The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-02-18
WEEK IN WASHINGTON.

WEEK I'm WASHINGTON.
SUNDAY, FEB. T.-Julius A. Palmer, the repre-
sentative of ex-Qusen Lilluokalani, of Ha-
wall in a published letter declares that the
act of abdication of the ex Queen was pro-
cured under duress and is void for this rea-
SON and because of legal informalities. He
SAYS that the Queen of Hawaii has never
given legal abdication. and is still the law
full ruler, even if she forbears to enforce her
legitimate rights" 1t is believed that Lii
luokalani inspird the card. Mr.. Palmer's
card was called forth, as he explains, by the
publication recently of the Queens abdica-
ton. He refers to that document as - brief
drawn by Hon. A. S. Hsrtwell, Chief Coun-
sci for the corporation of sugar planters and
lawyers now posing as the Hawaiian Re-
public having no legal force whatever, void
when written, and which could not be sus-
tanned in any court Of equity in any civilized
land" He further says that the Queen was
forcibly confined in the 1olani Palace, and
being told that those she loved, her personal
friends, were awaiting execution, signed the
act of abdication as the only means to save
them 1.-THE ring Of adventures knew
their victim" says Mr.. Palmer. " Had they
proposed her immediate death they could not
have terrified her, but to save these she loved
she executed the document"
MONDAY, FEB. Sit was authoritatively
StaIeQ to-day ttat no luTtueT GAltusiOuo vi
the Civil Service system will be made during
the remainder of the present Administration.
President Proctor, of the Civil Service Com
mission, says there is no intention of issuing
an order bringing the fourth-cass postoffices
into the Civil Service. The classification of
this army of over 66 600 Postmasters. how
ever is only a question of the near future.
The main obstacle now is the inadequacy OF
the clerical force of the Civil Service Com
IoGc freouanflv nrpad
Congress by the commission. Tie commits
sion is engaged in an immense amount OF
work arising from the recent wide extensions
made by Mr.. Cleveland. and until this burden
of work is disposed of it will be impossible to
successfully carry out such an undertaking.
TUESDAY,, FEB 9.-The Committee on Elcc-
tons unanimously authorized report in the
Watson-Back contested election case from
Georgia in favor of the sitting member. In
the report. drawn by representative Bartlett,
of Georgia, the committee find that the
charge of conspiracy in any County is un-
founded, and that the registration lists were
not tampered with; that all officers con-
nected with the election properly performed
their duties and put only honest voters on
the list. No proof of Intimidation or violence
in Richmond County or other places could be
established. the committee find that there
were not more than % or 30 cases of repeat
ing. but do not state for whom these votes
were cast.
WEDNESDAY. FEB. 10.-Agents of the Secret
Service to-day arrested Louis Mckay Turner
and Philip McElhone. clerks in the Congress
sionai Library, on warrant charging them
with abstractiug certain filed papers and
records from the Office of the Librarian of
Congress. Later, they were held pending
examination. An autograph dealer in New
York. TO whom autograph letters of famous
men had been offered by McEhone and
Turner, became suspicious after having
bought some and diary Of George Washing
ton for 17S7, aud wrote to Assistant Librxr-
ian Curtis, at the Capitol, asking if any
papers were missing from the Departments.
Subsequent investigation revealed that valu-
able letters Of John Hancock, Benedict Ar
mold, and other historical characters were
missing from the Library files, aud the ar.
rests followed. The men deny the charge of
theft, and account for their possession of the
letters by conflicting stories. Both young
men have been connected with the Library
for some lime, and are well known about the
city. hcElhone is the son of the late Mr..
McElhone. who was for many years Chief
Stenogapher of the House of Representatives.
THURSDAY. FEB. 1l.-Solomon C. Wynn fled
bill against the Postmaser-General and VIM.
ID. Mayberry and Waring II. Ellis. of Detroit.
Injunction is asked to prevent the Postmas-
ter-Generai from performing a certain con-
tract IN regard 10 lettef-coxeS WIKI the Other
defendants. 1t is set forth that on Dec %
1886. the Postmaster-General advertised for
proposals. The complainant says he filed
bid in strict accordance with the terms of the
advertisement. committee. consisting of
Alden Il. Hurt, Assistant Superintendent of
the frec-deivery system; 7. Il. Marche, Chief
Clerk. and Bernard Goode, Chief Clerk of the
Dead Letter Office, opened the bids, and the
complainant says it was found his bid was
lrt bou LDx o.,2 a.
package boxes alone the defendants bid was
more than 81 q box higher than his The
committee recommended precedence to the
proposal of Mayberry and Ellis. On Feb s.
Notwithstanding protest, the Postmaster.
General awarded the contract for furnishing
the supplies to the defendants named 1t is
charged that the Recommendation and report
OF the examining committee, and the award.
ing OF the contract to Mayberry and Ellis,
was procured by fraud and collision between
them aud the examining committee and Au-
gust Mache::, superintendent of the Free.
delivery System. This is denied by the
officials.
FRIDAY, FEE. 12.-Representative Murray. the
colored member from South Carolina, intro
duced a resolution recitiag that the Electoral
vote of that State Is irregular, and authoriz-
ing the Speaker 10 appoint special CON-
mittee OF five member Of the present House.
who will serve also in the next House, TO in
vestirate the alleged irregularities. The
resolution recites that whereas a large num-
Der OF citizens of South Carolina have me-
morialized Congress to reject the Electoral
vote OF that State GA the ground that IL in not
an expression of the will of the electors. WIN
have been debarred from exercising their
constitutional rights; thata republican form
OF Government doas not exist in South Caro-.
lima; and whereas lit is the paramount duty
Of Congress TO see that q republican form OF
Government is to be observed in South Caro-
lima aud other States: therefore. IL is resolved
that the Speaker appoint the committee
The committee is authorized to sit during
the recess of Congress and thereafter in
Washington South Carolina, and to send
for persons, papers, etc.
SATURDAY, FEE. l3.-William f. Ryan, re-
Gently removed from his place as clerk ia
the Treasury Department. has sent to the
Civil Service Commission an affidavit In
which he charges William 4. Curtis, Assist.
ant Secretary of the Treasury, and Logan
Carlisle. Chief Clerk Of the Department, with
violation OF the Civil Service laws in tina,
each OF them caused him to be removed for 3
political reason. Ryan asks for an immedi
ate investigation, as the term of Office of these
officials will soon expire. Ryan was removed
twice. In his affidavit he sets forth that hs
was nominated for Congress in the Rocheste,
District at the last election aud was defeated
He says that because he refused to promis,
that he would not contest the election he wa
dismissed from the service The second re
moval was for alleged absence without leave
As he had obtained leave he contends tina
he has been unjustly and illegally treated.