The Press., 1897-09-09
Washington Letter.
Washington, Sept. {

Washington, Sept. 6, 1897.
 Present indications are that the entire civil service law and rules will be passed upon by the U. s. supreme court in the near future, and there Is more or less trepidation among government officials who have supposed themselves anchored in lifetime positions, under the protection of that law and the rules prescribed for enforcement. A test case Is to be made of the suit brought in a District of Columbia court, by John G. Woods of Louisville, Ky, to prevent his removal by the postmaster general from position in the classified service without any charges having been made against him. The case was to have been heard Satur- day, but postponement for one week was asked and obtained by the counsel for the postmaster general, and it Is an- nounced that no matter how 1t may be decided by this court, 1t Is to be taken up by the U. s. supreme court, in order to settle the question once for all of the power of removal. An attempt Is also to be made to have the decision cover other civil service law matters more or less in doubt or dispute.
 France Is the first country to notify this government of its desire to secure both forms of reciprocity provided for by the new tariff law, and the French ambassa- dor has formally applied for the reduction in the duty on articles of French product ion that the president Is authorized to make by proclamation, whenever, in his discretion, he considers the concessions offered to warrant such action on his part. These articles are limited to brandy, champagne, still wine and vermouth, paintings, drawings and statuary, and the reduction of duty to about 25 percent. The French ambassador has also given notice that his country wishes to negoti- ate general reciprocity treaty with the United States, in accordance with the provisions of the new tariff. This law provides that these treaties shall, in ad- dition to being ratified by the senate, be approved by congress" This Is the first time that the consent of the house has been made necessary to put treaty into effect, but that is no reason why 1t may not be good idea.
 Either somebody has beon mistaken about the salary being insufficient to at- tract first-class man, or lot of second rate architects are trying for the position of supervising architect of the treasury. A special examination to fill this office is being held, and so far nearly eighty archi- tects have presented themselves for ex- animation. This official has charge of the erection of all public buildings throughout the country.
 The civil service commission wishes everybody to know that it is simply throw ing away money to pay for any informa- tiOn connected with its examinations, either in Washington or elsewhere, when such information may be had without pay ing cent, by addressing the U. s. civil service commission, Washington, D. c.
 The experiment of using carrier pigeons to carry information from our warships to land, which was tried during the revo- lutions of the North Atlantic squadron in the Atlantic off Cape Charles, was such 8 complete success that the navy depart ment will, hereafter, regularly make use of those birds for newscarriers. The news was in this case taken from the flagship New York, to Norfolk navy yard ,and from there telegraphed to Wash ington, thus keeping the department in- formed of every movement of the squad ron.
 The commercial directory, issued by the bureau of American republics, has an- nexed Hawaii without waiting for the sen- ate to act upon the treaty. In a hand book just issued by that bureau, is pro- spectus of the commercial directory, and list o2 the countries that will be repre- sented therein, and in the list is, "The United States Qncluding Alaska and Hawai)." This is keeping up to date and little ahead.
 One of the knottiest problems yet tackled by attorney General McKenna is the construction which shall be placed up- on that portion of the new tariff imposing discriminating duties. It was referred to him by Secretary Gage, sometime ago, for an opinion. The matter is,of vast im- portance to those who are interested in nor foreign commerce, involving, it Is claimed, revenue to the extent of$3O, ,OOO- 900 year.