The morning call., 1891-09-22
FAITHFUL OFFICERS.
Favorable Report on California
POStmaSterS.
Large Increase in the Revenues Through
Efficient Service.
Land Cases Decided d-ReSe:Ye Agents Ap-
pointed Survey Of Indian Lands-Pen-
SiOlS Granted-CuStomS Decision.



WASHINGTON, Sept. 21.-The follow
ing facts have been selected from the search
ing inquiries recently made by the PGstoffice
Department concerning the work of promi-
nent Postmasters in California. The report
says: Equipped with an experience of four
years OF postal supervision under President
Arthur, General Samuel w. Backus entered
upon his present term as Postmaster at San
Francisco under very favorable auspices,
one Of which was the presence of First As
sistant Postmaster General Clarkson in San
Francisco. and his lively interest in the
postal needs OF that city. The result has
been spirit of progress and enterprise in
all the departments of the work, as shown
in the extension of the carrier system, the
establishment of forty additional stamp
agencies and five new branch offices, the
marked Improvement in the handling OF the
incoming foreign mails, the enlargement of
the Postofice Building, and much valuable
aid in the development Of the public building
question.
The people of Oakland appreciate the
marked change in the management of their
Postofice under its pre- sent head, A. W.
Bishop. The general complaints have de-
creased over 80 per cent. and like diminu-
tion is observed in the dead-letter list. The
carrier service has been thoroughly reorgan-
ized a new directory having been compiled
with great care and fifteen additional daily
mails have been put on.
The Sacramento Postoffce, under the
management Of Postmaster j. o. Coleman,
has been greatly improved and thorough
and intelligent service has resulted. The
holiday business last December was much
facilitated by the prompt delivery of pack
ages in a special wagon at the private ex-
pense OF the Postmaster.
The increased receipts of the Reddlng
Postofice on decreased population, and
marked dimmution of complaints, show
fine record for its Postmaster, c. C. Bush.
Santa Cruz Postmaster, L. G. Williams,
makes good showing with the needed i'm
provements in the office furnishings, new
methods Of collecting postage due, etc.
The Postoffice at San Diego has evidently
been placed on a strictly business basis by
Postmaster II. NJ. Kutchin, resulting in the
minimum OF friction and the maximum of
practical results.
Tie reports show that Postmaster W. W.
Moody of Fresno conducts one of the most
efficient pOstofices in the State. Years ago
he began doing all the work himself, aud
now he has seventeen hands altogether
and no drones." An occasional interchange
of work among the clerks is found TO be
very useful in supplying vacancies made by
sickness or other causes. The delivery of
the evening mail has been greatly facilitated
by sending capable clerk daily 100 miles
out on the road TO separate the mail.
The late Postmaster, John w. Green, of
Los Angeles wrote an interesting letter to
the department under date of July 22d,
showing the most gratifying results, largely
due as lie seemed to think, to the generous
support OF the general Office and the hearty
cooperation of his assistants.
The success of the Stockton Postoffice is
entirely due to the faithful attention to the
details of the work Oh the part Of the Post
master. W. c. Smith.
ACTION OF CoURT-MARTIALs.
The President this morning acted upon
three court-martial records that have been
before him for some time. In the case of
Lieutenant Miner. Ninth Infantry, SEN
fenced to be dismissed from service on the
charge of breach of promise to abstain
from the use of intoxicants, the
President confirmed the sentence. In
the case OF First Lieutenant Sharp,
Twentieth Infantry, sentenced to. be dis
President committed the sentence to sus-
pension from rank under half pay for one
year. In the case of Ensign William S.
Cloke, U. S. n, sentenced to dismissal on
the charge of absenting himself from the
cruiser Baltimore while In Peru after the
expiration of his leave, the President mitt-
gated the sentence to suspension from rank
and duty on furough pay for two years, the
culprit to retain his present number in his
grade during that time.
LAND CASES DECIDED.
In the case of A. McAllister and c. II.
johnson VS.. Levi Smith. the Secretary of
the Interior to-day affirmed the decision of
the Commissioner of the General Land
Office, holding for cancellation the
homestead entry OF Smith in the San Fran
cisco District. The Secretary has decided
in the case of Thompson Ashby VS.. John p.
McKissick and Jacob McKissick, wherein
the Commissioner had decided in favor OF
the defendants, who made desert land en-
try in the SusaDville District, that the trans
feree and present owner shall furnish proof
and the case be adjudicated in accordance
with the seventh section of the act of March
3, 1891.
FREE ENTRY DENIED.
The Collector of Customs of San Fran
cisco was to-day notified by the Treasury
Department that the application of DIR. B.
de Marville for the free entry OF his surgical
Instruments, left In France when he came
reason that the privilege could not be
granted unless he brought his instruments
with him. He says he did not think of re-
naming when he first came, but afterward
concluded to do so.
PENSIONS GRANTED.
Pensions have been granted to the follow
ing Californans: Original-Peter j. Ward,
Charles A. Latimer. Increase-Patrick D.
Nolan (navy), William Rempsch, George b.
Hathaway, William j. Foster. Original
widows and heirs-Mary Cabroni, minors of
Benjamin S. Brown, Lois nj. Apgar, Emily
Cole (mother) and Mary Wilson; Alice NJ.
Tierson, Jane 5. Staples. Mary j. Abes.
RESERVE AGENTS APPOINTED.
The Western National Bank of New York
City has been approved as the reserve
agent for the First National Bank of San
Francisco and the Columbia National Bank
OF Tacoma, Wash, and the Globe National
Bank of Chicago have been approved rs re-
serve agent for the Columbia Bank Of Ia
coma.
SURVEY OF INDIAN LANDS.
Norton S. Taylor of Tacoma will make the
survey of the Out-boundaries of Quinaet
Indian Reservation, State of Washington.
the contract for the same with liability of
S2555 being approved at the General Land
Office to-day.
The San Francisco at Callao.
WASHINGTON. Sept. 21.-A cablegram was
received at the Navy Department to-day
from Admiral Brown, announcing the ar
rival of the cruiser San Francisco at Callao,