Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-10-29
THE VERlEST FAKE.
REMOVAL OF OFFICIALS FROM
CIyU-sERVICE PROTECTION.
NO SUCH ORDER FORTHCOMING.
story Put out for Political Effect
President and Republican Platform
Pledged to Maintenance of Civil
Service Lnw-Personal Notes.

Pledged to Maintenance Of Civil
Service Law-Personnl Notes.
WASHINGTON, October 2s.-(Special)-
The published report to-day, pretending
TO give the scope OF a presidential order
removing some six thousand officials from
the classified civil service, is the veriest
fake, and is nothing more than a Repub-
lican dodge to secure votes on the Sth Of
November next. 1t shows TO what eX-
tromites the Republicans are reduced,
and is an infallible indication that they
consider themselves in great danger Of
losing the next House of Representatives.
According to the publication. this order,
vacating some six thousand fat offices all
over the country for hungry Republicans
is to be issued just before Thanksgiving
Day: that It has been in contemplation
for several months, and that it has only
been deferred on account Of the pressure
Of war business, and the publication goes
on to state the various officials that will
be affected by the official decapitation
decree Of the PreSldentS.
NOT IN CONTEMPLATION.
There is the best authority for the
statement that there is nothing Of the
kind contemplated by the President. a
high officer of the government-indeed,
member Of the Cabinet-said confidential
ly to-day that there was no truth in the
report The President is a strong sup
porter and always has been, of civil
nd la all hr
platform of his party is committed TO
sustain IT, He does contemplate issuing
an order some time in the future stand
ing by the merit system, and giving TO
all internal-reyenue and customs officers,
who have TO give heavy bonds, the privi-
lege of appointing their own cashiers.
stamp deputies, etc. In fact, the latter
plan Is already in operation, but 1t IS abb
solutely certain that the President will.
under no circumstances, issue such
sweeping order as the one referred TO.
and which is gotten out purely to make
votes for the Republicans in the election
next month.
FAKE ON IT'S FACE.
The very construction Of the publication
shows that il is put out for political ef-
feet for it states that the alleged forth
coming order will include among the
doomed six thousand some two thousand
deputy collectors Of internal revenue,
who are authorized to become acting col
lectors. actually serving in this capacity;
a large number of deputy marshals, and
the examining surgeons in the pension
service, of whom there are some four
thousand. Then il ingeniously says that
about fifty deputy marshals, heretofore
reported as classified, but about whose
status there has been some doubt be-
cause Of their being in the judicial ser
vice. are expected To be placed i'm the eX-
empt class; also those acting in fiducia-
ry and confidential capacity, who will
aggregate several hundred. These eXemp-
tons are merely mentioned TO give an air
Of impartiality to the fake report.
YORK RIVER IMPROVEMENTS.
In regard to York river. the report Of
General Wilson, chief engineer Of the
United States army, will say:
"The Southern Railway Company IN 1896
established a new terminal and shipping
point at Norfolk, Va. and freight carry
ing on the river is reported as having
fallen off considerably in consequence Of
the transfer.
Efforts have been made TO procure
| commercial statistics for years subse-
quent to 1894, but without success.
in view Of the present, at least, falling
off I'm commerce the views of those re-
garded as most directly interested in the
navigation Of the river were sought as
to the present needs, in the way OF width
and depth of channels, Of vessels nayi-
eating the river The weight Of opinion
appeared to be that the Improvement
should proceed Notwithstanding the trans
fer of the said terminal and shipping
facilities.
In view Of the present changed condi-
| tons the officer in charge suggested the
| policy Of maintaining the channels al
| ready dredged so that, whenever re-
| Quired, work under the full project might
| be resumed. Extension OF the West Point
| dixie and dredging are recommended and
| the sum asked for the fiscal year ending
| June 80, 1900, is to be applied to that work.
The funds appropriated by the act of
| June 3. 1896, will be applied this season
| to work under the project
July /, 1887. balance unexpended. 1881 IS
June 3d. 1898, amount expended
during fiscal year. so ~
July 1, 1898. balance unexpended. ST., Cos IS
| July J. 1898, outstanding liabilities. p II
July /, 1898, balance available. .N7,6S6 p
| Amounted (estimated) required
for completion of existing pro-
ject........ ........ 'Sis'ooo w
| Amount that can be prOftably
| expended i'm fiscal year ending
June 49, 1909. ........................ lo,vW w
VARSITY VS.. GEORGETOWN.
The football game between the George
| town College and University OF Virginia
| teams. at Charlottesville, on Saturday
last, during the playing Of which the lat
| ter thought they were not impartially
] dealt with, Is TO be played over on either
| the 9Th or sth of November on the George
| town field.
| The proposal for new trial 10 settle
! the question of superiority Is under