Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1891-09-12
FROM WASHINGTON.
Mr.. Clarkson Likely to go Into
the Cabinet
Court of Claims Vaeancy--Pension Agents
Ilicking--News at the State
Department..

Department.
The latest rumor as to the successor Of Sec
rotary Proctor is that General Clarkson, Of
Iowa, lately first assistant postmaster general
is to be named.
As the President and his household are alb
sent, there is no means of tracing this rumor,
but in high political circles it is not deemed
improbable.
THE VACANCY IN THE CoUET OF CLAIMS.
The indications are that the President will
not name n successor for the late Judge seho-
field, Of the Court of Claims, until after the
m. citing of Congress, After examining the law
on the subject he determined to defer the ap-
poinment ofthe Judges for the new Circuit
Court of Appeals until the Senate should be in
session, and it is now said that he may delay
the nomination of Judge Schofeld's successor
until then. While the Court Of Claims has a
docket overcrowded with business it is under
stood that the additional judge is not imme-
diately nee essary. This is the position which
1t is believed ExCongressman MeComas will
get.
There is no question as to the lawful author
ity of the Pres ideni to fill this vacancy during
a recess OF the Senate. but as the latter body
possesses the right of approval or rejection 1t
is deemed better TO wait several months for its
decision.
PENSION CLAIM AGENTS KICKING.
The pension claim agents are once more
concentrating their influence with the view of
preventing the newspapers from obtaining
tally list of the pensions granted. Ever since
General Black, as pension commissioner, es-
ablished the practice of allowing the press
daily access to the pension awards the claim
agents have been fighting against it.
Their policy is to keep the applicants foi
pensions as much in the dark as possible-ln
short to force them to employ attorneys in
order to obtainany information from the Pen
sion Office. The daily publication through
the press of the award of pensions curtaI.s the
business of claim agents, and they have kept
up most persistent tight against the system
of according to the press a daily record Of
awards. OF late this fight has been vigorously
conducted, and it now looks as if the claim
agents may win.
One of the chief officials of the Pension
Bureau, remarked that the Office would be
compelled TO stop the service. He said it was
costing too much, as it required five clerks to
prepare the lict. When the large number of
pension claimants is taken into consideration.
1t is apparent that the service of the five
clerks is very small and involves pitiiul ex-
pense in comparison with the value of the
information rendered. Commissioner Raum
will, no doubt, save himself some trouble by
closing his doors TO the appeals of the claim
agents.
AT THE STATE DEPARTMENT.
Although the efforts of this government to
further the introduction Of American meat
products into Europe have not abated as
result Of the success of the negotiations with
Germany, the greater part of official attention
is now being directed to the advancement of
American interests in the Pacific
So far as Chill is concerned, the Department
of State is much encouraged by Minister
Egan's cablegram announcing the establish
ment of cordial relations between himself and
the Provisional Government. The officials of
the department specially call attention o the
fact that the Provisional Government OF Chill
was NOT organized until the Attn instant, and on
the same day it was recognized by the Ameri-
can Minister, who had been instructed by
cable to do so. This action is not formal
official recognition, but is all that can be done
by any nation at this juncture, and is in line
with the precedents OF diplomatic practice.
When the Republicans in Spain, in 1873,
succee ed in overthrowing the monarchy, Mr..
tlSr, the Secretary of State, instructed Mr..
SicAies, the American Minister to SPAIN as
ment is fully established AID in possession of
the power OF the nation you will recognize it."
This was followed, after the election of the
Spanish President, by the issuance of new
credentials to Minister Sickles, and so when
new President of Chill is elected Mr. Egan
will i've credentials of the same kind.
Meanw While he will continue the friendly re-
lationS he has already established with the
lroy 81 nal Go fernment.
Reports are expected to reach the Depart.
ment of State in a few days from Honolulu
embodying the announcement of the death Of
John D0minus, the prince consort. Develop
ments in that quarter are being narrowly
watched on account of the possibility of an
upheoyal and the resulting jeopardy OF Ameri-
can interests.
Such official information as has reache the
department from Samoa s indicative of the
existence Of feeling of unrest among the
natives, and it was believed to be polite to
send man-oi-war there This vessel. the
lroquois, arrived at Apia a few days ago
There is at present German man-of-war
there, and an English cruiser is expcc ed TO
reach Apia i'll a few days, With these vessels
lending support to the established government
Of the islands il is felt that any resistance to
Mafatoa, who escapes the throne as a result
of the tripar,ite agreement, will be spe, Oily
overcome.