Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1889-04-24
WASHINGTON LETTER.
(From our Regular Correspondent

WASHINGTON, April 10th, 1889.
The President has honored the
newspaper fraternity again by ap-
pointing Robert P. Porter, of New
York, Superintendent of the Ceusns
Mr.. Porter was one Of the founders,
and is at present the editor of that
very sprightly Republican daily, the
New York Press. He has an inter-
national reputation as a writer on
industrial topics, and no man has
done more in the last ten years to
popularize protection tariff than he,
and few men better qualified than
he to superintend the taking Of the
next census could be found.
Oklahoma is a long way from Wash
ington, but it's affairs are just now re-
ceiving great deal Of attention
from officials of the Government.
The Attorney General and the Con-
troller of the currency are trying to
decide whether they shall grant
charters for several national banks
there for which applications have
been made. The law says such ap-
plications shall be on file one year
before the charters shall be granted.
But this being the opening of a new
Territory, is claimed to be an e1-
ceptional case. A decision is ex-
pected in few days. The Post
office Department is making unsual
efforts to provide mail facilities for
the.citizens TO be) Of the new coun-
try. Several inspectors are now
there to examine proposed mail route,
etc. First Assistant Postmaster
General Clarkson, who has been
over the ground, says Oklahoma is
the garden spot of the west, and that
in less than six months it's population
will be 100000, and that in two
years it will be admitted as state.
Red Cloud, the Sioux Indian
Chief, called on the President this
week. He said that he ''only called
to pay his respects" when an inquis-
tive newspaper man asked him what
office he was trying to get.
The number of changes in fourth
class Postmasters now runs from l0C
to l59 per day. These postmasters
have no stated term but from action
that has been taken by the Depart
ment in number of cases it is in
ferred that the commissions OF all
those having served four years O,
longer are considered as having ex
tpired. s.s.'s*sS 5sss7'~~ .'Szs
The Railway Mail Service is being
improved as rapidly as possible. AL
ready there have been more than SOC
changes therein and the good work
still goes on. Speaking of this mat
ter Mr.. Clarkson said: ''It has beer
the policy Of the Department to dis
place incompetent clerks and appoint
experienced and efficient men who
left the service during the last ad
ministration, where such are availa
| bic and desirous Of reenterine
the service. The Railway Mai
Service requires men not only o1
superior intelligence, but men whose
faculties are in perfect working order
Men who possess every requirement
Of the service are comparatively few
and are not easily secured, but whe1
such are found they should be re
tanned IN the service as long as pos
sible. Efficiency in the postal ser
vice can be obtained only after {
long struggle, and to remove such
men in order to make places for pol
itical favorites, irrespective of thei1
fitness, is public wrong and shoule
not be tolerated..
Secretary Blaine says there ar
more than $500 applications on fill
at the State Department for the 2l'
United States consulships.
Postmaster General Wanamakel
believing that the newspapers of tn
country should be given everv facili
for obtaining and disseminating tn
news of the day, has rescinded a
order issued during the last admins
tration prohibiting trainmen carry
ing newspaper correspondence an
packages of newspapers on train
! other than mail trains. The issuanc
of this order several years ago ha
been the cause Of great Inconvenience
and complaint from newspapers pull
lished in every section Of the cour
try.
The State Department has issued
pamphlet containing all the law
). passed at the last session of Coz
gress. Persons desiring copies ma
obtain them by writing to the D.
partment, enclosing IS cents.
Owing to the unusually large nun
ber of letters received at the Pensio
office since the new Commissions
Mr.. Tanner has had charge, there
necessarily considerable delay i
getting them all answered, and th
/. Commissioner requests that his co
respondents bear with him as p'
tientlY as possible. Mr.. Tame
n speaking Of the resignation af Ge1