The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1889-08-01

Barnum, A. H. Petit, ]. A. Norris, g..
B. Ogsbury, ct omnes?
OTTER Tail county raises only $4,000
for the ensuing year for county revenue.
Stearns county will raise $43 500.
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON D. c, July 2eth, 1889.
Editor Herald:
Secretary Noble has created commo-
ton by appointing committee to inyes-
tigate the re-rating of pensions for the
past twelve months. What docs it
mean?" was asked on all sides, and all
sorts of sensational answers have been
given. Your correspondent has inter-
| viewed Secretary Noble, Assistant Secre-
tary Bussey and Commissioner Tanner
| on the subject, and can therefore tell ex-
| actly what it means. For quite a while
Secretary Noble has been flooded with
complaints about the loosenesss of the
methods in vogue in the pension office in
regard to the re-rating OF penoions; it
was alleged that large number of the
employees OF that office had within the
last year had themselves re-rated illegally
and that they were drawing large
amounts of money to which they were
not entitled. At first the secretary paid
little attention to these complaints be-
lieving them to be on a par with the US
ual complaints of the class of people who
oppose our whole pension system and
everything connected Herewith. But
the complaints continuing to increase he
called the attention of Commissioner
Tanner to the matter, and that gentle
! man, after little investigation, came to
the conclusion that the re-rating had
been very carelessly done, if there had
been no criminality on the part of the
employees having charge of the matter.
1t was then decided as the best thing to
do to have the system thoroughly inves-
tigated, and at the request of Commits
sioner Tanner the same committee has
been authorized to investigate the char
ges Of tavoritism that have been made
against the office. The system of re-rat-
ing now in use was managed by Cen
Black when he was Commissioner of
pensions, and nobody blames Commits
sioner Tanner for what has happened
under it, though it is expected that the
investigation will show that certain en-
ployes presumed on n1s we'll known
| frienGliness toward the pensioners to
prevent his looking too closely into the
doubtful cases they had re=rated. The
committee now investigating the matter
consists of DR.. Geo. E wing and H. l..
Bruce, of the board of pension appeals,
and Judge F. L. Campbell, of the assist
ant attorney generals Office. Their in
structions are to get at the facts, no
matter whom they may effect. They are
now holding daily sessions in room at
the pension Office.
Attorney General Miller went to Deer
Park in Irresponsible telegram on Wednes-
day to consult with the president about
certain matters relating to the depar-
ment ofjustice.
1t is said that Thomas Fur!ong, of St..
Louis, formerly railroad detective, will
soon be appointed chief of the treasury
secret service. He was at first opposed
by Powderly and thelabor organizations
| on account of his work during the St.
Louis railroad strikes, put Powderly has
| recently written to the secretary of the
treasury withdrawing all opposition
and his appointment is daily expected
Representative Ewart. of North Caro-
lima denies the report that the republican
| representatives from the south had declc=
ed to cast their votes for Representative
brewer ofthe same state for speaker OF
the house until they could get their
claims for patronage recognized by the
administration. Mr.. Ewart says he has
no complaint whatever to make against
the administration, and that he prefers
Mckinley for speaker, but is prepared to
support Burroughs, Cannon or any other
republican that favors the Blair bill and
the repeal of the internal revenue laws.
Assistant Secretary of the treasury
Bachelor does not believe in mugwump-
cry. Among the applicants for chief of
division in one of the. bureaus under him
was a 81 500 clerk who was heavily en-
dorsed by leading republicans. Acct
dentally it was learned that the same
clerk was all applicant for the same
position under the last administration
and few minutes search revealed the
fact that at that time his endorsers were
all democrats. He is one of the thrifty
kind that always keep solid with the
party in power. He not only got left in
getting a promotion but. it having been
found necessary in order to keep within
an appropriation for two $1,000 clerks
to be reduced to 81 400, he was one of
them.
The impression among most republic
cans is that the civil service commission
is unnecessarily bothering itself about
the discharge of certain democratic offic-
Gals. There is no law to prevent dis
charges.
1t has been found necessary to make
change in the civil service rules govern
ing the railway mail service. The labor
ers are to be excepted.
The presidents horses have been taken
to Deer Park,