The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1893-04-28
FROM WASHINGTON CITY.
Secretary Norton Explains Why He
Removed Brother of James
G. Blaine Etc.

70 tbc INV citrkt anu 0tner nlgn-Eraue
employes Of the Interior Department
that an expression Of opinion to oussid-
ems as to the probable solution Of any
question pending before the department
will be deemed q sufficient cause ior dis
missal.
The Department Of State is still in
correspondence regarding the refugees
who sought an asylum in the United
Statesl legation at Santiago. They claimed
To be political offenders only, and assuch
Minister Egan gave them a refuge. The
Chilian government demanded their sur
render as common criminals, and asked
that Egan be instructed to deliver them
to the local authorities. This demand
has not been complied with BY the
United States.
The paragraph in the navy regulations
recently issued, prohibiting naval Off
GERS from acting as correspondents of the
newspapers, is said TO have had its orr
gin in the late Chilian war. During the
struggle, the story goes, two naval Off
cers stationed at Valparaiso were in the
pay Of certain New York newspapers, to
which they wired frequent inside news
in cipher Of the movements OF the forces
engaged. 1t frequently happened that
Balmaeeda ON the one side or the prOvi-
sional troops on the other were thus
made aware Of the movements Of the
other. The news was wired from New
York BY their friends. These movements
they could not otherwise have known.
The provisional forces subsequentlycom-
planned Of this to our government, and
alleged they had been seriously embar-
rassed thereby. Thereupon the United
States expressed regret at what had
passed, and rendered repetition of the
complaint impossible by causing the in
sertion Of the much-talked-of paragraph
in the new regulations.
Secretary Morton's attention has been
called to certain criticisms upon his re-
moval Of Robert G. Blaine from the po-
sition Of chief Of the quarantine division
of the bureau OF animal industry. The
Secretary said that when he took charge
Of the Department Of Agriculture he
found Mr.. Blaine occupying a position
with practically no duties to perform
and drawing q salary OF $1,000 per an
mum. Ii was one of the most evident
sinecures in the department, and he
could not consistently allow it to remain,
even though the incumbent happened to
be the brother Of the late James G..
Blaine. II he had been the brother Of
President Cleveland, the result would
have been the same. The eSecretary said
the only position which could be taken
in the interest OF economy and good
government was to abolish the diyi-
sion, which consisted OF one man,
and assign the clerical work con-
nected with the stations to the divisions
of field Investigations and miscellaneous
work Of the bureau Of animal industry,
where it had really been done during
Mr.. Blaine's incumbency.
Extraordinary efforts win be made to
secure adjudication upon the Chinese
exclusion act by the Supreme Court at
this term. The matter has been the
subject Of correspondence between the
governments Of the United States and
China, and at the request Of the State
Department the Department Of Justice
has completed the necessary preiimi-
naFies in conjunction with the counsel
of the Chinese government and its sub
iects in this country. Under the terms
OF the Geary law case to determine
the validity Of the act cannot be begun
until the 5th Of next month. In ortii-
nary circumstances il is impossible to
bring test case before the Supreme
Court Of the United States before adj
journment for the summer recess, but
by the concurrent action Of all parties
interested, which has been secured in
view Of the important international
character Of the questions involved, the
standing Of the law will be decided
within o few weeks, thus obviating q
long, tedious and expensive litigation.
The arrangement entered into contem-
plates the arrest Of Chinese labOrer in
New York for violation of the terms Of
the law, prompt decision in the lower
courts and an appeal to the Supreme
Court Of the United States, which may
be heard May s. If the programme
ahall be carried out, the decision will be
rendered by the middle Of May, at which
time the court expects to adjourn for the
term.
During the last session Of Congress q
measure was lobbied through granting
the privilege to w. F. White and q CHI
nese named Chang PAX Quai Of bringing
], 900 Chinese to the Worlds Fair for the
purpose of putting up a Chinese village,
The steamer China has on board nearly
800 Chinese, who are said to be on their
way to the Worlds Fair. The delicate
question is presented to the Collector Of
the port Of San Francisco as to who ere
entitled 10 20 10 Chicago and who TO re-
main. 10 far as known these Chinese
have no papers to show they are q part
Of the Chinese village. Quai will not ar
-. A.. Cf.t~.o x.-ttt. G...t