The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1893-04-07
WASHINGTON LETTER

days. One that is almost embarras-
sing because of the nearness Of those
concerned therein to ex-President
Harrison, is that unearthed by Secre-
taries Gresham and Carlisle, relating
to the manner in which ex-Secretary
of State Foster, is squandering the
governments money upon lot Of ia.
vorltes, all on government pay rolls,
that he has taken on a junketing trip
to Paris, ostensibly to aid him in the
Behring Sea arbitration. As speci.
mems of this pleasure party these two
will suffice, giving fair idea of the
whole business Major Halford was
made paymaster in the army at a sal
airy of $3.50 year as a reward for
his services as Mr.. Harrison's private
Secretary, and was ordered to Paris to
remain during the arbitration, although
no one could see the necessity for an
army paymaster there. Mr.. Foster.
who is U. S. agent at compensation
named by himself while Secretary of
State, wished the Major to nave
good time so he ordered that he should
be allowed from the State department
funds SIS, day for expenses. J.
Stanley Brown, who was Garheld's pr-
vate secretary, draws $Io day as re
gular employe of the State department
but having ordered him to Paris Mr..
Foster directed that he, also, should
receive SIS, day for expenses, in ad-
dition to his regular salary. There
are a number of others treated equally
literally. Another scandal exists in
the weather bureau and Secretary Nor
ton is now investigating charges of
general cussedness against some OF Its
most prominent officials that are al
most certain to result in number Of
dismissals. According to these charg-
es the crookedness began from the
time the bureau was transferred to the
department Of Agriculture, ard never
stopped.
Unless some sort Of compromise
can be reached the republicans hold
ing federal Offices in Kansas are safe
to enjoy their snaps for some time to
come, as President Cleveland mas di-
rected that no appointments be made
in that state until it can be satisfactor
lily arranged whether the fuslonists or
the straight.outs are to be given con-
troll, or a division made between them.
While Mr.. Cleveland wants to do the
square thing by both sides it is an
open secret that his personal feelings
are all on the side of the straight-outs.
No time is being wasted by fourth
assistant Postmaster General Maxwell.
The task of putting democrats in charge
OF all the fourth class post offices Is
gigantic, but it will in time be accom-
plished. The average Of new demo-
cratic appointments is already we'll
over one hundred a day, the highest
number yet appointed in single day
by Mr.. Maxwell being 1873.
The administration and democrats
generally are delighted with the March
statement Of the condition Of the Treas
ury. 1t was, of course, known before
hand that the payments for the month
would necessarily be unusually large,
but it was not known, or even guessed
at by ex-Secretary Foster that the
March receipts would be some millions
in excess of his estimates AS a re-
suit, instead Of the hole in the avail
able cash anticipated on account OF
the big March payments $4,000, 900,
was added to the surplus, and the free
gold, now near the $8,ooo,ooo mark,
continues to accumulate. Secretary
Carlisle has received many congratu
lations upon his first months showing,
which but tends to confirm the general
belief that he would make a successful
Secretary of the Treasury.
MI. E. Ellery Anderson, of New
York, credited with being the principal
author of the tariff bill made public
by the Reform Club, Of that city, is in
Washington. He says: "rhe reform
| club, which has played such promi-
nent part in the present situation, has
promulgated its tariff reform bill, not
with the understanding that it is to be
accepted, bat mainly for the healthy
and widespread discussion which will
follow"
The silly fight which has been made
on Mr.. John E. Risley, the minister
to Denmark, has had no effect here
as Mr.. Risley has received his com
mission and taken the oath of office
He will probably receive his final ins
tructons this week, and rumor says 6
portion of them will be to open nego
tiations for the purchase of Nava
station on the island of St. Thomas
West Indies, from the Danish govern
ment.
i President Cleveland told Senate
, Roach, of North Dakota, that no fact
, , ion of the party in any state will re
ceive recognition to the discrimination
of another faction, but that the abilit'