Omaha daily bee., 1889-05-21
President Harrison Refuses to Talh
Politics on Sunday.
WASHINGTON NEGROES EXCITED
Extravagant Demonstrations at the
Funeral Of "a Murderer-Deiay in
Dismissing Democratic Off,
cials Explained.
WARRINGTON BUREAU, THE OMAHA BEE,
h13 EOIRTEENTu STREET.
WAsnINeToN, d. C., May 20. !

took possession of the Office he now occupies,
some Of his friends, with the habits of his
immediate predecessor in view, asked to have
interviews on Sunday. The president ad-
mitted some of them, but when they
broached politics there was an end to the
conversation. General Harrison has never
discussed politics or business on Sunday, and
Is not inclined to begin it at this time, es-
pecially when he has to live on it six days
ana nights in the week. Those who have
the hardihood TO attempt to speak of official
matters when they meet him on the streets,
going TO or from church, have not mentioned
their rebukes to friends.
WHY CHANGES WE'RE NOT MADE.
Several positions connected with the ex-
ecutive departments remain in the same
hands they were in year or two ago, and
the failure of the president to make changes
is the source of some complaint on the part
of partisan republicans. These positions are
more or less of general public Importance,
and while it may be true in a few instances,
the present incumbents, taking but little in
terest in their offices, permit the public SER
vice to drag. There are public reasons why
changes in most instances have not been
made. More persons are interested in
in the comnissionership of the general land
Office than any position held by a democrat
The opening OF Oklahoma and over thirty
million acres of land in Minnesota, Ne
braska, Montana and Dakota has been
considered sufficient reason for retaining
Commissioner Suockslager till Secretary
Noble was properly inducted into Office, now
there will, however, soon be change. The
president has been unable to determine upon
the man he wanted for commissioner of nav
igatlon and that is why democrat who has
never gwen satisfaction IL not put out. He
will soon be relieved now that an appoint
can be made. The public service is not suf-
fering on account of the present organization
OF the Interstate commerce COMMISSION and
so long as there are such demands as there
are for the presidents time he will direct
his attention to immediate wants. 1t is un-
derstood that there will be no more exten-
tions of the commissions of the bureau of
engraving and printing and that Captain
William Meredith, of Chicago, will take
charge this week. Twice the commission of
Graves has been extended for ten days. At
torney- General Miller has deemed 1t wise to
retain most of his assistants for the
good of the service, and it is under
stood that there will be no more changes
there, at least for some months. General
Rosecrans, register of the treasury, being an
ex-union soldier on the retired list, will retire
of his own free will when his successor is
selected, but no effort has been made in that
direction for obvious reasons. General Joe
johnson, commissioner of railroads, has not
been put out early because he Is inoffensive,
politically speaking, and a southern republi-
some time yet In most instances the promi-
nent offices left unchanged represent officers
needed for the present, or the president has
seen no emergency requiring precipitate ac-
ton. The complaint in nearly every instance
come from those who want the place.
DAKOTA MATTERS.
Senator-elect Edgerton, Of South Dakota,
arrived here this morning. To your CORE
spondent he said of the constitutional con-
vention which assemblies at Sioux Falls on
the Fourth of July:
.'The most important work to be done will
be the apportionment of the territorial debt
between North and South Dakota. 1t will
be based upon property values. This work
will occupy several days, but it will be COM
pleted without any friction. The territory is
IN a prosperous condition and the debt IS
small. The constitution adopted in 1885 was
by overwhelming majority ratified last week
at the polls, and only North Dakota will
have u new constitution to frame. She has
never attempted to do that thing, and her
convention, which convenes on the same
day, will last two or three weeks, proba-
bly,"
Senator Edgerton will undoubtedly be
chairman of the South Dakota convention.
Speaking of the opening of the great Sioux
Indian reservation in Nebraska and Dakota,
the senator said:
r-~sThe commissioners appointed for the
purpose will organize in Chicago this week,
and have no doubt that their terms will be
readily accepted by the Indians. 1t is the
best the Indians can do, and nobody knows
this better than they do. II they should re-
fuse they are aware what it MEANS when
the Dakotas send four senators and three
representatives to congress this winter and
in favor of law which will open the reser-
walton to settlement without the consent of
the Indians. am in favor of that kind OF
action. We should be liberal with the
Indians, but when we know we are doing
the proper thing there is no use in negoti-
oil lott 10 n
magnificent officer, and we have secured the
best possible government under President
Harrison"
Senator Edgerton is here to argue case
4 In law before the interior department.. He
has been on the stump in South Dakota for
six weeks, and says his political work is, for
the present at least, at an end.
NEGROES EXCITED.
Considerable fear was expressed here yes.
terday that there might be an outbreak OF q
certain set of negroes. On FRIDAY colored
murderer named Nelson Colbert was hanged
and yesterday his funeral occurred. The
occasion was made one for most extraordl,
nary demonstration. Over three thousand
colored people gathered and after the inter-
ment held a meeting, which was character
lied by the widest disorder. The murderer
was buried with white lily in his hand. II
created an excitement which has not yet
supsided.
RETIREMENTs IN THE ARMY.
President Harrison anu secretary fToCtot
have taken up the subject of retirements In
the army, and are endeavoring to formulate
definite rule by which retirements Will be
made on the limited disability retired list
This list is limited to 400 and there are
Always a large number of officers eligible for
retirement. Secretary Proctor favors the
promotion of officers who have been longest
In the service, but who from being assigned
70 regiments where promotion had beer
slow, may be very far down on the Inca
list. AS the time for the retirement o.
Adiutant- General Drum draws near there ii
great deal of interest felt in the army rs 70
whom will be his successor AT first nearly
all the colonels in the adiutant-general's
corps were spoken of as candidates. but the
contest is now supposed to be narrowed
down To Colonels Kelton and Whipple. A
short time ago IL was considered settled tina
Colonel Kelton was to have the place, but whei
the president went to New York To atten'
the 'centennial some OF Colonel Whpplc'
friends, including General Sherman, urge
the selection, ana the matter is still undeter
mined Colonel Kelton is the ranking colone
of the corps, but Colonel Whipple will retir
hrst, i'm August, 1890, and IL Is urged tina
Colonel Ke,ton could then succeed him.
oMAHA's PosTorFICE SITE.
Secretary Window says he intends TO TAX
up the postoffce site question and 10 decid
it 1i Wednesday II possible. There is s
mach before him. however, that furthe
ostlonement would not be surprising.
EXAMINING SURGEONS.
The following changes wa"o r'cdc tc IA