Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-10-20
WASHINGTON.
LIEUT.. GARLINGTON INDICATED
FROM MEIsOBEDIENCE OF ORDERS.
The Civil Service Commission Receives the
Snub Direct from the Secretary OF State
Report of the Commissioner of Pensions
Various Capital Notes.

Report of the Commissioner of Pensions
Various Capital Notes.
WASHINGTON, Oct. -19.-Commissioner
McFarlsn, of the general land Office, is con-
tinuing the vigorous crusade inaugurated
against what are known as land cruisers in
the west. Upon report of the special
agents thirteen entries of public lands in
Washington Territory were held for can
collation.. The commissioner says all par
ties in these cases appear to have COM
bined in the commission of the fraud, the
combination extending to the notary who
witnessed the papers. All the entries
after confirmation were transferred to one
individual.
THE CREEK ELECTION.
Tbs commissioner of Indian affairs has
received report from the agent at Creek
agency, Washington Territory, giving the
results of the election held recently in the
Greek nation to fill the position of chief.
The agent reports the vote RS follows: Jim
Perryman, GIL; Samuel Ohicote, sos; Is
par Hee ch, 468. The vote was canvassed
by committee omposed Of adnerents of
the three candidates. The agent says the
returns from certain towns were thrown
out because of Irregularities, but adds that
result would not be affected thereby, and
warns the commissioner that a few Indians
and negroes, at the instlgasion of design
ing white men, will complain to him of the
result and charge unfairness in favor of
the successful candidate.
sNUB DIRECT.
1In&a
letter to tbs secretary of the civil service
commission in reply to an inquiry as to
What branches OF the service in the several
bureaus il the state department will re-
quire special examination for admission.
He says, quoting ez-Secretary Fish that
the clerical force OF the department is
small, and should have the personal couf-
dence of the head OF tie depart
ment, knowledge Of interaation-
al and practical familiarity with
many foreign languages. A power
of reticence is also requisite, which is as
certsined only by the test of experience or
intimate personal knowledge of tbs party,
and cannot be determined by any exam
alton by board. 1t is necessary that most
clerks of the state department should
have at least sufficient knowledge of one
or more foreign languages TO read therein
original documents. Nevertheless it is
almost absolutely necessary that every
clerk should have this qualification, es
ability in other directions may more than
ompensate for its lack, but it is always
necessary that twenty employees Of this
department should have fair knowledge
OF French, German, Spanish or Itelian,
oir 70
that special examination be given all
applicants who may wish to follow this
department, which shall conform in a
measure to the examination heretofore at
one time required of applicants for Ger
tain grades of consulates and now required
in case of applicants for clerkships.
PENSIONS.
The report of the commissioner of PEN
sionsifor the fiscal year ended June 80,
1888, shows there were 303,6 pensioners
on the rolls at the end of the fiscal year.
During the year the names of seventy-six,
whose pension had been dropped previ-
ously, were restored to the roll, making
3S,958 pensioners added during the year,
an excess of 1o,645 over the preceding
year. The average annual value of such
of all pensions 32,245,192. an
paid for pensions was S60O64 4OO9,
exceeding the annual value by several mil
lion dollars. The bulk of this excess was
On account of arrears of pensions covering
the period prior to the allowance of the
claims. The appropriations for salaries
and fees to pension agents were exhausted,
and there is balance due agents. The
whole number of claims filed since 1851
was $50, 1877, of which 51,93S we're allowed
During the same time $50, ,107, ,237 was
allowed for pensions and costs Of dis
bursement.
The percentage allowed of army claims
filed has decreased from rs Z per cent. in
1867 70 39.4 per cent. in 1880. The report
next dwells upon the difficulties experienced
in disci plining the large additional cleri-
cal force allowed By congress to settle ar
rears Of pension cases, SO large an addition
to the force of the office consumed the
time and attention Of more experienced
examiners and clerks. Yet so well was
the work of instructing new clerks pushed
forward that they we're soon efficient. Not
only were all claims involving
arrears examined and proper
calls made for evidence, but it
vas done 80 rapidly that Ike examinations
and calls for testimony of one character OF
another were made in upwards of 100000
claims filed since the arrears act. Those
entitled to arrears have been shown to be
il default in meeting the Office for prompt
settlement of their claims by furnishing
the testimony required, while those whose
claims were filed during three years subse-
quent to the arrears act have not bsen very
generally afforded even opportunities to
prove their claims until the past year, yet
they have SO responded that but 70 per
cent. of the claimants of this class ere in
defaults made upon them for evidence
while those of the other class entitled to
arrears are in default for some cause in
50 per cent of the number pending. This
statement is made in explanation of the
fact that so many claims have been al
loved which were fled subsequently to
the arrears perio &, while 80 large q num-
Der fled at an earlier period remained un-
settled, when they were presumably en-
titled to precedence.
An examination showed 204 .299 cases
we're delayed by claimants, 1896 by the
sdjutant generals Office, 1902 by the sur
geon generals ofice, and 23,523 by the
pension Office, but large proportion of
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