The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1889-10-11
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our regular correspondent ]

Washington, d. G. Oct. Z, 1889.
Ex-Postmaster General Hatton has
created sensation by printing in his
paper the time, place, and even the
price, for which list of the questions
to be asked at an examination held in
this city by the Civil Service Commits
sion was furnished TO a party here.
The list was sold by an employe of the
commission, who is brother-in-law of
Commissioner Lyman, and to clinch
matters he has printed letter from
Commissioner Edgerton to Presi
dent Harrison, written last April, con-
tanning the same charge. A congress
ional investigation is now a foregone
conclusion even the Commissioners, at
least the new ones-Messrs. Roosevelt
and Thompson-admit that such an in
vestigation is necessary and Hatton
claims to be prepared to prove other
things equally as damaging against
the methods that have been used by
the commission. Every one is wonder
ing why President Harrison did not
at once order an Investigation upon
receipt of Mr.. Edgerton's very plain
letter. Such things will hardly help
the Civil Service Commission in getting
from Congress the largely increased
approximation which will be asked for
at the coming session.
There is no truth in the sensational
statements sent from here to the of
flee that the representations of Chill
refused to attend the organization of
the Three Americas Congress because
they did not wish TO vote for Mr.. Blaine
as President. The only reason that
Chill was not represented was because
delegate, who is to serve with Senior
Don Varas, the Chilian minister here,
has not arrived with his own and the
ministers credentials, and without them
the minister although here, could not
his seat in that body. This statement
is made by the minister.
Washingtonians are out doing them
selves in entertaining the quarter of a
million strangers now here in conseque-
nee of the triennial Conclave of the
Knight Templars. Every one seems
determined to show that strangers are
better treated here than in any other
large city in the world. The town is
as lavishly decorated as if it was in
auguration times; our public schools
give holiday, and the stores and banks
will close as far as possible tomorrow,
to enable everyone to see the largest
parade of Knight Temp plars that ever
took place. The President has caught
the Washington spirit and will hold
special reception tomorrow night for
the Knights and their ladies. The
knights are already enthusiastically in
favor of Washington as the place for
the Worlds Exposition of 1892 as we
know they would be.
The new Commissioner of the Land
Office holds in decision made a day
of two ago that strict construction of
the law requiring an actual residence
90 be established on home stead entry
with in six months from date of entry
should not be taken in the cases of
those settlers that give evidence of
honest intention 10 comply with the
law.
Appointments have been few, unim-
portant, aside from the long list of
Presidential postmasters, since Presi-
dent Harrison came back to the white
House. There are probably several
things which will account for this.
First and foremost is the seemingly |
endless hunt to find man for Pension |
Commissioner that stands well with |
the G. A. r. which the President
greatly fears, that will take the place
and promise TO run the office on the
lines laid down by Secretary Noble.