The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1889-08-29
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.

| WASHINGTON, D. c., Aug. 25, 1889.
| Editor Herald:
Secretary Rusk was the last member of
I the cabinet to abandon the capital city.
He is with the presidential party, but
will leave it at Indianapolis to go to the
G. A. r. encampment at Milwaukee. He
| will remain away until about the middle
| of September.
made a ruling that will be hailed as a
boon by .hundre Is of applicants for pen
sions. 1t relates to proof of the origin
of disability. The rule which required
the evidence of one commissioned officer
Or one orderly sergeant, or in the absence
of both the testimony of two privates,
has been so modified that in the absence
of other evidence the testimony of one
private and the claimant will be accepted
as satisfactory proof provided that both
are men Of good character.
The impression has gotten out here
that there may not be an extra session Of
congress after all. The reason given by
those who think that way is that the i'm
portant elections to take place in Novem-
Der would prevent many members fror,
attending.
The present civil service commission
manages to keep itself before the public
almost constantly. Its latest PROPOSE
ton is to extend the rules so as to take
in the appointment of chiefs Of divisions
in the departments. This proposition is
regarded as absurd by every body but the
democrats, who are at present holding
the majority of those positions. They,
of course, would like to see it adopted
No sane man will pretend that COMPETE
tive examination will show whether a
man is possessed of executive ability and
without that quality no man can make
a successful chief. 1t is not thought
probable that our President will agree to
any such extension, although the men,
bers of the commission intimate that he
favOrs il.
The navy department has agreed upon
the des gins of two cruisers-one of 800
tons and one Of 8, 800 tons If some plan
can be adopted to keep the vessels off of
rocks and sunken wrecks we shall in the
course of time have navy.
A list of all the chiefs of divisions in the
treasury department has been made Civ
ing the date of their original appointment
and the states from which they were APP
pointed. 1t is understood that the prin-
ciple object of this list is to replace the
democrats and mugwumps with good
working republicans. Twenty changes
have already been agreed upon but the
names have not yet been made public.
This movement meets the hearty approx
al of all good republicans.
The treasury department has issued a
circular to the custodians of all buildings
under it's control requiring them to keep
the United States flag hoisted during bus
mess hours exceptin stormy weather. 1t
seems little curious that such circular
shold have been necessary.
Assistant Secretary Busy, of the in
terror department, has decided that
d1shonorable discharge from the army is
not a bar to mans obtaining a pension,
providing the disability was incurred
while in the discharge OF duty, previous
to the time the crime was committed for
which the soldier was dishonorably dis
charged,
Senator Pugh, the only democratic SEN
ator that accompanied the senate COM
nittee to the Pacific coast, says he does
not believe the democrats can carry 9th
er one otthe new states. That's the way
most people who are posted on the stu
alton out there seem to think.
The action of the Virginia republican
convention at Norfork yesterday is we'll
received by republicans here where
Fen. Malone is greatly admired. He has
now assumed the entire responsibility,
and if he wins, as now looks probable,
should receive all the credit Whether he
wins or not he will make the hottest
campaign Virginia has seen for some
time