Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-10-15
AFTER THE POST OFFICES.
A Crowd of Callers on Gen. ClarksOn
Disappointed Today.

The corridors of the Post Office department
wore familiar appearance today. Groups Of
men were standing about talking, and some in
dividuals were pacing up and down and
glancing nervously at the door of Gen. Clark
sons room. Ever since the 4th Of March such
scenes have been Of almost daily occurrence in
the Post Office department, and, while the
crowds are not so great as they were a few
months ago, still, whenever Gen. Clarkson is at
his desk there are numerous visitors besieging
his door. He has been out Of the city for some
time and great many people have been
anxious for his return. The announcement in
yesterdays STAR that he would be in his office
today was evidently welcome news to a large
number of people. and bright and early they
were at the door of Gen. Clarkson's room
They were disappointed by seeing MIR. Fowler
the chief clerk, occupying Gen. Clarkson's
chair, as he has done during the latter's alb
sence. While Mr.. Fowler's ability and knowl-
edge of the business is recognized, yet, to the
men who want post Office or want some one
appointed to post office, he
CANNOT EXACTLY FILL THE BILL.
They found that while Gen. CIarkson had
returned to the city he had not made his ap-
pearance at the department, and so they
waited in the hope that he would turn up later
in the day.
The anxiety to see Gen. Clarkson finds par
tisl explanation in the fact that he is the
arbiter of the fate of some SO, 900 postmasters
scattered throughout this country. As the
commanding officer of this great army he has
been making changes in the personnel ever
since the 4:h of March, and a large number of
patriots throughout the country make special
trips to Washington to assist him in the work.
Occasionally y postmaster resigns, few
die, and great many at the earnest request Of
a portion Of their neghbors and with the as
-, nap rEaav, rot, 30, IA
il estimated that since the 4th Of March some
10000 CHANCES HAVE BEEN MADE
in the Yourth-class offices. Probably not quite
half of the entire number Of fourth-class post
masters have as yet been officially decapitated.
Gen. Clarkson has Q lively winters work before
HIM, and he finds that it Is q work that never
ends. Each year adds some 1,50O new offices
to the number. 1t is not expected that a
change will be made in every post office, as
ries are so small that it is rather favor to the
department. if any one consents to take il. In
these cases the Office may be said to have q life
tenure, which makes q fourth-class Office a
rather notable position under this government
The American Expedition to Africa.
The expedition sent out by the government
to watch the approaching eclipse of the sun
sailed from New York yesterday on the war
ship Pensacola. The party 60 TO St. Paul de
Loanda, just below the mouth Of the Congo
river.
Besides viewing the eclipse expeditions will
be made into the interior Of Africa Dredging
vail also be done along the African coast and
the party will stop at St Helena to make OBJ
servations Of terrestrial magnetism.
The expedition will not return until March.
Among the Washington men accompanying
the expedition are Prof. w. Harvey Brown
of the National museum. Prof. r. Il. Bigelow,
Prof Cleveland Able of the signal Office and
G. D. Preston Of the coast and geodetic survey,
Harvard, Yale, Princeton and Amherst viii
al be represented.