The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1895-07-11

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regular duties Of the Agricultural Department
and of Congressman, and under the authority
Of the Attorney Generals opinion. during this
fiscal year he will inaugurate q reform and sup.
ply no seeds save for scientific purposes.
II
The work of readjusting and classifying the
forces of the Pension Offices of the country has
Just been completed with a view TO shortly ex-
tending 10 them the protection of the Civil
Service laws. Heretofore, as long as the PEN
sion Agent kept within the amount allowed
him for the expenses of his Office, he could do
pretty much as he pleased in regard to the size
| of his force and the amounts of salaries paid.
| When it was decided TO put the Offices under
the Civil Service laws it was found necessary to
change this system. The amount and charac-
! ter OF work done by each office was carefully
noted and classification made accordingly.
While this has resulted in small reductions,
both in force and salary, in some offices, in
Others there has been corresponding increase,
the total appropriation being about the same.
The date when the Civil Service order will go
into effect has not yet been determined. but it
probably will be at early date, now that the
classification has been completed.
4
Under the new classification a half dozen of
! the principal agencies are given Chief Clerk of
| So, 400 year. Other clerks in all Offices re.
ceve from sl,s00 down to $780, Following is
a list of agencies: Augusta, Me-; Boston, Buff
/ all Coli al.,,C n. ri
! Moines. Detroit indianapolis, Knoxville
Louisville. Milwaukee. New York. Phiadel-
phia, Pittsburg, San Francisco Topeka, aud
Washington, ID. c.
There used to be some great poker games in
Washington during ante-bellum days and
during the 20 years Immediately after the
civic struggle. And there were great men who
sat in them, too. Senator Zack Chandler of
Michigan, used to carry on a game at his resi-
dence here. Gen. Grant frequently INDUCED
at Senator Chambers table, particularly when
he ceased to be President, and visited Wash
ington while residing at New York. Mr.
Chambers guests were invariably public men,
and sometimes considerable sums were ventured
at these sittings. On one occasion. a Southern
Senator, who knew but little about the game
ana was considered q fat goose to pluck, had
such streak of luck in the draw he liter
ally walked away with several hundred dollars,
tho major part of which was the money of lack,
who had attempted to drive" him on every
hand. Chandler subsequently attempted to
win back his money on various occasions. but
his Southern colleague was always the victor
Finally. Zsck barred him ont Of the game, ex-
planning that lie could not afford to play poker
against miracles of asinine luck.
4
Gen. Grant soon after the Mexican war, be-
came renowned as one of the ablest strategic
players in the country. veteran Army officer
said the other day: 1.-The difficulty we all ex.
perienced in playing poker with Grant. was
his extreme retieence aud wonderful impassive-
ness which none could penetrate. Grant WAS
a sphynx that never spoke. He was always
cool and self possessed. even when the wine
flowed too freely, and we were all somewhat the
worse FOR wear. No one could measure the
strength or weakness Of Grants hand by any
outward sign or the circumstances Of his play.
Apparently. he was oblivious 10 all surround
ings, but close inspection revealed the fact
y.
could detect bluff with unerring certainty.
Ii was undoubtedly the outcome of military
genius. which enabled Grant to detect either
the strength or weakness of his dversary al
cards. We did not then comprehend that his
play was strategic, and his methods Of gaming
really conducted upon military principles.
Subsequent events developed that his passion
for gaming WAS not hedged upon winning
money nearly much as it afforded him oppor-
tunity TO engage in strife and conquer"
An innovation that Will probably he seen in the
coming Senate is that Of having approximation
bills distributed among number Of commit.
tees ia that body as is now done in the House.
There is no doubt business would be expedited.
but. OF course, the old members oppose ANYTHING
like progress or new things in the venerable
Upper House. OF course, too they have solid
reasons to advance The opposition will be
based largely on the ground that the change.
II made, will have tendency to promote ex-
travsgance in expenditure, and the experience
OF the House viii be pointed to in support of
this contention. There are members in both
Houses who assert that the change made in
tbe 8'osSS HAS Deen productive OF very marked
increases in the annual appropriations. and they
quote figures TO show that this has been the
case The new system was vigorously al tackled
at the beginning OF the SID Congress, and n
calculation which has been unearthed since the
present agitation for a change in the Senate was
inauguratcd was made by the House appropria-
ton EXPERTS, showing an increase In the appro.
pristions under the new system Of over 10 cents
per capita, excluding pensions. This. the Cd.
ponents of the distribution plan claimed then.
as they do now, was the legitimate result of
divided responsibility. The same statement
showed that up 10 that tmo the increase figured
on per capita basis had amounted ia the ag-
gregste to STA, G932 4O Estimates made TO the
present time bring the figures up to $500, co., |
900.
X
A Missouri man, high in political circles. said |
last week that there is not yet much talk in |
his State about Presidential candidates. He
thought, however, that the Democrats tbera
would be glad 10 see William Z. Morrison at tha
head of the ticket
X
Senator John Daniel, of Virginia. is a close
student of law, and spends a large portion of
his leisure time in writing legal subjects |
N 40 ip .