Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-05-09

mlc6lOQ.
FALSELY PRRsoSATNa GOVERNMENT OFFICER
The Commissioner OF Pensions has been advised
that ]. Fairchild Bennett WAS arrested at Roches-
ter, y. T. on the 25th ultimo, on the information
with falsely personating Government oilicsr. On
Ine 18th ultimo he was taken before q United
states commissioner at Buffalo, N. Y, and there
when GATE ne was arraigned and pleaded "Not
guilty." He waived further examination, ana in
Sao sa, o. s bail was committed 70 the But
action OF the grand jury at the June term.
stamp Camcellimg Ink.
WHAT POsT-oFRICK oFFICIAI.ssAY or THE COMPLAINTS
ABOUT rs BAD QUALITY.
In referring TO TIE STARS editorial about the
Dad quality OF the cancelling ink used, Mr. Roy,
the chief clerk Of the Post-Onnce Department said
to-day that he had heard complaints about the
character OF the ink. "The contract for canceling
INKS, he added, sis not awarded TO the lowest
bidder merely. In fact, the price does not ente I
into consideration at all The endeavor u TO
secure the best quality OF ink and at the time OF
tne annual letting samples OF various inks are
some Of the leading post-ories OF the country 70
nave their working quality tested. The INKS
are sent IN plain bottles distinguished only
submitted. Then samples OF stamps cancelled by
the various inks are submitted to a chemist who
makes report upon the durability OF the Ink and
Ine chemical composition. Upon the conclusions
OF these combined reports is based the action OF
tne department, and II poor ink Is obtained It Is
TO secure good ink. The contract this year viii be
awarded exactly upon the same conditions. As
rule the cancelling ink obtained by the Depart
ment Is the best possible, and II mistake Ia made
1t is due not motives OF economy but to Ignorance
better"
Post once supplies told STAR reporter that the
INK IN use this year was the best the Department
mao obtained Tor some time. he said that they
masters In regard TO It He thought the complaint
ABOUT It's Dlurrtng was due to the haste and care
iessness OF the postmasters IN cancelfng. He
tnought that II the stamp was kept clean and the
pad In good condition that there would be nc
ground to md fault with the ink burrng, because
IL would dry in very few minutes.
The Washington MOnunsent Grounds.
THE HOUSE IN COURSE OF ERECTION TO BE REnovEI
LITTLE FURTHER FROM THE SHAFT.
The Washington Monument Association held
another meeting yesterday afternoon. and aftel
visiting the Monument grounds decided to locatt
the house now In process OF construction
little further from the monument thar
originally designed So far only.one wall has beer
erected Instead OF making this the wall farthest
removed from the monument by building toward
the latter the plan will be reversed, and the wall
now up will be nearest to the shaft. Thus the
house win be further removed BY just its length
without any trouble or expense.
One that Will Bear Telling Again.
From the Toronto World
certain fort in the far West, so the story coca
was In command OF a major OF artillery who was
constantly lamenting that his favorite arm could
not be more frequently used against the Indians
Finally one day he took one Of the small howttzers
which defended the fort and had 1t securely strap
ped TO the back OF an army mule with the muzzle
projecting over the animals tail. With this novel
gun carriage he proceeded In high feather with
OF the Missouri, near which was encamped band
OF friendly Indians. The gun was duly loaded
and prtmed, the fuse inserted and the mule backed
TO the edge OF the blum. The major remarked
something about the moral effect the exhibition
was likely TO produce upon the Indian allies and
stepped gayly forward and applied the match.
Inc curiosity OF the mule was aroused. He
Jerked Ills head around TO see what was tzZng
away there Oh his neck, and the next second his
feet were all punched together and making
threatening everything under the canopy within
a radius OF 10 miles with instant destruction
Inc captain Shlnned up the only available tree
The sergeant threw himself nat on the ground anC
Tried TO dig hole with his bayonet to crawl into
While the fat major rolled over and over In agony
alternately invoking the protection OF Providence
and curslng the mule. Finally the explosion came
the ball going Through the roof OF the fort. The
recoll OF the gun and the wild leap of the terneC
mule carried both over the blum 70 a safe anchor
age at the bottom OF the river The discounted
party returned sadly to the fort.
Shortly after the chief OF the Indians appeared
and announced briefly: "InJun go home"
Questioned as 70 why he thus explained: "Injun
YER brave; help white man. 1nJun use gun, use
bow arrow, use knife; but when white man fire Cd
whole JackasS Injun no understand, no think right
lnjun no help um tight that way"
->OS-