mr.. Howe. Frank Howe. will represent the
Department of Justice before the United
States Court of Claims.
Dispatches to the Navy Department from
United States naval officers at Honolulu
show a serious state of affairs. There is
dissatisfaction among the sugar planters,
who addressed the King protesting against
the cabinet, advising a more progressive
and liberal policy. The King replied that
he recognized the right of all to make sug-
gestions, and that the matter would be con-
sidered. The King will be crowned OF Feb.
IL, when tits feared some popular demon
stration against the government will be
made. The sugar planters demand better
opportunities for bringing labor and the
continuation Of the reciprocity treaty with
the United States.
FORGOTTEN MONUMENT.
The movement in favor of building a
monument to Gen. Garfield calls to mind
the circumstance that some years ago there
was a similar movement here to build q
monument to Abraham Lincoln; that about
SIS, 900 was collected; that interest in the
subject abated; that the amount gradually
dwfndled for advertising" as they called
1t, and other expenses, until the amount
was reduced to some 81, 500, which was
given to the United States Treasurer as
trustee, who invested the money in United
States bonds. 1t Is now In the Treasury and
with the accumulated interest amount to
$4,000.
SENATORIAL SCANDAL.
The Star, in its society column, prints the
following: Society at the residence of one
of the comparatively new members of the
senate is considerably excited over some
gossip current there, to the effect that the
gentleman in question will shortly seek. to
obtain a divorce from his wife, In order that
he may marry a woman with whom he be-
came deeply infatuated In this city. His
wife is highly esteemed, and the rumor
causes much pain and great Indignation
among her friends; but, so far as can be
learned, no one in Washington seems to be
aware of any foundation for the story. II
Is likely, therefore, that 1t Is not true"
MRS. EDsoN's CLAIM.
The Garfield Board of Audit have receiv-
ed the hill Of Mrs. s. A. Edison AGAINST the