The Monitor., 1889-04-12

postmasters and collector of the port OF
New York. So far as one may judge,
these nominations are eminently satisfac
tory. This is lucky for President Harrison.
The capacity of New York politicians fol
kicking has long been the admiration oi
the Western world, and that they should
be satisfied for the once is very gratifying.
The most wholesale change of minor Of
ficials will be among the boards of examin-
ing surgeons for the Pension Bureau
throughout the country. An entire reor-
ganization will take place within thirty
days, and very few Democrats will remain,
as Corpolal Tanners axe has been newly
sharpened. These positions are generally
valuable. as the duties only occupy part
OF ono day each week and the perquisites
will often reach thirty dollars day. The
annoyance from dissatisfied claimants is
enough, however, TO destroy great deal
of the ease of the place.
The Secretary of the War, General Scho-
field and the President are just now trying
to discover which of them has authority to
order the court martial of Major Ames,
court martials of retired officers being SO
rare that a precedent is hard to find. In the
meantime Major Ames is assured that
there will be no unnecessary delay. Major
Ames is the self appointed aid to the mar
shall of inauguration day, Governor Bea-
yer. who made 4 nuisance of himself by
trying to force his way into the procession,
and later by tweaking Governor Beavers
nose in the Ebbit House lobby. 1t is sus-
pected that the Majors reason is affected.
There is something touching in the
courage of the office seekers who remain
in the city through the epidemic of pneu-
monia that has resulted from exposure
during the terrible weather OF Inauguration
The storm of Saturday, one of the widest in
local records, only served to hold the would
be statesmen i'll their respective rooms for
little while, hardly long enough to catch
breath for a further race.
Among the deaths laid al the door OF
the inauguration is that of James Christie,
assistant doorkeeper of the Senate and one
of the most characteristic figures about
town. Thirty years ago Mr.. Christie, then
White Mountain lad Of sixteen, came to
Washington rs page in the Senate, where
he remained in various capacities until his
death. He was appoined to his last posi-
ton, which was especially created for him,
in 1872. He was a great favorite with
Senators of both parties. He will be chief
ly remembered, however, as the best judge
of terrapin and canvass back in Washing
ton anG as an infallible critic in wines.
He was the ideal bon riraHt. The breath
less anxiety evinced by the celebrated cat
erer, John Chamberlain, as he would wait
Mr.. Christie's verdict in such gastronom-
ic matter as wine, or boiled Virginia ham,
was silent tribute to genius.
People who have indulgently laughed
over the regulations and mismanagement
of the poor house matron in Oliver Twist,
with a mental reservation to the effect that
Dickens fancy was too volatile, have been
awakened by the charges just preferred
against the matron of the Washington poor
farm. 1t is charged that she allowed no.
torious filth and nasty morals to have full
sway, never going near the building unless
under the influence of whisky and opiates.
About fifty notes written by her to the
house physician are exhibited. They are
repeated orders for six ounces oflaudanum,
alternating with requests for still larger
amounts of whisky. The woman appears
to be tank, and her thirst is equal to any
stimulant Just at the present the Dis
trict Commissioners are graveiy debating
whether or not they shall proceed to for
NAL investigation without sworn charges
And that is the reason why the towr
laughs.
The court martial so long in session ha.
reported to the Secretary of War its yer
dict in the Lydecker- Townshend case. L
will be remembered by the gentle reade
that these are the doughty warriors wht
were detailed to supervise the construction
of the Washington aqueduct. This aque
duct was Il gigantic swindle; some of Til
work was the worst imaginable, and who'll
blocks of it were so bad that it would cos
more to fix it than would be needed t,
build an entirely new one.
Lydecker is specimen OF the careless
selfish, vain and grasping military ''ser
want of the people" so called in mild sar
casm. As engineer officer of the District
he first distinguished himself by the lavisl
use of public money in the purchase of
horse and buggy and tito necessary trim
mings. The trimmings were the thing
that exhibited his genius. The lap rob
cost about $50, and-mark .this--was beau
tifully ornamented with the initial 81,
and promptly charged to the Unite,
| States WESTON.
| April Crop Report.
| The crop report of the Department O
Agriculture for April relates to the condi
ton Of winter grain and of farm animals a
they go out Of winter quarters. The seed
I