The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1897-12-30

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1t was not expected that the President
Eould nominate Attorney General Nc
kenna for the Supreme Court until after
the Pacific Railroad suits were disposed
Of. That was the understanding before
te went to Canton, but he thinks Gov.
Griggs of New Jersey will be able to look
,fter the railroad foreclosure with equal
zeal and ability, and that perhaps it
you'd be as well to have a new man take
,old at this time. The controversy be-
tween the Attorney General and the legal
representatives of the railway companies
has become rather heated. Both sides
are stubbornly fixed to their present posi-
zion. Somebody must yield before any
arrangement can be concluded, and it is
believed that Gov. Griggs can make bet
ter terms than Attorney General Nc
Eenna. The Central Pacific has been pO-
litical issue on the Pacific coast for many
years, and everybody in California is COM
mitted to or against its interest. There
fore the President thought it would be
better that somebody from the East who
could not be accused of prejudice or pref
erence should undertake the settlement
Of its affairs with the Government.
BY the last census of the executive de-
partments in Washington there were 1O5
persons over 20 years of age employed as
clerks by the Government, and it is prob
able that the number has nearly doubled
since that time. There are sixty superan-
nuated clerks in the Treasury Depart
ment alone, and most of them are incapa-
BILE of performing any important duty.
Some of them are drawing salaries as
high as 81, 500 year; others 81 200, ST.
400 and 81, 800. There is no pension list
for civil service employees. In the army
and navy man is retired on half or two
thirds pay when he reaches the age Of 81.
Secretary Gage has been studying the
question very carefully, and has decided
that it is only fair to the Government
that clerks who are incapacitated by age
should receive only Il corresponding
amount of their salary. Hence he has
issued an order reducing the sixty vet
Grams who have passed three score and
ten to 5000 year.
The two committees on Indian affairs
are working together in the preparation
of bill to carry out the recommendations
Of Secretary Bliss with regard to a new
form of government in the Indian terri
tory. They are unanimous in the opinion
that prompt and radical action should be
taken to dissolve the tribes, abolish the
existing tribal governments and place the
inhabitants of the several reservations
upon the same footing as the citizens Of
other territories, with equal rights, priv
ileges and protection. The first step to
T. IL L md n n
mission of Indian territory into the Unit
ed States, the appointment of governor,
a secretary, judges and other officials that
compose the ordinary territorial organiza-
| ton. Then a census of the territory viii
be taken and an election ordered for a
Legislature to frame a code of laws.
Secretary Bliss is congratulating HIM
self that he is to be relieved of all re-
spOnsibility in connection with the ap-
| pointment of the officials to take the next
census. The temper shown by Congress
| ON this subject is very significant. 1t is
| not proposed to allow the civil service
commission to have anything to do with
the appointments, which are temporary,
and will last for three or four years only,
but it was originally proposed to make the
Ol luc lHtclioi tiiC uPPViAeAi'S .
power. Mr.. Bliss Immediately objected.
There will be several thousand persons on
| the staff and he has trouble enough now.
| Therefore the superintendent of the cen
sus when appointed will distribute the
| patronage.
The bottle of 45-year-old whisky which
| Major Barrack G. Thomas gave to Miss
| Richardson Of Lexington, KY, 10 send to
| the secretary to baptize the battleship
| Kentucky has been totally consumed. 1t
| was a peruuisite of the last adminlstra-
ton, and was partaken of by President
| Cleveland Secretary Olney, Hoke Smith
J. Sterling Morton, Attorney General
Harmon, Postmaster General Wilson and
the faithful Thurber. Secretary Carlisle
and Secretary Lamont were not guilty
| The former does not drink, and Col. La
mont abstains from preference.
There are bills before the Committee on
Public Buildings and Grounds for the
erection of custom houses and postoffices
In more than 200 cities of the United
| States and for the extension or enlarge
ment of existing buildings in fifty other
cities. During the last three or foul
years, while there has been Il deficit in the
treasury, Congress has passed very few
such bills, but there is going to be de-
termined effort this session upon the part
of representatives who need buildings il
their districts to secure authority for then
erection.
| Commissioner Powderly finds that dur
ing the year 1896 SO,019 of the immi
grants arriving y the United States were
illiterate, and 80 per cent of them came
from Italy, Austria, Hungary, Russia anG
Poland, per cent came from France
Norway, Sweden, Germany and the Unit
ed Kingdom In 1897, 42,154 illiterate,
arrived, of which 90.23 per cent came
from the group of countries first named
and 6.55 per cent from the group last
named.
! Speaker Reed is becoming quite so
ciety man. He has appeared at all impOr
tant social functions thus far, and ha,
been particularly conspicuous at the opers
every night, where he has occupied boz
as the guest of his friend, Representative
Simkins of Massachusetts.
|