The Springdale news., 1889-05-10
CAPITAL BUDGET,

Law-The Census Office Not Under Civil
 Service Control-Pcnsion Decisions Over
 ruled-A Naval Board ordered-The
 Machinery for the Texas-Circuiar to
 Collectors of Eutoms, Etc.
 DECISION UNDER THE TIMBER-CULTURE
 LAW.
 WASHINGTON, May 7.-Secretary Noble yesterday rendered an important deci- sion, giving a construction of the Timber Culture law, in which he reverses the policy of tho Department that has pre- vailed for the past five years, and deflnes the policy which will govern on thls ques- tion iD the future. The question came up on the claim of James Hair, who bought a relnduishment of a timber culture clam. The law was complied with in all respects, and the question involved was whether the land was devoid of timber so that It could originally have been entered under the Timber Culture law. It was shown that there were few small trees or bushes on the claim. Heretofore the ln- terior Department has held that one or two trees on a claim constituted timbcrin sufficient quantity to preclude an entry under the Tim5er-C Culture act. Secre- tary Noble reverses this rule. He says, after reviewing the law at length its intent, it's spirit, and the country to which it applies: "No arbitrary rule can be established for the government of every case. It should be the desire of tue department to ascertain what the intent and purpose of Congress was i'll the passage of the act. Clearly it was to encourage the artificial growth of timber in Q prairie country 1tis within the experience or all mankind living in prairie regions that III 1pai it,.- T fay. capt are to be found, and it would not seem that Congress intended to exclude every tract of that kind from the Timber-Cult- ure act. It stands to reason that 1t was not the purpose to deprive the occupants of the vast prairies of the West ot the benefit of the act, if there happened to b9 single tree upon the section. l take lt that tho words prairie land or land de- void of timber within the spirit or lhe act, means land practically so."
 Referring to two prior decisions on this subject in which it was held that few trees upon n tract defeated the entry un- der the Timber Culture act Secretary Noble says that fair construction would prevent an entry of any prairie land that had timber of any character upon it, standing, fallen or otherwise" No1 WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THE CIVIL
 SERVICE LAW.
 WAsHINGToy, May 7.-The census office and its employees do not come with in the scope of the Civil-Service law. This was yesterday decided by Assistant Attorney General Shields of the Interior Department to whom the question had been referred by Secretary Noble. This is the first important decl- sion Of Mir. Shields. He bases his decl- sion upon the law of Congress ItseH re- viving Inc Census Bureau. It says: All examinations for appointment and pro motion under this act shall be ln the dls- cretion of the Secretary of the Interior" This is held to vest in the Secretary ot the Interior the right to decide whether any examination for appointment or pro- motion in the bureau are necessary, and II so how they shall be made. When in full | operation there will be fifteen hundred | clerks in the census office, besides the | enumerators in tho field.
 PENSION OFFICE DECISION ovERRULED. WASHINGTON, May 7.-Assistant Secre- | tary Bussey made several decisions i'll | pension cases yesterday. in the case of | A. F. Wescott whose claim was rejected, l he directs a further examination because | several important witnesses were not eX- | amined Geo. ". Blake is allowed an in crease of pension, Mr. Busssy overriding | the Pension office. Michael Quirk l5 given pension of so per month, though | rated by the Pension office at S2t. The evidence iu this case MT. Bussey thinks, shows total disability of left arm and not partial as held by the Pension-cffice.
 A NAVAL BOARD or oGRED TO coNvGSE- WASHINGTON, May>l.-A naval board to consist of Captain R. ". Meade, Chief Engineer Devalen, and NlNs4a1t Con : structor Mintonye, has been ordered to convene at the Washington Navy Yard on the Sth inst, to take into consideration | questions as to the size and class of tugs best suited for the use of the service, the cost of which will not exceed the limit of {35 GOO each, as provided for in the last Naval Appropriation bill. Four tugs are to be built.
 WILL ACCEPT THE RICHMOND CoMPANg's s | BID. WASHINGTON, May 7.-An erroneGus statement has been published in several newspapers to the effect th94 tho Rich mondT (Va.) Locomotive and Machine works have been awarded the contract for furnishing the machinery for the battle ship Texas, now being built at Norfolk. The contract has not been awarded, but it has been practically decided to accept the Richmond company's bid, which was S11 900 lower than any of the others. | CIRCULAR TO COLLECTORS OF CUSTOMS WASHINGTON, May 7.-The Treasury Department has issued circular to col lectors of customs requesting them to furnish, at the earliest practicable mo- ment, statement showing the station of each and every officer and employe in the customs service, in their districts. Hereafter each collector will be required to transmit the Department on the first of each month a statement of all changes that have occurred in his force during the preceding month.
 THE SIOUX COMMISSION.
 WASHINGTON, May 7.-The Sioux Com mission, with the exception of General Crook, called on Secretary Noble yester- day. It was decided to meet in Chicago, May 27, where General Crook will join
 them, and then proceed West. Messrs. Foster and Warner, commissioners, aud Secretary Miller yesterday received their
 written instructions from Secretary
 Noble.
 , NATIONAL SALUTE TO BUNKER HILL. f WASHINGTON, May 7.-The Commandant I of the Boston Navy yard has been direct 8 ed to fire a National salute at sunrise on
 June r, the anniversary of the bat tie of Bunker Hill, and, should he con
 sidea it proper and expedient, to direc,
 the marines to take part in the parade
 Armed Revolution.
 0 NEW ORLEANS, May IA special from s La Fayette, La, says; At six o'cle~sc :, yesterday morning party of twenty-fv " [ or thirty armed men surrounded tn, l Courthouse, while several larger bands . also armed, remained just outside tn s town limits. These men loudly pro = claimed that no negro would be permitte = to vote at the municipal election whie - was held yesterday. At half-past si r o'clock Sheriff Boussard attempted to es l cort a number of eolored men into til 5 Court house to vote. He was met at tn @ antrauce by the armed regulators and th