Omaha daily bee., 1889-07-07
AMMUNITION FOR THE ENEMY.
The Alarming Nepotism of Many
Republican Officials.
SOFT JOBS FOR NEAR RELATIVES.
Too Many Wives Filling Lucrative
MISUNDERSTANDING Future
Home-Des Moincs River
Land Matters.
WASHINGTON BUREAU, THE OMAHA BEE.
bl3 FOURTEENTH STREET,


Some Of the new officials are furnishing
the democratic press and politicians with
good campaign material by appointing their
wives and sons and daughters to lucrative
positions under them. Tho new commits
sioner OF Indian affairs, Mr.. Thomas j. Nor
gan, of Rhode Island, who assumed charge
OF that Office this week, has signalized his
career by appointing his wife us his private
secretary at q salary of $500 o year. As he
receives S5,0O0 their combined salaries will
give them an income almost equal to that of
a cabinet officer. 1t is necessary for the see
retary of the interior to approve these
appointments, and Secretary Noble has done
so, so that the administration becomes re-
sponsible for the nepotism. But this is not
the first case of the kind That has occurred in
the interior department Commissioner
Tanner appointed his daughter IA his private
secretary and Rev. Dorchester, the new su-
perintendent of Indian schools, has made his
wife a special agent under him. This ena-
bles her TO accompany her husband on all his
official tours and have her expenses paid by
the government, which is very pleasant
little arrangement. She also receives.
whether at home or on the road, salary OF
81 day, Sunday included. Secretary Noble
is said to have hesitated about making this
appointment, but approved it upon
the ground that Mrs. Dorchester might
be useful to her husband by
examining the girls in the Indian schools
while he was looking after the boys. He ar
gued too that womaD's eye might see u ne
cessty for making changes and improve
ments which might escape the attention Of a
man. Mrs. Dorchester is the only woman
who has ever held position as special agent
under the government. These offices are
very much sought after, us they give the in
cumbent chance to travel at government
expense and at the same time draw salary.
Assistant Postmaster General Clarkson is
" NJ fhar nsNf tsa., NN;,,N
ing his son to office, and there are u number
OF officials of lesser prominence who have
found places for members of their families.
Until now the only permanent Official who
ever appointed his wife TO position was
Senator Reagan. of Texas. When the senate
provided private secretary for each of the
senators he nominated his wife for the posi-
ton. There are number OF senators whose
wives assist them in. their correspondence,
but Mrs. Reagan was the first woman who
ever received pay from the government for
doing so.
GERoNIMo's FUTURE HOME.
Geronimo is not going back to Arizona, and
will be very much disappointed when he
hears the news. Captain John G.. Rourke,
of the Third cavalry, and Prof. Painter, of
Boston, representing the Indians Rights as
sociation, were appointed a commission to
select permanent home for the Apache pen
sioners, who are still confined in their very
cramped quarters at Mount Vernon barracks,
Alabama, and supported by the government.
After looking at several places, they have
decided to recommend to the president the
purchase of 10000 acres of the res
ervatlon of the Cherokee Indians in
Apaches thereon The Cherokees are willing
to SELL and the citizens of that locality will
be glad to have the Indians for neighbors be-
cause it will inccease their trade.
WORKING FOR TuE RIVER LANDERs.
Attorney General John Y. Stone, of Iowa,
has hpan in tho cltv fpr iaya in ia
interest of the settlers on the Des Moines
river lands. Mr. Stone has had several in
terviews with Attorney General Miller on
the subject, and one or two with the presi
dent He has presented Attorney General
Miller an elaborate bill in equity which he
urges the government to file in the United
States court il Iowa, the effect Of which is to
restore the land to the public domain, to the
end that congress may grant it to the actual
settlers who have entered the lands in good
faith The bill, however, does not propose
to interfere with the deeds given by the
Navigation company to actual settlers who
have bought of that company in good faith.
Mr.. Stones theory is that the Navigation
company's title ls one derived by the con-
struction of certain acts and resolutions of
congress and the legislature. and that the
construction which has been put upon them
by the supreme court will not be sustained
when all the facts are known. There are
many important questions which, he says,
have never been before the court. The his
tory of the various grants and of the actions
and proceedings is very long and the ques-
tions involved greatly complicated Mr..
Stone had another interview with Attorney
General Miller to-day, at which he closed his
argument, which has extended over much
ground, 1t is hoped that an early decis ion
may be had, and il it is favorable to the ap-
plication of Mr. Stone he is confident that In
the end the settlers will get their land. Sem
ator Allison has been here all this week and
has assisted Mr.. Stone in his efforts.
coLoRED CONGREGATION AT WAR.
There was funny case in the police court
to-day. The Rev. George Berkeley, pastor Of
the Bethel Baptist church (coIored), was
arrested and locked up at the Eighth pre-
cinct station last night upon charge of lar
ceny. He was accused by certain members
of his congregation OF stealing the key to the
house of worship in which he had ofIiciated
on Sundays for several years. According to
MIR. Berkleys story he felt called upon to
eXpel from membership in his church eleven
prominent members of the congregation, m
Guiding three deacons. who were charged with
derclicton in duty aud conduct unbecoming
christians. The cause of the expulsion was
a conspiracy on the part of these eleven
members to expel Mr.. Berkley from the
pulpit and to restore the Rev. Mr.. Harris,
ex-pastor of the church, who was desirous OF
regaining his old charge. The sexton sym.
pathized with the insurrcctonary party, and
Mr.. Berkley, having received Information
that the rebels We're intending to seize the
church before Sunday and keep him and tho
regular congregation out OF II, went TO the
house Of the sexton and seized the keys,
whereupon he was arrested and taken to tho
police station whore he succeeded IN secur-
ing his release by depositing collateral. but
while he was behind the bars, the opposition
faction in his congregation gained access to
the church by breaking in n back window.
This gave Mr. Berkley an opportunity TO get
even with tho people who had caused him to
suffer the indgnity OF an arrest, ana he
Immediately swore out warrants against
eleven OF them, who were arrested and taken
before the police Judge to-iay. The latter
gave them fatherly lecture told them they
had disgraced themselves and advised them
to settle their troubles amicably and dis
missed the case.
MISCELLANEOUS.
A telegram was sent out by the Associated
press q COUPE of nights ago contradicting
the report that Mrs. General Pickett was
soon to be married. The Mrs. Pickett re.
ferred To Is the widow of TIE late confederate
commander whose charge at the battle of
Gettysburg Is one nj the most remarkable
incidents in military history. She is still
handsome, and during the last administra-
tion WAS appointed 10 u cierkship in tho pom
sion Office.
Speaker Carlisle has for some purpose or
another borrowed 50, 900 from ex-lteprcsenta-
tive William l. Scott, of Erie, Penn, and
has given him mortgage upon his residence
on II az in hiG al