The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1889-09-26
WASHINGTON NEWS.

The Civil Service Commission has sent to
John j. Ankeney, postmaster at Minneapo-
lis an opinion on the charges of irregulari-
ties In pointments in his flee, The Com
mission finds that number Of persons Were
employed without authority under the law,
and, where such persons are still employed,
suggests that their services should DO dis
continued.
Secretary Noble has directed that the
lands in Colora 10, upon which are the ruins
of the residences and noun is of the so-called
Cliff Dwellers," be Withdrawn from dspo-
sal until steps can be taken to protect the
ruins from removal or destruction.
Secretary Window has appointed Robert
H. Terrell Of Massachusetts, chief Of the ma
| Wy pay division of the fonrth auditors office,
vice Mr.. Martin of Alabama, resigned. Mr.
Terrell is a colored man He is a graduate
of Harvard University, and Is at present
teach In the colored normal school at
Washington.
The Navy Department having failed to
secure bid for the construction Of the 5000
| ton cruisers within the limit OF cost imposed
| by Congress, Secretary Tracey Is consider
navy yards, The Eastern ship-building navy
| yards being crowded with work, Ma
val Constructor Hichborn is prepapared
| to recommend that an opportunity be
given the Mare Island yard TO show
what it eau do in the way Of building
modern man-of-war Under authority con-
ferred by congress the construction bureau
has been increasing the plant at that yard
Mactin tools of the latest type are being de-
| livered rapidly, and the acting chief con-
| structor believes that within two months
the yard will be able to undertake success
| fully the construction Of at least one of the
| 19-knot cruisers,
| Secretary Window has decided that in the
purchase of silver for coinage into standard
silver dollars he will hereafter accept the
| lowest offers for the amount required, pro
vided the price is within the market rate, as
| required by law. This reverses the practice
| Of the department under the last administra-
tion, of making counter offers and is a re-
turn to the practice which prevailed prior to
1885.
| The Federal Commission, consisting Of
Gen. Benjamin T. Simpson, n. B. Hum
phrey and J. H. Shape, appointed to treat
| with the Cpur d. Alene Indians for the pur-
chase Of mineral and timber lands and nnvi-
gable waters within ;ir reservation, has
returned to Portland, Idaho having succeeded
in their mission. They spent about two weeks
| In the examination of the reservation.
The Indians have good schools fine
farms, buildings and fences, and as fertile
and beautiful a section of country as one
|
much land as the commission wanted for
q, 000, 900. They asserted that the mineral
land is very valuable, and one of them had
some fine specimens of gold bearing quartz
from ledge which he said he
had traced for three miles. The In
dams at last consented to sell $50, 900.
acres of the north end of their reservation
for $500, 900, and an agreement to this effect
was signed by the commissioners Gen.
Saltez the chief, the head men, and adult
males Of the tribe to the number OF 140. II
the agreement made with the Indians is con-
firmed the mineral lands will lie covered
with prospectors The commission will be
occupied for some ten days in making UP
| their report, which will then be taken to
Washington by Gen. Simpson.
Major Theophilus Gaines of West Virginia
has been appointed chief of the pension di-
vision Of the third auditors Office, vice
Capt John Hussey.
Mr.. E. L. Jordon h been appointed
assistant superintendent ii the bureau Of
of engraving and printing. Mr.Jordon has
been plate printer in the bureau for thir-
teen years. and was active in the movement
which resulted in the discontinuancs Of the
steam presses
The secretary of war has decided to &C
cept the offer of the Indian Rights associa-
tion to purchase q tract of land in North
Carolina for Geronimos band of indians,
now confined at Mount Vernon barracks,
and to establish them there in more civil
lied mode of life.
The governments of the United States and
France have finally reached peaceful set
Element Of the diplomatic complications
arising from the arrest and discourteous
treatment Of Mrs. Dorr Miss Van Nostrand
and another New York lady by
the French police authorities at Men
| tone. These ladies were arrested and
thrown into a cell at the instance of a dress.
maker with whom they had Lad dispute
over bill Minister Re- d has finally been
able to elicit from the French government
an explanation and an apology, with notice
that the offending officials had been repri-
manded. These facts were communicated tc
the compl tinants, and, as they have ex-
pressed themselves as entirely satisfied with
the measure Of PREPARATION, the incident may
be regarded as closed.
The opinion Of Atty Gen Miller in the
matter of the alleged appropriation oil
| money paid to the delegates of the Creek ma
ton on account of the Oklahoma cessi IL has
been made public. He says that he does not
see that he is authorized to disreg ,rd the dis
erection granted to the Creek councils in the
disposition of the funds, or to attempt re-
covery thereof. If these people choose, he
| says, they cen use the name of the United
States to recover whatever rights they may
believe themSelves deprived Of without the
interposition of the attorney general.