New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-08-13
WASHINGTON NEWS NOTES.

w AOl1l4NdXON NE w . MI GOs
Washington, August H.
A MYSTERY sOLvED.-A mystery which has
been agtating the minds OF the Treasury Depart :,
ment officials in this city. well as those in the
SubTreasury at Chicago, was solved yesterday In
a satisfactory manner, and the minds OF all con-
cerned were greatly relieved. The mystery was
regarding the sudden and inexplicable disappear
ance OF valuable package which should have
been sent by express from the Sub-Treasury 10
the Treasury August 2. The package did not
arrive on time. and the Treasury Department
wanted to know what had become % IT. search
in Chicago revealed the fact that II had not been
sent by express. receipt for II could be found
In it the statements of the Sub-Treasurer for
that day OF the amount of money on hand. the
amount expended and the daily balance on hand.
In addition, there were a number OF drafts. run
ming up to several hundred thousand dollars. The
nature of these could not be exactly learned yes
terday. but they either drafts sent on for
signatures or drafts paid by the sub-Treasurer. 1t
il understood that they were OF the latter class,
and represented his receipts for about )o.vo paid
out by him on that day. In either case their loss
would have caused much inconvenience, II nothing
more as, If these receipts had not reached the
Treasury. the Sub-Treasure. would have had con-
siderable trouble TO account for tho money they
represented and they would have hung over his
head as menac" unUI iounI, 30 "n'h ~" cm M
clerk OF the Dead Letter Once or the foStonce
States Treasurer yesterday and laid down th' miss
ing package It was received by W. ;; M ar me
chief clerk of the office. with conslderaDe pleas
He examined it to see If the contents were
all right and gave a recept for II The di-appear-
due to the carelessness OF some one In
the Office at Chicago. The package was inelosed
in envelope addressed to the tnltrd states
Treasurer. This envelope was again Enclosed In a
heavy blue envelope. The latter was placed In the
mails without any address on it whatever IL aP-
pears that some one had gathered IL up with tho
other mail matter, sealed II and put In man box
hon 81 cd he
1t was held for several days 70 see II me o"nssr
% wi With ntb 81, mott%r TO- the Dead Letter once
here. arriving this morning. 9 ance at lts cor
tents showed its importance, and IL was sent u
the Treasury at once.
COMMON-SENSE CIVIL SERVICE REFORM
Former soldiers seeking reinstatement III treasury
Department positions are grumbling because th'y
are compelled to Undergo an examination in ORDER 10
demonstrate their fitness. This rule mas Doeh IN
force since May j. but it Is just beginning to at
tract attention because of the protests when some
OF the veterans are making. There have been many
reinsiatements in the Treasury Department since
Secretary Gage took charge but none nave oeeh
made until the applicant fully demonstrated MS
illness The Secretary says the mere fact that
man once held office does not 10y any means snow
he was fit ior Office While the offices were simply
"A part of tn" political machine. most OF the APP
poiutments werc made without regard 10 met s,
and after the Civil Service law went INTO eHeI,t
rnanv clerks were dlsmisse,i for ineniclency II
has been charged that in the last Adminstra-
cause they were Republicans. Secretary Gag;
however. has not allowed himself TO be deceived
by these partisan statements, ami as soon a. ne
went into office he determined thar no appoint
men,s should h. made In the Treasury department
until The applicants mad proved tl'li ABILITY 70 ~,
the places satisfactorily. The rules have WORKED
we'll and number Of men who. 9nly dna aa
the Government and been dismissed srneraliy iot
ineficiency. by Democrats have not been reih-
stated.
DOCKEItY's AAIBlTION.-Word comes all the
way from Missouri that Congressman \. NJ. Dock
cry would like to turn his back upon the halls OF
Congrcs, and serve his State for a few years In
the capacity of its Chief Executive. and is spend
ing his vacation in working mp boom for Gov
srnor Mr.. Dockcry is now serving his eighth term
in Congress and for several years has occupied an
important place on the Committee on Approprla-
tioDs. whrrc his good advice has been mueh sousnt
after Having secured all the honor he can out
OF the life OF Congressman. Mr.. Dockery now
ornor' while having his hand on the throttle OF
Mlssouri- STATE government. There are not few
men in Washington who were leglslatcd OUT OF
their snug places in the various departments
year two ago by the adoption of TIE report OF
the Dockery Commission, OF which MI. Dockety
was the head. who only regret that he did not re-
tire from Congress some years ago
THE PRESIDENTS PORTRAIT.-A story is
published that the Treasury Department * pre-
pairing surprise for President Mckinley by plac-
ing his portrait on some OF the new Treasury
notes being issued to be issued. 1t Is stated
that Claude NJ. Johnson. chief of the Bureau Of
Engraving and Printing. Is securing the big cities
of the country for the best portraits Of the Presi-
dent TO be used for the purpose named The law
does not permit the face OF a living man 10 adorn
"A Treasury note. This could be done without
"A special act of Congress. In tho remote future.
when President Mckinley has passed to his re-
ward his portrait will no doubt appear on securi-
ties of this country. The Bureau Of Engraving
and Printing for some time has been seeking photo
The cases of all Presidents. These portraits
stored away. and when the law permits them 10
be used on securities of any kind they Will be
handy for the purpose, the best photograph al
portrait Of the President TO place in the coec-
ton of Presidents at the White House.
BUSINESS REVIVAL IN THE WEST.-Moses
p Handy the American Commissioners 10 the Paris
Exposition is in the city. lie directly from the
West where he has been gauging the rising tide OF
business revival. We do not need any afdayits 10
prove that good times have come IN the West, said
Major Handy to-day. The evidences apparent
on every hand The most gratifying feature Of the
situation Is that since the tide has turned IS set
ting in with q rush Money Is easier in the West
.rn commercial cities. Collections are good on
outstanding bills. and. more than this money Is
seeking Investment. Not only is it flowing into
conservative and safe channels Of investment. but
IT is also beginning reac I'll on into speculative
branches Prices are better eS2Scla,Y On W' ~
Pacific Coast feel the return or good times, ana
business is exceedingly lively IN those sections as
well In the Middle West. IN the states uiOu-
tary to Chicago in commercial sense there -
marked improvement In all lines OF bust less ana
commerce.. The country merchants ana detltts :, u.
the smaller towns are buying freely IN anlclpal3h
of "A brisk demand for goods this fan. Inc ran
roads report heavy gam IN tirir .E,it rS
and increased passenger receipts. Manuiac'uIeIs
are putting or more men, and llbor seneraly Is
finding better employment. | look Tor an era OF
great prosperity throughout the whole country IN
the near future. 1t will be a STEADY ana heaitnS
growth, however rather than mushroom ooo'i'
PENSION FOR \ BURNED HEEi.-A Ken
lucky man is to get pension Tor burned hee'
stephen A. Harper enlisted early III the war IN
Company A. 81 Kentucky Infantry. some time IN
tn, course OF his service he was attacked with
typhoid fever and sent 10 the hospital "Iiic Il,
bed unconscious Of what was going on aTou"u
hin, so,,o attendant discovered that his feet were
III ..aI tho,1nh1 1heY shomld be Marmed lie