The Press., 1897-09-16
Washington letter.
Washington, Sept. 6, lSi

Washington, Sept. 6, 1897.
 President Mckinley returned to Wash Ington today for the purpose of holding a cabinet meeting ,dlscu-sinR C. ban matters with Consul General Lee, and disposing of some pressing public land, to remain until about tho first of October.
 The suit for an injunction to prevent the postmaster general from removing an em- ploye of his department was argued be- fore Judge Cox, of the supreme court of tho District of Columbia on Saturday. The Judge took the papers and stated that he would announce his decision in a few days. It Is believed that he will sus- tain the right of the head of n department to change or remove any of the employees at his discretion by refusing the injunction asked for. Whatever tho decision, the case will be appealed and carried to tho U. S. supreme court.
 According to returns from thirty of the largest post-of1ces, the business of which has been regarded as trustworthy barometer of the general business con- dltlons of the country, things are getting decided move on them ard the country has crossed the line which separated 1t from prosperity. The business of these thirty post-offices was eight percent great CT In August 1907, than 1t was in the same month last year. A comparison of 1897 with 1896 shows, in January, a decrease of 8. 6percent; in February, a decrease of 4. percent March, an increase of 9. 9 percent April, an increase of 5 percent; May, an increase of 2 percent; June, an increase of 8 percent, and July, of . 3 percent. The jump to a clean percent increase in August Is considered some- thing extraordinary.
 Somewhat of a sensation in official circles followed the report telegrnphed from Charlestown, s. C., that Spanish spy had been making sketches of the Qualifications for the protection of Charles ton harbor and of other Qualifications on the Southern coast, although no c(Illcal will discuss the matter for publication. | Although congress has provided that no outsiders shall be admit ed to any fortifl- cation belonging to the government, with out special permit from the officer in army officers, comparatively easy ways in which information may, from time to time, be obtain,d about our Notifications. Congress invariably attaches to all appro- priatlOns for Notifications, a stipulation that tho work shall bo dono by contract, ED I,,, given tO h,. lowest resnOnSihle hid der, and when"vor any work is to be done upon any fOrtifcation, bids have to be asked for. Every man who expresses his Intertlon to bid for the work, must see where the work Is to be done, and must huve acccss to all the plans and specifi- cations. That Is one of the easy ways of finding out about our Qualifications, and there are others too humorous to mention. Old army officers regard 1t as impossible to keep such things secret in this country when all the European countries have failed in their attempts to do the same thing. They say that our war depart mont gets about all the information it wants about the Qualifications in other countries, and they assume that the other countries can do the same about ours. It Is altogether likely that Spain and other countries are constantly represented with In our Qualifications by men seeking and getting information, but nobody need lose any sleep on account of the practice.
 Considerable gossip has been caused In political circles by the statement that Senator Hanna is using the money and influence of the republican national con- mittee, of which he Is chairman, much more freely to aid his own senatorial as- pirations than he Is doing to help his party In other states which hold elections this year. While this may not be con- just about what the average man always does when he has a chance. MT. Hanna naturally has greater personal interest In carrying Ohio and getting himself elected to the senate than he has in his party carrying any other state. The politi- cans who do not look out for their person. al interests, do not remain In politics long. This Is not meant as either excuse or defense for Senator Hanna, but as a plain statement of everyday facts, known to every man who Is familiar with politi- cal methods In any party.
 The treasury department is working through all of It's agents in that section to keep Americans from venturing into the Klondike gold regions, until after travel opens next spring, in order to save them | many of them who succeed in getting in | this fall.
 | MANgFTETn