Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-06-11
NO APPOINTMENTS.
BUT A CLEAN SWEEP OF FOURTH
CLASS posrMAsIERs COMING.
The Means Martin Duel Hoax-No Abate-
mont Of the Rash tor Pisces--Dsmo-
cratic Board of Examiaera
From Our Regular Correspondent,

WARRINGTON. June 10.-The President
left the White House before 10 o'clock this
morning for his country place and took
with him big batch OF papers so az to
make ready for the announcement OF
many appointments early next week.
There were no appointments to-day and
not much of interes. to Virginia or North
Carolina happened. Not even an applica-
ton from these two States was filed at the
Treasury Department. The Postmaster
Generals rulings in regard to changes.
although guarded. mean in reality, q
clean sweep of the postmasters and 1t
Will be cheering news to applicants
in Virginia and North Carolina. 1t is so
understood by the congressman here. and
the apparent reservations made by Mr..
Bissell do not amount TO much. he is
simply trying not to appear too wicked"
and the come-down from the high perch
on which be roasted when he FIRST came
here will be gratifying TO the Democrats.
The result is largely due to the demands
made by the congressman who were not in
clined TO ADOPT the prescribed methods of
fling charges in order to have changes
made ia tourth-class postmssters.
TIE pos1s "ArFAIR or HONOR"
The Washington Post had story this
morning to the effect that the quiet. ge-
NAL, and smooth-tempered Colonel Paul
Ii. Means was about to engage the other
day in duel with rapiers with young
Harry Martin, stepson OF Senator Vance:
that the proposed bloody encounter would
have taken place in Alexandria county but
for the interference of the county author-
ties that Mr.. William II. S. Burgwyp, of
Henderson, was the Colonels second:
that Colonel Means, when he found be
could not have the fight hired aspecial
train for 500 and hied himself 10 Concord,
and much other matter equally as ridicu-
lous. The POs's Young man was imposed
on, as there was no foundation for the
story. Colonel Means left Washington
Thursday night on regular tram and IS
now supposed to DO at Concord. Senator
Vance was not here, neither was Harry
Martin this week. and none of the parties
named Ind heard anything of the proposed
affair of honor"
POND OF "FAKEs."
II seems this silly story was first tele-
graphed West. and 1t 10 strange that repu-
table papers are occasionally SO frigEtfuily
imposed on by men who appear TO take
delight IN getting up fakes" If they can
find newspaper writers gudgeons enough
TO swallow such bait.
Mr.. Burgwyn, OF Henderson, n. c., was
only the other day appointed Bank Exami-
ner and Senator Vance was one OF his
hackers, and it is absurd and unjust to say
he would turn around and be second In
proposed duel against Senator Vances
stepson. even had such thing been ar
ranged.
Prominent North Carolipians who are
now here ray there is not word OF truth
IN the story, and they wonder bow news
papers can occasionally be taken in by
such romancers as those who appear TO
have concocted this one.
QUALIFIED AND KNDoBsED.
Mr.. Roger b. Atkinson. OF Stsunton,
who is an applicant for legal position IN
the Department OF Justice. ~ said TO have
very good prospect OF appointment. he
has been here for the past few DAYS. He
is handsomely endorsed for the position.
Among the many who have signed his
papers may be mentioned Senator Daniel,
Representatives Tucker, Edmunds, OFFER
rail-, aud Wise. Hon. John Randolph Tuck
er. and William Preston Johnston, Esq,
president of the Tulane University, Lou
isiana.
EMBARRASSING.
The rush for small places from Virginia
aud North Carolina has not 8bated III the
least, and regardless Of the fact. too, that
1t is so difficult to procure these places,
because 30 few OF them exist in proportion
to the apportlonment throughout the
United States. The people seem to have
an idea that O member of Congress after
getting one minor position for consti-
tuent can just walk in and obtain
many more of the same sort. This
has been illustrated several times lately
when reports were sent out that congress-
mon had gotten a place for a constituent.
Letters were immediately received from
the same locality from any number of per-
cons stating that they. too. wanted posi-
ton of the same kind. OF course. they are
not TO be had, and even if they were OBJ
tainable the member cannot give all the
patronage TO one locality in his district.
He is compelled to distribute tavors AS
equitnbly as possible around his district.
The congressman naturally expect that
their Democratic friends will ask for
places, and they are doing oil they can for
them. but the number Of applications Is
so great that not one man IN twenty has
the renotest chance of success.
cIyIL-snRvIcZ SHAM.
Under the present Chinese c,vil-servioe
regulations the black Republicans are
holding most of the places in the classified
service, and even when Democrat is eer-
titled in some Of the departments for
chief of division he Is subjected TO rigid
technical examination that Is fixed up
generally by an examining board COM posed
mostly Of Republicans. II IL 20 their IN.
terest TO throw the applicants IN ma
j0rity of cases, and IN this way they tend
to perpstuate thor own hold on the
places. and IN reality have built mp sort
of monopoly that the Mugwumps and
other political cranks are pleased TO call
the merit system Of promotion" The
Democratic congressman are growing
weary of this sham and deception, and so
far as the Virginia and North Carolina
members are concerned not one, in all pro-
liability, viii vote during the next session
Of Congress any money TO sustain the ln-
stitution that is presided over by the fas-
tidious Teddy" Roosevelt ana the slip
perry Lyman. Within the past two weeks
Virginian Of good. hard. practical com:
mon sense way turned down for chief
of division in the Treasury Department
because be could not satisfactorily pass
the absurd technical examination re-
CURED But it is no reflection on him;
even Secretary Carlisle admitted a week
or so ago that he could not stand the non
sensical examination himself.
CONTEMPT ron THE SYSTEM.
He made the statement to Q newly-sp-
pointed official from North Carolina. II
IS believed that Mr.. Carlisle will seon ind
means to do away with this farce IN the
Treasury Department. Both he and his son,
the chief clerk. have contempt for the
system, and the Virgipians and Oil other
southern Democrats admire these staunch
Kentucky Democrats Cor the way in which
they are clearing the department OF the old
moss covered Republican barnacles. And
they are not paying the slightest attention
to the vaporing of tho Mugwump press
and the peach-blow species OF humanity
who shed tears every time Republican
head drops into the basket and
wicked" Democrat is put In the place
thus made vacant.
DEMOCRATIC sURGEoNs.
Representative Tyler to-day secured the
appointment of Drs. Peek, Plekcer, and
Hone (ail Democrats) as members or the
Examining Board of Surgeons at Hampton
Soldiers Home. The Republican board
has been removed.
Mr.. Tyler left this evening for home ana
will not return until the end OF the month.
Representative Swanson called at the
Ciyil-Service Commission to-day TO learn
when results would be announced regard
ing yirginians who had stood examina-
lions for the railway mail-seryice and was
informed IL would be three months oefore
the papers could be marked. the ccInmis-
SION now being busy with papers relating
To placing the free-delivery post-oh1ces
under civil service regulations