Omaha daily bee., 1889-05-03
ENGRAVING AND PRINTING.
A Rumor That Captain Meredith
Has Secured that Plum.
wANAMAKER CALLS A HALT.
A Verbal Order That viii Save Some
Postmasters-Housc Rules That
Impede Business - A
Sensation.
WASHINGTON BUREAU, THE OMAHA BEE,
5l3 FouRTEEyTa STREET,
WlsUINGTpN ID O.. Nav =.


he will arrive in Washington on Monday,
and will take immediate charge of the bu-
reau Of engraving and printing If this re-
port is true, and Captain Meredith is nomi-
mated chief Of the bureau of engraving and
printing, IL is thought Mr. Palmer will not
tie given the public printing. The public
printer and the chief Of the bureau of en-
CRAVING and printing, have almost an unlim-
tied amount of patronage which is of such
nature as to make these offices very desira-
BILE to not only the individual candidates, but
to the congressional delegations from the
various states. There are no other depart
ments or bureaus where the constituents and
working politicians can be so well taken care
of as in these two bureaus. For this reason,
it is argued by those well informed on the
subject, that it will be impracticable for the
president to give Illiaois the public printer
and chef of engraving and printing. The re-
publican members of the Illinois delegation,
now in Washington, say, however
that such an argument is untenable, and do
not believe the mere fact that Illinois is given
one Office will necessarily handicap her to
-Ehy considerable extent in the fight for the
other. The friends of the aspirants for the
public partnership as well as the men who
have the welfare of the administration are
urging upon General Harrison the extreme
necessity of taking prompt action in making
the appointment to that office. They are
daily laying before him criticisms of Mr..
Benedicts business methods, with view to
showing the president how detrimental it is
to the republican party and the public SER
vice to keep such a man in so important
position. The presidents attention was
called To the fact that Benedict is now en-
gagged in making contracts for supplies for
the next fiscal year, and that the warehouses
and storerooms of the printing Office will soon
be refilled with material selected by Bene-
dict, which may not be satisfactory to his
successor, and as the supplies now being con-
tracted for are not to be used until after
July l, the president is urged to make the
change at once.
A SENSATIONAL INCIDENT.
There was sensational incident in the
cafe at the Riggs house, last evening, which
has not yet found its way into the local pa
pers. Colonel Timothy Quinn, who COM
mander the First New York Lincoln cav
airy was seated at one of the tables with
Mr.. Murphy xchief clerk of the pension
Office, when General Black entered-e Mr..
Quinn is connected with the pension office,
and General Black, during his term, tried to
degrade him. General Black went over to
the table occupied by the two gentlemen and
extended his hand to greet them. Mr.. Quinn
refused to take his hand, and told General
Black very frankly he considered HIM be-
meath his notice, and said that he wanted
nothing to do with him. He told him,
further, that he did not want to renew the
down at the table. The valiant ex-commis.
sioner's hp quivered, but he said not word,
but left the room. The waters in the cafe
gathered about the disputants, and, evil
IDENTIFY, expected something more. General
Blacks friends, who heard of the incident,
think that there will be resort to the code,
while Mr.. Quinn's friends think that he
served General Black exactly as he de-
served. Both gentlemen are members of the
military order of the Loyal Legion.
CALLING A HALT.
! A verbal order has been issued by Post
> Amaster-G General Wanamaker which prohibits
changes in fourth-class offices, unless for in.
competency or bad management, unless the
incumbents were appointed two or three
years ago. 1t was suggested by the demand
for the appointment of republicans to sue
ceed republicans who were appointed a few
months ago under the Cleveland administra-
ton. Men in congress have been asking to
have republicans appointed under the late
administration removed that more active re-
publicans could be given positions, and tho
postmaster. general thought he would put
stop to this by refusing action except in rare
instances. The order does not give satisfac-
ton to active republicans. They contend
that by trick IA large number of democrats
last winter resigned and secured the appoint
ment Of inoffensive partisan republicans.
The scheme was to hold the new appointees
in the positions The old postmasters, in
going out, invariably sell their furniture to
the new postmasters. Now the active re-
reIuSe 10 aDlue DV UneSe
trades, and are demanding that the men who
were active participants in the recent cam
paign shall be given the places. There is
quite Topping of OF appointments at the
postofiiee department. in consequence
pointments made to-day, however,
was much greater than yesterday. Post
master General Wanamaker says that he
was induced to direct stop in the changes
of postmasters appointed during the past
year, by learning, when it was too late, that
a lot of republicans had been removed un-
Willingly. When there is n demand for n
change, now 1t is only necessary to look at
the date OF the appointment of the present
incumbent, in order that the first assistant
postmaster general may make an immediate
answer.
GoRMAN's GRIP.
Maryland republicans complain bitterly
that Senator German, by the 'fine ItalMn''
processes so notorious to him, has been able
to secure for his brother, Calvin, a new lease
OF life In the position OF inspector OF customs
at Baltimore. Republican representatives,
McComas and Mudd of Maryland, are very
indignant that their efforts to secure the
senator's brothers. dismissal have proved Of
no avail.
NEW RULES NEEDED.
The most serious question now before the
republican members of the Fifty first con-
gress relates TO the change of rules which
must be made TO govern the house of repre-
sentatives. There is no question that II the
OH TUlcS 10 HDt tnllTcly
the house prerogatives will be so greatly
curtaied that il will be only committee in
name The committee has arrogated to it.
self so much power that IL had absolute con
troll over the action of the house in the last
two congresses, and IL was found that the
hands OF everybody were tied. II is now
proposed that such rules shall be adopted as
will make II impossible for any member of
the minority TO create o. maintain dead
lock, and at the same time the rules must
not be so framed as 10 make il possible for
bare majority TO change the standing rules,
as the republican majority will be too close
4 TO ADMIT OF anything venturesome.
The democrats have already given notice
that they intend TO resist with all their
power the republican proposition 10 recog-
nize the power OF the ballot in the south,
and to keep men not entitled to their seats
out II there is the slightest loophole the
democrats vii! institute deadlock AT
the outset aid stop proceedings for
months They have proposed to defeat the
adoption OF the direct tax bill. They will
also in the second session of the Fifty first
congress fli6uster against legislation To
carry into effect the reapportioument of con
gress under the eleventh census. All these
things must be guarded against. Instead OF
making IL possible for bare majority To
change the rules at any time, after II gets a
favorable report from the committee or
rules, IL is proposed that only the rules
h.st tba afor - hall lao adn N