Thomas County cat., 1889-10-31
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE.
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our regular Correspondent. J

From our regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, d. c.. Oct 25. 1SS9.-The
president having disposed of the perpexing
question of who should be commissioner of
pensions TO the satisfaction of himself, and of
| the party leaders, as far as heard from, has
devoted his entire time this week to prepar-
ing his message to congress. 1 say his entire
| time. by that mean his official time. he has
considered no other official matter.
Gen. Raum, the new commissioner of pen
siOns, is moving very carefully. 1t is not his
purpose to make any changes until certain of
his ground. Just now he is engaged, and is
likely to be for some time to come, in ac-
quainting himself with the work of the Office.
1t is generally believed that as soon as he gets
things in shape many official changes will be
made, several of them involving the most im-
portant positions in the bureau. Gen. Raum's
record rs commissioner of internal revenue,
leaves no doubt that his administration of the
pension Office will be entirely successful.
Secretary Blaine has devoted considerable
time this week to rigid investigation of the
charges made against W. r. Lewis, L. S. con-
sui at Morocco. of extorting money from GER
tain parties for United States protection i'm
Algiers. Mr.. Lewis, and his accuscrs-natives
of Algiers-have been present at the investi-
CATION, the result of which has not yet been
made public.
The president has been compelled by press
OF important business here to decline AN in
vitation to attend the laying of the corner
stone of the Soldiers and Sailors monument
at Brooklyn, N.Y., which is to take place on
the 3Oth inst.
Representative-elect Taylor, of Illinois, is
here with his BRIDE He says the Illinois dele
CATION is solid for Mr.. Cannon for speaker
and that they believe his chances of election
are good as anyene else's.
Mr.. Halford. the presidents private secre-
tary, has gone to Fortress Monroe for few
days before actively resuming his arduous
duties His health is very much improved and
his physician thinks the sea air will complete
the cure. May the doctor prove true
prophet.
Chief Justice Fuller evidently knows a good
thing when he has possession of it, hence his
positive refusal to allow the use of his name
in the scramble for the empty honor of the
democratic presidential nomination in 1872.
$10,50 year for life is not IL snap picked up
every day, and shrewdness acquired by
long residence in Chicago has made the chief
justice fully approve of the ancient -adaee ~
bird in the hand, etc.
Representative Houck, of Tennessee, who is
one of the bitterest opponents Of the present
civil service law. loses Ro opportunity of ex-
pressing his very decided opinion on the SUBJ
ject. He says: Among the subj ects that will
come before congress to be egislated upon, is
the civil service humbug. l am not opposed
to any meritorious method of conducting the
civil service. but the methods of examination
adopted by the civil service commission are a
positive outrage. They talk about spoilsmen,
but there are not three worse spoilsmeh in
the country than the three men who run the
civil service machine. IL have the power ]
intend to force to Il vote during the. coming
session. IA bill that shall introduce repeating
the civil service law This is plain language,
and there are good many members of the
House who agree with Mr.. Houck, but
whether enough to repeal the law, remains to
be seen.
Mr. Houck also thinks the time has arrived
when every man who has been honorably dis
charged from the army or navy should receive
a service pension of $l2 or SIS month.