Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-05-26
FROM WASHINGTON.
Three Very Superior Cruisers
to Be Built.
CIVIC TROUBLES IN OKLAHOMA
Proceedings of the Civil Service
Commission Not to Be Kept
q Secret.
Associated Press Dispatches to the HERALD

Associated Press Dispstches to the HERALD.
WASHINGTON, May 25.-The President
appointed Roger @. spooner, OF Wiscon-
sin, Consul at Prague. He is brother
of Senator Spooner.
THREE NEW CRUISERS.
Proposals for the construction of three
cruisers for the Navy were to-day issued
from the Navy Department under author
ity of the act of Congress of September
9TH. 1888. The bids will be opened
about August LIST, 1889. These vessels
are to be of 1000 tons displacement, and
are to exhibit maximum speed OF at
least eighteen knots an hour for four
consecutive hours. They are to be fin
the contract, and payment will be made
in twenty equal instruments as the work
progresses. The cost OF the vessels, ex-
GLIDING any premium that may be paid
for increased speed and cost of arma-
ment, but including their equipment, is
limited to an amount not exceeding
100000 each. The proposals are d.
vided into four classes, the first being for
vessel in accordance with the plans of
the Secretary of The Navy; second, for
the plans OF the contractor; third, for
the Secretary's hull and the contractor 8
machinery, and fourth, for the contrac
tors hull and the Secretary's machinery.
This last class is an innovation in naval
construction.
MUNICIPAL TROUBLES IN GUTHRIE.
Inspector Picker of the Interior De-
partment, row in Guthrie, Oklahoma,
has sent report to Secretary Noble, un-
der date of May 18th, on the situation in
that city. In the course of his report
Inspector Picker says. The City Coun-
Gil of Guthrie was very irregulary chosen
to begin with, and, as the people under
stood, for the purpose merely of putting
the machinery OF the city in motion. AT
the time the Council was chosen, grave
responsibilities we're forced upon them,
and, generally, they have assumed and
settled them in creditable manner.
They have preserved order, surveyed the
town and practically cleared the streets.
In these matters they are commended by
all. They have, however, assumed other
powers, and undertaken to act in various
matters for which they are generally and
very emphatically condemned. They
have appointed an attorney at a salary of
$1,000 per year, and an Adviser
of the Council ON Arbitration,
at salary in excess of this;
A board Of five arbitrator set.
Ting the right of posses sion to lots,
some being members Of the Council, at
$40 per day, charging each contestant
$40 before the case could be heard, and
returning only $40 to the party succeed
Eaa hn
have granted, or pretend to grant, a
franchise for ten years to company to
supply the city with water, to build a
bridge across the stream and grade the
streets, and, in like manner, have taken
many such steps against which the citi-
zens loudly protested. And, further,
they are now collecting large taxes; an
occupation tax of IS per month, a survey
tax, Recorders tax on lots, etc. They
have enacted harsh ordinances, for the
violation of which severe penalties are
imposed. They are recklessly spending
money in paying officials, and are sur
veyipg towns on lines other than those
recommended at the peoples meeting,
in order to save their own lots. Further,
it is asserted that members of the Coun-
Gil are among those who came in on
Sunday before, the 22nd, and seized
all the best lots, and that the
city government has in all matters
protected the interests Of these men.
This charge has been made more en-
phatic from the fact that the Council has
instructed its Board of Arbitration that,
in considering who is entitled to a lot,
the Board shall not take into consldera-
ton the time of settling, as before or after
O'Clock, but that priority of settlement
on Monuay, 22d, regardless Of the hour,
entitled the party to the lot. This the
people considered in direct conflict with
the Presidents proclamation. A petition
was circulated, yesterday, asking the
Council to call an election to divide the
CITY into wards and to make registry OF
voters, and asking that an election be
held on Monday, 9th of May. Every
body practically signed the petition. In
dependent of the petition, the citizens
held a large mass meeting last evening.
They we're very much in earnest and
very determined. After speeches by diff
ferent persons, they pass ed a resolution,
BUSTING the Mayor and City Council, and
appointed committee to 30 notify them,
and also passed resolution appointing a
committee of seven to call a city cleo
ton, ignoring the present Mayor and
Council. The Inspector then states that
there we're loud calls for his views, that
he took the stand and told them that, in
his judgment, it was a mistake to not
petition the Mayor and Council to call an
election, and it would most likely result
in two conflicting city governments, and
that they were entitled to speedy cleo
ton, to a sworn statement from the pres
ent Council as to all moneys collected or
paid out that the incoming administra-
ton should limit the fees of all officers
and boards, and should be economical /;
should be careful in regard to the grant
ing to individuals of valuable franchises
of the city without due consideration.
After a heated discussion, a mo-
tion was made to reconsider, and was
carried, and committee appointed to
present petition to the Mayor request
ing him to call an election. The meeting
then adjourned in good humor.
NO MORE CIVIL SERVICE SECRECY.
The Civil Service Commissioner has
made important alterations to one OF the
rules by providing that list OF ellgloles
for appointment to the Government ser
vice and their standing shall be made
public. This act of the Commission was
approved by the President to-day. In an
interview with an Associated Press re-
porter, to-day, Commissioner Roosevelt
speaking of this change in the rule, said
that 1t vas reversal of the Commits