The Billings herald. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1882-1885, 1884-08-30
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
The Department Clerks Do Not Contribute
to the Republican Campaign
Fund.
Resignation of Commissioner Price An
ticipated-An Important Postal
Decision.
A Proposed GreeIy Pension Bill-Diaries
of Members Of the Greely Ex-
pedition.
(From Our Regular Correspondent.)

| fTOn Our heSUldr COTreSpONOeut.J
WASHINGTON, Aug. 25.--August
Is was the semi-monthly pay day
for the month Of August in all the
government departments. At 4
O'Clock the great procession of clerks
filed out of the buildings, but
strange to say, the head of the sew
eral PROFESSIONS did not proceed to
the Republican finance committees s
headquarters on New York Avenue,
but paraded in the usual way,
breaking ranks at the homes of the
government employees. Three men
only were seen to cross the portals
of the finance committees room
One man threw down an envelope
on the counter, but did not wait for
a receipt, if, indeed he deposited
anything emitting him to one. It
is said he merely called to return
the begging letter sent to him from
Chirman Jones asking for volun-
tary contribution to help the grand
old party elect their presidential
candidate. The anticipated over
flow of standard silver dollars and
piles of crisp new greenbacks was
not realized. One clerk said he had
sent $25 by mail and that he knew
of others who were going to do
likewise, but the mail has as yet
failed to unburden itself of the al
legged valuable packages.
RESIGNATION ANTICIPATED.
There is trouble brewing in the
Interior Department, which may
culminate in the resignation of In
dian Commissioner rrice. Some
days ago Secretary Teller ordered
the Indian office to be removed to
the Census Office building, on
Seventh street, now unused. Com
missioner Price objected to having
his own office removed, and the
Secretary, upon consultation with
him, concluded to have Mr.. Price
retain his office, saying that it would
be inconvenient to have the head OF
the bureau in another building.
Mr.. Price declared that he would
not occupy another building and
intimated that he would resign
rather than do SO. When he lett
it was understood that all of the
Indian bureau except the commits
sioner's office should go across the
street. Afterwards Acting Secre-
tary Joslyn ordered the entire bu-
reau removed, and when spoken to
about the arrangement with Mr..
Price, he said Secretary Teller had
finally concluded to esta ablish the
whole outfit in the Census Build
ing. Some of Mr.. Prices friends,
in his absence, he is in Denver, re-
monstrated, but were told that upon
Secretary Teller's return for one day
last week, he gave the order for the
commissioners office to be removed
The order was carried out, and the
Patent Office took charge of Com
missioner Prices quarters. 1t is
predicted by the friends of the Com
missioner that when he returns his
office will either be restored to the
department building or else that
vacancy will Immediately occur by
his resignation. For year past
Mrs. Price has been in very bad
health, and the commissioner, it is
said, would rather retire than not,
that he may devote his entire time
to his wife. She cannot remain in
this climate, and ii he stays in
office they must be separated. So
it is thought he will gladly avail
himself OF any excuse to go out OF
office.
AN IMPORTANT POSTAL DECISION.
Several bank presidents have
written to the postmaster-general,
asking him to exclude Thompson's
Bank Note and Commercial Re
porter from the mails. Assistant
Attorney-General Freeman SAYS
"The Bank Note and Commercial
Reporter is a blackmailing sheet
published in New York. The plan
is to send the PAPER to all leading
banks, and after time a bill for SIS
is sent to the bank. Upon the re-
tusal of the bank to pay the bill, a
letter is sent threatening to attack
it's creuit unless the bill is paid. A
letter recently sent by the concern
to the Commercial Bank of Wheel
ing, w. Va, concluded: Our rating
of a bank is gauged by it's business
methods, and it is an accurate
standard. No reputable banker will
wish to receive papers and services
without payment The postmaster
general has no power to protect
bankers from this black-mailer. A
paper is not unavailable for the rea-
son that it attempts to levy black:
mail. The intended victims of this
fellow should appeal to the courts. "
A PROPOSED GREELY PENSION BILL.
An enterprising attorney" or
lobbyist, has written to the surviv-
Ors OF the Greedy expedition and
the friends of those who died from
starvation soliciting their applica-
tions and assistance in a scheme to
pass through congress bill to give
bounty and pensions to those con-
cerned. He claims to have "work-
ed up the sentiment" which favored
rewards for the doctors and others
who served President Garfield. The
attorney" wants per cent on what
he secures as his compensation for
putting the bill through.
DIARIES OF MEMBERS OF THE GREELY
EXPEDITION.
The records and relics of the
Greedy Arctic expedition, which
were brought to New York by the
relief party and then turned over to
the authorities at Governors Island,
were brought to this city and dellv