Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1883-08-31
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From onr Regular Correspondent.

WASHINGTON, August 81, 1888.
II is marvellous what hard time the
has hunting for its offender
such bad men az Howgate, Nickerson and
others. This reflection is Induced by the
report TINT government detectives are now
cunning in Canada for Major Nickerson,
with small show of success. 1t is now
about two years since Howgate took French
leave Of his quarters IN Jail, and during
that tino he has been seen by private citI-
zens, in two or three places, unless the said
private citizens are unconscionable liars,
Once he was met in California, and later
over in Virginia, where he is now said to
be. Yet there ia no prospect Of his cap
ture, and it is questionable whether there
exists any real desire to capture him. But
il would seem that nobody could have any
interest IN the escape of Nickerson, and he
has been proven such mean scoundrel
that there is every inducsment to catch
him. Like the fugacious Howgaie, Major
Nickerson probably had large experience
as scout during his ga rler days of mill
tary service. The remarkable ability
which they both show in lodging suggests
that they must have taken lessons from the
Indian warriors of the plains and noun
tains. The bigamous Nickerson skips
around out of sight, but keeps up the fc-
tion Of a legni communication with the
War Department by an address in the care
of Philadelphia friend. As lie is a re.
tired officer and not assigned to any duty,
he cannot he dismissed for desertion nor
can he be tried by conrt,martial while he
is absent, as the law provides that he shall
be faced by his accusers and the witnesses
against him. So far, then, he has legally
the upper hand oil the department; and,
meanwhile, there is no authority | or stop.
ping his pay, which continues to run on.
What an abomniable rascal the man is
was revealed in the proc urement of bogus
divorce from liis first wife, his outrageous
treatment OF her for no cause, and his en-
trapping of an innocent woman into n
second marriage, which has been nulli6ed
by court. Secretary Lincoln will have
TO go to Congress next winter for special
legislation which will enable him to rid
the army oil this disgrace to Its rolls.
The Postoffice Department is threatened
with an inundation of Hatton. The young
man who has the portenlious appendage of
First Assistant Postmaster General of the
United States" hitched TO his patronymic
Ia not to have his ambition curbei by any
false assumption of modesiy, when there i.
such splendid opening for fame uia the
Postoffice Directory. lie may have strlig.
gled against fate and draw-poker MS AN ed
itor OF a Western newspaper but two short
years agone, but in the amgustness OF the
first assistant Postmaster Generaiship, there
remains no remembrance of the adversitv
| suggested by unpaid board bills, store
clothes and grim.vi-aged wasl,erwon,en
Indeed, the Hatton now is nothing like
the Hatton OF those halcyon days 40 rich
In expectancy and 80 fruitful of disap
pointment, when there was no one in all
Christendom who thought enough about
this particular Hatton to name n postofice
after him. Nor probably would anybody
have thought of it now, had Hutton not
had the self sufficient consciousness that
the name was not born to die So the fire.
quent applications for new postoffires
throughout the country, are Hattons op-
portnnity, and when the peo ,,le of Squa-
betty Gulch and Bnngtown Hollow ask for
postoffices, Halton urges the want of en-
phoniousness, telling the Department That
such names are neither synchronisic or
even synechdochical, while the name of
Hatton is translucently mellihuoms, sym-
metrical, and altogether supra nunlam.
| The effect of Hatton's intense RESPECT for
the name of llatton, II il has not filled lila
ambition, il has filed several pages in the
Postoffice Directory, until now there is said
to be but ono name, and that the Father of
his Country, that stands out in bolder re-
lief in the list OF postofiices. And il will
not be long before Hatlon will get ahead
OF that. II, by AN official overnight, Hat
ton CLUES his name upon two or more off,
ces in the same State, there is nothing eas =
ier than to ring the changes upon it, and
so We have Hatville, Hatberg, Hattonville,
and worst OF all, Hnt'of, which of course
is suggestive OF Hattons importance and
title TO respect from all who have TO do
with the postCifices. Should Hatton sur.
vive through the present term of office. IL
|
ment will ever need another Postmaster
General with a first assistant attachment.
II is evident that the reduction OF single
rate letter postage from three to two cents
has not been made too soon. The estima.
ted surplus of the Postofice Department
for the last fiscal year is $2,5O0,OOO or
81, 100000 more than the surplus of the
preceeding year. This surplus has become
Tar too large. 1t was never intended that
the postal service should be made n source
OF revenue TO the Government. Its efici.
ency is reached when IL gives the people
prompt and cheap letter carriage. The
extraordinary surplus OF last year gives a
reasonable assurance that the reduction to
two cents viii not create any considerable
deficiency. The new twocent stamp will
go into use next month, when the old
threes will be retired. II is said hand
some design has been made for the new
stamp. The postal check for RENTING
fractional amounts also goes into use about
a month hence. 1t will be great con-
venience, as, since the retirement Of frac
tionAl paper currency there has been no
ready method of remitting small sums by
mail. Dom PEDRO.