New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-05-20
THE TRIALS or A POSTM4STER.
HIGGINS A WANING sTAR-A SALUBRIOUS
CITY

IRON THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENCE OF THE TRIBUNE.
WAsHINGTON, May 19.-Tne burglary of
post offices to bs OF the well established in
dustres OF the day. A Post-Olicc Department official
informs that they average for each week
in the year. Tho labor OF investigating each case
for tho purpose OF ascertainn[ whether the
Government or the post master should suffer the loss is
OF course consd raDc. Prior to 1882 the postmaster
charged for al losses occurring through burglary
The result Con pesterei with bills for
relief An act vas then passed. authorizing the Postmas-
ter-6eneral to adjust such claims. In tho division
charged with the Investigation and adjudication
Of these cases qIecr questions arise sometimes.
OGe posmas colored man In tho south, had his
lite cabin OF oico eateret By burglars and rel ev ed
OF several hundred dollars money Orier funds He hal
safe; he hid the money in the waste paper andrul
bish the floor but the blrsar5 found IT, Now the De-
partucnt determine whether he exercised due
in thus hiding the funds. POsmasters the official
says often leave their safes unlocked them from
being blown open. in the burglar really wants to
get They insist that this is due care. because the
burglar can blow the safe open whenever he chooses
In the Division losses Ivy lire or other casualty
adjusted The Department has had deal OF annoy
ance and much fun out OF the claim OF an olGfash-
toned postmaster In Tennessee. The old
gentleman received package OF stamps from the supply
agency by mail evening, AMI lad the reel the
table with waste paper. Tao next morning
raw. ard the Old hustled into his
office sbveriug with cold and set about klnding fire.
lie thoughtessy laid hold OF the waste paper his
table, and with it IN Willingly consigned TO tho flames
about $50 stamps The department decided that he
careless and not entitled to credit He THINKS this
decision tyranny" and writes long letters to Con-
gressmcn and the Attorney Genera, in which he tells
them this oppressive railing has done much his Sec
ton lessen the General Government ia popular esteem
bill is pending IN Congress TO allow pOstmasters
credit FOR postal funds lost Oy burglary lire or other
90 ia Wild ron
rule Of public law when makes fiscal agents OK the Gov
eminent responsible for moneys IN thelr hanus, ana
chargeaDle FOR al mishaps that may Defal Them
Eugene Higgins Is not 70 conspicuous a figure now
adays AS he was year ago. He has ceased to be a
national issue" SO TO speak lie has become wonder
fully discreet OF late The appointment OF Assistant
Secretary Smith deprived him OF great deal OF the
power which he welded while Mr.. Coon still in
office. As Mr. Farchid refused to anything to DO
with the appointment, and Mr. Coon was Republican,
considerable Importance att ached to Mr. Hggnss post
Mr. smith assumes entire control over the appoint
mens and Higgins is simply the register OF the oecre
tary's Will. :" Ny hands IS tied WIN tnat man. Sd i'd
long the Assistant Secrs
ary The expression Of disgust which acco panied the
for MS feeling. There reason to believe that
he recOnced to the change to-day than he was
them Mr. Smith am toll. pays very close attention
cal bearing is matter OF great consideration with him.
Much gnation expressed in circles
the statement made IN different newspapers lately
to the effect that Washington is Of the
most unhealthy cities OF the country. If not
the most. and that the death rate is
unusually high 1t has brought out letter from Health
Officer TOwnshend, IN which lie doubts the accuracy OF
statistics OF other towns while he asserts the entire
worthness OF those OF Washington After showing
that the mortality among the white population In the
District IS lower than that OF most cities he
proceeds 10 demonstrate that the apparent high
death rate Is due to the fact that
large number or coOred people from Virginia and
Maryland IN their last illness swarm in the hospita
aud amshouses OF the District because such instIu
tons exist In their localities. In the judgment Of
Dr. Townshend, the actual death rate Washington Ia
lower than It Is In NewYOrK, Boston. Brooklyn Rich
mond, Norfolk Charleston aud New-Orleans.