Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-03-21

VI Tue heStnue Marine.
James ID. Porter, of Tennessee, to be As.
sistant Secretary OF State.
The Senate today confirmed the following
nominations:
Martin V. Montgomery of Michigan, to be
commissioner of patents.
Milton j. Durham of Kentucky, to be FIRST
comptroller of the treasury.
William Garrard OF Nevada. to be superin.
tendent OF the mint at Carson City, Nevada.
Joseph k. RYAN of Nevada, to be coner of
the mint at Carson CITY
MaicOm Hay of Pennsylvania to be first
assistant postmaster general.
The new first assistant postmaster general,
Malcolm Hay, was at the post office depart
ment todfy. He will go TO Florida for the
benefit of his health in a few days. leaving
Mr.. Crosby, the present Incumbent of the
office, in charge during his absence.
Applications for foreign mis- sions continue
to pour IN at the state departments, and take
about the entire time OF one man to index
and file them. Some of the requests are in
regular application form, but MANY are con-
ceaed in personal letters to the secretary A
majority are for consuiships, but the more
important offices are not slignted, and many
applications are made for the most prominent
missions in the gift of the government Ii is
expected that number of important foreign
appointments will be made in few DAYS
The secretary of the treasury has appoint
ed Assistant Secretaries Fairchilh and Coon
and Assistant Treasurer Graves commits
sion, with instructions to make an examina-
tion OF the treasury department, with special
reference to the simplification and improve
ment Of the methods of doing business and
to the reduction and Encouragement of the
official clerical force.
Among the Presidents callers today were
Senators Blackburn and Eustis and Gen
Burke of Louisiana, Senators kenna, Har-
ris, Brown, Evarts and Farr, Gov. Crosby,
Admiral Worden. Gov. Wilson and delega-
ton from West Virginia, Senator Camden
with Mr.. Miller, the commissioner of inter
nal revenue, Mr.. Evans, Representative Cox.
OF New York, and other members of the
House.
The comptroller of the currency has re-
ceived Information that the Schoharie Coun-
ty National Bank, of Schoharie, N Y closed
lis doors this morning, and that Bank Exam
ine- Is investigating It's affairs. No particu-
lars have been received. but Comptroller
Can ION says there can be no serious loss to
depostors.
The Senate, today ratifeds an additiona!
article of the Mexican treaty, extending un-
I'll May 20 1886, the time for the approval OF
the Laws necessary to carry into operation the
commercial convention between the two gov
ernment, concluded at Washington, Jan. 25,
1888, and removed the injunction secrecy
therefrOm.
Misapprehe nsion appears to exist in regard
to the Office of chief of the appointment di
vision of the treasury department. The
present incumbent OF the office, Mr.. Trevetf,
rendered is resignation about two weeks ago
and it was accepted by Secretary Manning to
take effect April lat and Trevett was granted
leave of absence till that date. In the mean
time Eugene Higgins of Baltimore was given
"a position on the ''traud roll' of the special
agents division and assigned to duty as acting
chief of appointment DIVISION, and il is un-
derstood that he was promised the office as
soon as Trevetts resignation shall h We taken
effect. The question has arisen in connec-
ton with this office which is receiving care
full attention and which in its settlement is
liable 10 disarrsnge, or perhaps rearrange,
the civil service rules in relation to offices
under the government, and which NAV pre-
vent Higgins receiving the appointment to
the office for which he has been selected.
| The civil service commission holds that only
those government offices are exempt from the
provision of the civil service act who are
nominated by the President and confirmed
bv the Senate and few minor cases of of
| ficals holding positions of financial or judic-
iarv nature. yet by rule 10 of the civil service
rules "chiefs of divisions or bureaus" are ex.
empted from examination. Chiefs of bureaus
are nominated by the President, but chiefs OF
divisions are not, and right here is the hitch
| The apparent inconsi tency is said to have
| tba Of hp of
! prominent officials under the late administers
ton to thorough application of the civil
service law. Chiefs of bureaus in the State
| department are of equivalent rank with chief:
of divisions in other departments, and if the
| first are to be exempted it is claimed other.
! should be. Before the close of the last ad
ministration an effort was made to secure
uniform classification in all the department.
| in accordance with the contents of the act. a,
construed by the civil service commission ir
which chiefs of divisions should be included
| If Higgins is permanently appointed withou
examination to the office for which he ha
been selected il is claimed it will be in viola
ton of the civil service law but vet in per
feet accord with the laws published by tn,
civil service commission.
The Star of TODAY. in an article on the sub
| iect. says II i understood that the matte
! had been Drought 10 the attention OF Presl
| dent Cleveland, and that he has expresse,
| himself i siriuus OF carrying out to the lette
the civil service act without regard TO specia
rules II this is done Trevetts place Al
chief of the appointment division cannot b,
| filled bv arbitrary appointment. A promi
nent official remarked 10 q Star reporter to
| day that President Cleveland will immortaliz,
/ himself if he strengthens out this civil servic,
1 business.
/ The clerks to the Senate and House Com
mitttees on appropriations have prepared ii
tabular form a history of the regular appro
priatiou bills passed during the last session
Of Congress- showing the amount appropria
| ted hy each bill as reported to, and a. finally
passed BY each House. The total estimate,
for the fiscal year beginning July |, 1885
were S266. 403. ISL. The aggregate of appro
pristion, as reported to the House from it,
committee on appropriations, was s2l9, ,s43,
SIS. This aggregate was reduced hy til,
House to s2l6.0s5 Az. The Senate commit
tee on appropriations increased the amoun
to S22s. 402. .055. and the Senate reduced i, Il
S22l, III ,a54. The conference committees
further reduced the aggregate to S2l5,5ll,
5s5, Miscellaneous appropriations amount