Morning journal and courier., 1885-06-30
WILL THERE BE A swEEPa
No Indications Yet Showing On The
 Surface.

Surface.
 WASHINGTON, June 29.-The impression that sweeping changes are to take place in the executive department on July 1, the be- ginning, of the next fiscal year, is not fully confirmed by surface indications thus far presenting themselves. In the Treasury de- pertinent the new director of the mint dis places MT. Burchard on that date and several new chiefs of divisions take their places in the sixth auditors office At the bureau of engraving and printing some reduction of force is necessary. At the State, War and Navy departments some few changes may be made, but they will be insignificant both in number and grade. There are no indications at either the Postofice or Interior departments that there will be an 1ndlscrlminate slaughter of official heads. Postmaster General Villas said to-day he knew of no unusual slaughter to take place on the lst. At the department of justice two new examiners rs-Democrats to replace Repubi cans-wil assume the duties of their offices. MT. D. A. Fisher, of Ohio, and J. M. Haskell, of Maryland, Democrats who were dismissed in March when the ex- aminer's force was reduced from seven to four, have been reappointed and take the places of Ralph Rallor and J. w Bowman, Republicans, resigned. A new general agent for this department will probably be ap- pointed tomorrow.
 SURVEYS OF PUBLIC LANDS. How The Appropriations Are Made TO Expand.
 WASHINGTON, June .29.-The annual ap- propriation for the survey of public lands is ! about $40O,000, Under what is known as | the individual deposit system made by per- | sons desiring surveys and for which certifi- cates are issued redeemable by the govern
 ment by being received in payment for land | sold the actual expenditure for surveys has | in some years been as high as 100000 1 The excess over regular appropriations does l not figure in the public estimate. The use | of this special fund, Commissioner Sparks says, has been the subject of much scandal | and complaint arising from loose construc- | tions of law and lax practices adopted here | tofore in the land department. The commis-
 sioner has been investigating the subject for I some time and as a result has refused l to approve contracts for surveys entered in l to by the surveyor general since he assumed l charge of the general land office. He has
 also, with the appreciation of Secretary La 1 mar, issued new rules and instructions de
 signed to bring the special deposit system
 strictly within the limitations of the law and
 entirely reforming the previous practices of
 his office in the matter. Applications for l such surveys can hereafter be made only by | actual settlers. The commissioner defines
 settlers to be persons permanently attached ! to the soil Jobbery in surveying contracts is prohibited and contracts are to be
 open to public competition. Surveys to en- able speculators to cover up lands by fraud ulent entries will not be allowed Premature
 surveys which uecessitate resurveys on the payment by the government twice over for doing the same work have been stopped. The commissioner also found that sys- tenn of making elastic contracts has grown up by which, as an instance, original con
 tract for $5, 900 had been expended to cover
 an annual expenditure of S150,000 This
 business was promptly suppressed, the com
 missioner refusing to recognize the validity
 of such expansion or to approve the irregu- l lar surveys.
 !