Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-03-11
Official Probabilities,
But a Few of Them in Sight At
the Present Time
CITIZENS wHoHAvE DRAWN PRIZES

/ In the Mind of tho Looker-On at tho Ma
| tionaI Capital-Senator Farwclrs ''Busi-
ness scheme" - Death of Congressman
| Townshend and y Sketch of His Life
Mrs. Harrison's Note of Condolence-An
Onicial Head Demanded.
WASHINGTON CITY, March IL. "A falling
| of that was noticeable in the crowds of office
seekers Saturday was probably due in a meas
| ure to the notice given by the heads of all the
departments that the vacancies would not be
| filled until there was time for examining the
papers Of applicants.
The cabinet was in session an hour and a
half Saturday, but beyond the fact that it
was agreed to meet at the pleasure of the
president for the present, nothing of what
| was done has transpired. The White House
was comparatively quiet during the after
noon, and at night the president had his first
opportunity to spend a few hours with his
family.
The candidates for public printer are all
well backed by their states, and the papers OF
these are in the presidents hsnds-Helms,
Hart and Donath. The president has stated
very clearyly that he will make his selection
of public printer not on a mans political
strength, but on his merits as business
man and n printer Mr. Harris ch noes
seem TO be spoiled by this declaration, because
his friends do not claim that he is possessed
of technical skill Mr.. Douath's friends, on
the other hand. are confident that if ability
and experience are the essential requisites
their man will get the place. Meredith and
Holloway, the Illinois and Indiana candi-
dates, arc not taken into account, however,
In this estimate of probabilities, and theiI
claims will be urged with great vigor.
The correspondent of The New York Sun
telegraphs his paper that the New York Re
publican leaders have agreed upon Gen
George s. Bachelor, OF Saratoga, for as
| slstant secretary OF the treasury, and that he
will DO appointed Charles Z. Coon, who
wanted this place, Is to get another one in the
same department, and the other assistant sec
rotary will be Col. Tichenor, OF Illinois, and
this, The Sun man says, does not please the
Illinois politicians because it bars their can
didates for other offices. among them Col
Clark E. Carr, who wanted to be first assist
ant postmaster general, which, il is reported,
is to go to an Ohio man, Whitfield, formerly
postmaster of Cincinnati 1t is generally be-
lieved that Walker Blaine will be nominated
for first assistant secretary of state.
New York, according TO this correspon-
| dent, Is to be pretty well fixed abroad
Whiteiaw Reid Is slated for England, Fred
Grant for China and Allen Thorndy he Rice
| for Germany. William Walter Phelps is to
| get the French mission.
Senator Farwell, of Illinois, has a plan
which he calls business scheme for the
disposition OF tina Offices In brief it is for
the congressional delegations in the Repub-
lican states, including Of course the senators,
| to mahe up list of the best men for the
| offices, those states having no representa-
| ton in the cabinet to have all the places
| outside Of the departments, which latter
| are 10 go the states that have the cabinet
| The Democratic states are to have nothing
| except the local offices. These lists are to be
| sent to the president with the request TO ap-
point all or many OF the men named as he
| can. This, the senator claims, would save
the president heap Of trouble and put the
| selections in the hands of the men who would
be most competent to do the work. There
Is good deal of opposition to the plan as it
Is claimed that it gives no encouragement to
the party in Democratic states. Regarding
the Chicago postoff1ce Farweu said New
berry was confirmed with the understanding
that he was to send in his resignation when
the senator asked for it, and he has not done
that vet
Another part OF Farwell's plan Is to "abol-
tsh those schoolnasters, the civil-ssrvice COM
missioners," and he also wants TO relieve tue
president OF tbs hand shaking that ho now
has to undergo
Minnesota people are looking for several
good positions. Among them may be men
toned Rsv. Dr.. jackson (coloredD, Of St
Paul, who wants TO be minister 70 Hayti;
William 9. Leduc. the old ex-commissionsr
OF agriculture, who would like TO be assistant
secretary Of agriculture; r. F. Crowell, who
desires to DO sixth auditor; W. D. Estes, who
thinks South American consulate is Just
what he needs Z. &. Jertson and Baron Won
Roslind, who want consulateS.
Col Elliott F. Shepard, Of New York eI
poets If he can get it without upsetting
Whitelaw Reid's plans, to represent the
United States at Berlin.
The Iowa delegation has, so it is stated,
selected and presented to the president the
following names: Gen. futile, for commits
sioner OF pensions; Ex-Governor Stone for
commissioner of the general land Office, and
ex-Congrsssman Hepburn, for commissioner
Of patents.
President and Mrs Harrison, Russell Har-
rison and his wife, and Mrs. Robert Mckee,
attended divine service at Dr. Hamlins
church on Connecticut avenue yesterday
afternoon. The president and his folks came
quietly and unannounced; andras their pres
ence was unexpected, attracted but little at
tention during the service.