Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1889-05-16
Observation-Disclosures


WASHINGTON. May 10. 80.
The President has made number
OF important appointments this week.
The most important being that OF Pub
lie Printer. which went to Ex-Con-
gresham f. w. Palmer. Mr.. Palmer's
fitness for the position Is conceded by
all who know him. He is practical
printer and was born In Indiana, but
after learning his trade he removed TO
New York, where he edited and pub
lishrd the jamestown Journal. besides
serving for two years as member Of
the State assembly. In 1858 he went
to Dubuque, Iowa, to assume editori-
al charge of the Times. Two years
later he was elected State printer
which Office he held for eight years.
During this time he purchased the
Des Moines State Register, now owned
by First Assistant Postmaster General
Clarkson lie was member of the
House of Representatives during the
Forty-first and Forty-second Congress.
When his second Congressional term
expired he retired and purchased an
interest in the Chicago Inter Ocean,
then new paper. and became associ-
ated with Mr.. f. w. Halford, now the
Presidents private secretary, IN the ed
itorial management of that paper.
President Hayes appointed him post
master ut Chicago and his commission
was renewed by President Arthur.
Since retiring from the Chicago post
office he has been engaged in editorial
work on the Herald, of that city. Mr..
Palmer was not IN applicant for this
or any other position, and was much
surprised when the President request
ed him to come to Washington. He
will take charge of the Government
printing Office at once and reorganize
it from cellar to roof. 1t will not be
done too soon either.
The next most important of the up
pointments made were the two Civil
Service Observation-Disclosures H.
Thompson, of South Carolina. demo
craft and Mr.. Theodore Roosevelt, of
New York. Much surprise was ex-
pressed among republicans at Thomp-
sons being appointed, although he was
very strongly endorsed. as il had be an
recently announced with what seemed
to be almost White House authority,
that the President in filling those pc.
sitions which legally belong to the
democrats would appoint no man who
was not a protectionist. Thompson is
a free trader, hence the surprise. Mr..
Roosevelt's appointment is On excel
lent one in every respect.
1t has been officially decided by the
Interior Department that appoint
ments in the Census Bureau are not
under Civil Service rules. Conse-
quently Superintendent Porter has
been overwhelmed with applications
for clerkships. notwithstanding the
fact that no appointments except few
specialists, will be made until next
year The Bureau is now sending out
notices calling attention TO the fact
that the census year begins June /,
1889, and asking that the physicians
of the country keep record of all
deaths in their vicinity during that pc
Rod. Registers for that purpose will
be mailed to physicians on application.
One old soldier was made supreme.
ly happy this week, or at least rs hap.
py as a man can be who has been to-
tally blind for more than twenty years
His name is Frederic Schweagar a
member of the 10Th Pennsylvania vol.
unteers, and the cause of his Joy was
the allowance of his pension by Com.
missioner Tanner. He gets Sl3, 000 ar.
rears of pension and $72 month for
the rest of his life.
Secretary Rusk created sensation
as he was going to the Office the other
morning by stopping in the grounds
which surround the Agricultural De
partment, where a gang of laborers
were engaged in cutting the grass with
scythes, and taking a scythe from one
of the men remarking, ''let me show
you how to use this" and proceeded to
WELD the implement in a manner thai
showed him 10 be perfectly familiar
with its use. The Secretary said b,
liked it because it reminded him o.
home.