Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1890-04-10


for an international celebration at
Washington, in October, 1892, to-
include the dedication OF a statue to
Columbus, on the 18th, preceded
BY grand review Of the nayies Of
the world, first in New York har-
Dor and second At Hampton Roads.
On the completion of the services
all tho guests are 10 be invited to
Chicago to join in suitable ceremo.
nies dedicating the worlds fair
buildings in that city. The meas.
ure provides for the erection here
Of memorial hall suitable for the
initiatory ceremonies, and TO bo
used afterward for inaugural reoep-
tons, international conventions
and for the statuary and portraits
Of distinguished Americans. The
president is especially to invite
the presidents of the eighteen
American republics and the king
Of Italy, and the Queen Of Spain.
The other rulers of the earth are
to be invited out Of pure polite
ness, but their presence is not to
be considered as absolutely neces-.
sary.
The proposition to transfer the
revenue marine to the navy de-
partment has passed the house
and is likely to have the sanction
Of the senate. This measure goes
far toward placing the revenue ma
rine in its true position, on foot
ing with kindred branches of the
public service. It's naval charac-
ter has been recognized ever since
its organization in 1890 by the eff
forts Of Alexander Hamilton, but
injurious distinctives have been
made between therevenue marine
service and the naval service prop
er. The duties Of revenue marine
officers is more onerous and con
tinuous, their pay less, their priyi-
lege often curtailed, their rank
lower for equally important SER
vices, and their responsibility
greater in time of peace. Secreta-
ries Window and Tracy both favor
the proposed transfer.
Representative Lodge, of Massa-
chusetts, has been before the
house post-oflice committees, in
favor of his bill providing for the
selection. Of fourth-class .postmast-
ers by the postmaster general on the
basis Of reports made by postotlice
inspectors. There are 81 ,904 Of
these postmasters who receive an
average compensation of Sl66. 70
per annum. The bill provides
that the postmaster general
through his own agents, the post
office inspectors, shall obtain all
the necessary information as to
the various candidates for any
given fourth-class postofiice, and
on that information he shall act
without reference TO political rep
reservations. Thus Mr.. Lodge
says, the fourth. class postmasters
VIII do better work, depending
upon the character Of service for
retention in service. Mr.. Lodge
adds that a representative can
have only a cursory knowledge of
the men he recommends, under
the present system aud fills the Of
flee from political considerations
alone.
Mr.. Lodges bill does not,unfor-
tunately, define any method for
making the postoliice inspectors
just judges. There is no civil ser
vice examination, Mr.. Lodge con-
tenting himself with saying that
that is obviously impracticable
Neither does his bill take into con-
sideration the amount the inyesti-
CATION would cost the government.
As they would necessarily take
place upon the ground, the cost
would be enormous. The inspect
ors could of course have no Incl
dental knowledge Of the merits of
candidates and could have very
little Of the officials now employ
ed. There are thousands Of post
Offices that have never been seen
by an Inspector, and a double force
would be needed to carry Mr..
Lodges bill into effect. Henry
Cabot Lodge may be a man Of
wide information, but among the
few things he don't understand. is
included postofiice business. His
new system would make the Sc
lection Of fourth-class postmasters
the chief expense Of the depart
ment.