River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1889-04-25
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our regular correspondent.I
Washington, April 10, 80.

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Washington, April 10, 80.
The President has honored the news
paper fraternity again by appointing
Robert P. Porter, of New York, Super.
intendent of the Census. Mr.. Porter
was one of the founders, and is at pres
ent the editor of that very sprightly
Republican daily. the New York
Press. He has an international repu-
tation 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 saperintend the
taking of the next census could be
found.
Oklahoma is long way from Wash
ington, but its affairs are just now re-
ceiving great deal of attention from
officials of the Government. The At.
torney General and the Controller of
the currency are trying to decide
whether they shall grant charters tor
several national banks there for which
applications have been made. The
law says such applications shall be on
file one year before the charters shall
be granted. But this being the OPEN
ing of new Territory, is claimed to
be an exceptional case. A decision is
expected in few days. The Post
office Department is making unusual
efforts to provide mail facilities for
citizens Ito be- of the new country.
Several inspectors are now there to ex-
anime proposed mail routes, etc. First
Assistant Postmaster General Clark
son, who has been over the ground,
says Oklahoma is the garden spot of
the West, and in less than six months
its population will be 100000, and in
two years will be admitted as a 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 inquisitive news
was trying to get.
The number of changes in fourth.
class postmasters now runs from 100 to
$50 per day. These postr2asters have
no stated term but from action that
has been taken by tn Department in
number of cases it is inferred that
the commissions of all those having
served four years or more are consid-
cred as having expired.
The Railway Mail Service is being
improved as rapidly as possible. Al
ready there have been more than 500
changes therein and the good work
still goes on. Speaking of this matter
Mr.. Clarkson said: 1T has been the
policy of this Department to displace
incompetent clerks and appoint expe-
rienced and efficient men who left the
service during the last administration,
where such are available and DESTROYS
of re-entering the service. The Rail-
way Mail Service requires men not
only of superior intelligence, but men
whose faculties are in perfect working
order. Men who possess every re-
quirement of the service are compare
lively few, and are not easily secured,
but when such are found they should
be retained in the service as long as
possible. Efficiency in the postal SER
vice can be obtained only after a long
struggle, and to remove such men in
order to make places for political ia
vorites. irrespective of their fitness,
is public wrong and should not be
tolerated.
Secretary Blaine says there are more
than $500 applications on file at the
State Department for the 2l0 United
States consulships.
Postmaster General Wanamaker,
believing that the newspapers of the
country should be given every facility
for obtaining and disseminating the
news of the day, has rescinded an or.
der issued during the last administra-
ton prohibiting trainmen carrying
newspaper correspondence and pack
ages of newspapers on trains other
than mail trains. The issuance of
this order several years ago has been
the cause of great inconvenience and
complaint from newspapers published
in every section OF the country.
The State Department has issued
pamphlet containing all the laws
passed at the last session of Congress.
Persons desiring copies may obtain
them by writing to the Department,
enclosing 55 cents.
Owing to the unusually large number
of letters received at the Pension
Office since the new Commissioner, Mr..
Tanner has had charge, there is nee
essarily considerable delay in getting
them all answered, and the Commits
sioner requests that his correspondents
bear with him as patiently as possible.
Mr.. Tanner, speaking of the resigna-
ton of Gen. Sigel as pension agent at
New York city, said: lit was pathetic.
| remember how his horse splashed
mud all over me as ! stood in the
ranks and he galloped along the line
with his splendid staff in 81. and here
he was, broken old man offering me
his resignation. want the people to
understand that Gen. Sigel's personal
record in the N. Y. pension Office is
clear"
Ono.
Mrs. Clarissa Gilbert of Michigan is
the guest of Mrs. II. t. Davis.
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