Birmingham age-herald., 1895-09-24
NATIONAL NEWS OF NOTE Extension of the Civil Service to
 Certain ConSulS.
  FULL TEXT OF THE ORDER
General SchofeId Presides Over the Ordnance
 Board for the Last Time.
TRUE STANDING OF TREASURY RESERVE
well Is Ready With His Report-In- teresting Extracts from It Okla homa Shows Greatest Increase.

Washington, Sept. 23--The president has issued an order nnder the :. date of September 20 placing all grades of the consular service with a compensation between 5000 and $2500 under modified civil service. which provides for class but not compe.- itive examinations. This order will eff feet little more than one half of all those :. engaged in the consular service of the United States. The order was suggested and strongly recommended in report to the president by Secretary Olney.
 The following is the text of the order issued
 Executive Mansion, Sept. 20, 1895.
 ''It being of great importance that the consuls and marine agents of the United States shall possess the proper qualifica- tions for their respective positions, to be ascertained either through a satisfac- tory record of previous actual service under the department of state or through an appropriate examination, It IS hereby ordered that any vacancy in any consulate or commercial agency now or hereafter existing, the salary of which is not more than $2500, nor less than 5000, or the compensation of which if derived from official fees exclusive of notarial and other unofficial receipts, does not exceed $2500, nor fall below 5000, shall he filled (a) by a transfer or a pro- motion from some other position under the department of state of a character tending to qualify the incumbent for the position to be filled or. (b) by appoint ment of a person not under the depart ment of state, but having previously served hereunder to its satisfaction in capacity tending to qualify him for the position to be filled; or Co by the ap- pointment of person who, having fur nished the customary evidence Of char acter, responsibility and capacity and being thereupon selected by the president for examination, is found upon such ex- animation to be qualified for the position. For the purpose of this order notarlal and unofficial fees shall not be regarded, but the compensation. of consul or com mercial agent shall be ascertained, if the office is salaried. by reference to the last preceding appropriation act and If the office is not salaried by reference to the return of official fees for the last pre- ceding fiscal year.
 '.The examination hereinbefore pro- vided for shall be by board of three persons designated by the secretary of state, who shall also prescribe the sub jects to which such examination shall relate and the general mode of conduct ing the same by the board.
 "A vacancy in a consulate will be filled with discretion only when suitable ap- propriation cannot be made in any of the modes indicated in the second paragraph of this order
 GROVER CLEVELANp."
 General Schofeld. who retires on Sun day next, on which day he reaches the age limit GA years, today presided at the meeting of the board of ordnance or which he Is president This Will De the last meeting of the board which ne w'li attend the board only meeting once month.
 Capt. N M Brooks, superintendent Of the foreign mail service, today received a telegram from Postmaster M. C. Cop pin at San Francisco stating that the mails per steamer Gaelic from cholera infected ports had been thoroughly flu migated in bulk, and all mails for domestic points were fumigated first in. hulk bags. then opened and the contents fumigated second time. Every pre- caution is being taken against the disease by the posfal authorities, the funigatin being done in accordance with stand ing order.
 It is stated at the department that Secretary Carlisle is not expected to return to Washington before Thurs day next. He may conclude to remain for a week or more.
 The treasury gold today at close of business is $9S,571, POT. A withdrawal of $175,OOO in gold for Canada was re- ported this evening from New York.
 capt. V. "A. ADOCy ol tbC W iioba, "iiO captured the schooner Lark off Key West, Fla suspected of being about to engage In a filibuStering expedition to Cuba; has made detailed report of the arrest to the treasury department. It confirms the press reports that the Lark has since been released for want of evil dence. Captain Abbey expresses the opinion that there is some rendezvous not yet known among the Florida keys, where parties for. Cuba meet to take passage for Cuba to join the insurgents.
 A letter has been received at the navy department from the Cramps stating that the Indiana would probably be ready for her official trial by October 15.
 Fourth Assistant Postmaster General R. A. Maxwells report for the first fiscal year ended June 30 last is one of the ca rliest to be presented, as was the case last year It indicates fl O00 new ap- pointments of fourth class postmasters made within the year. only 769 of them having been occasioned by death, which is exactly the same number as last year. During the year the greatest increase In the number of postoffices was in Okla homa-sixty-nine.
 Virginia follows with sixty-six and the Indian territory with sixty. Nineteen states show a decrease in the number of postCffices, the greatest loss occurring in Kansas--fifty-three; South Carolina losing forty-four and Iowa and West Virginia thirty-eight each. Nearly CO., 000 complaints regarding ordinary mail matter were received and disposed of during the year by the inspectors di- vision.
 Under the head of foreign cases the report emphasizes the superiority of The registry system of the United States over that of most foreign countries as eXemplified by the records of the New York postoffice, where most of the bus mess is transacted.
 The Concluding .bage of the report re- fers to several very important arrests of green goods swindlers, resulting in, breaking up gangs of these criminals at Oakland, Cal; Hillsdale, Mich, and Chicago H.. the case of Major McDon-, nnph. formerly assistant superintendent