The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1898-01-15
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular Correspondent.

washington, January ~, lS3S.
! Help us modify the civil service law,
or We will join hands with the Demo
Gratis and repeal the entire law. That,
III effect; is the notice that the hundred
odd Republican members of the House
who favor modification of this law have
served upon the other Republican
members during the debate which is
not yet over. There has been much
plain talk on the subject. and there will
be more. \ sample is the following,
from the speech of Representative Hep
burn, OF Iowa: 'In some things the
old system. at lis worst, was superior to
the new. Ny colleagues in this House
! know the qualifications of their consti-
tuents, and iii the selection of candI-
dates for office nave everything at stake.
l believe that there Is greater probabil-
ity Of problty inaction wisdom in selec-
ton, and benefcence IN results in the
Old system than in this darkened, sub
terranean, irresponsible method we
have fallen into ia tins LATER time"
representative Clark. of y. H., said
that he favored modification OF the law
an WAS willing to leave it to the Wis
d I'M of the civil service committee as to
how far, but that "anv Old thing" WAS
better than the present law. That com
mttee is now considering the bill intro
duced last week, which confines the
operation of the civil service law to po-
sitions paving from 1890 to 81 800 year,
inclusive, ami to localities where the
employees exceed twenty-five in mum
bcr
The treaty for the annexation OF
Hawaii was today taken up by the Sen
ate. and the intention is to hold daily
executive sessions for its consider
alton until it is disposed of. The
policy OF the friends of annexation
is to allow It's opponents to do most of
the talking, so as to get the debate over
as soon as possible, in order that there
may be no excuse for delaying vote
1t is now the general belief that the
treaty will be ratified, owing to the an
nouncement of the number OF Senators
who were in doubt Of their intention to
vote FOR ratification.
The last European nation 70 take a
place in the line Of applicants for a
reciprocity treaty with the United States
Is Germany, the country which made q
bluff when the Din-!ey tariff bill WAS
pending that was promptly called by
Congress and President Mckinley. The
clause OF the tariff that brought Ger
many's pride down to ask ing for rccip-
r0city is that which imposes additional
duty UPON sugar brought from countries
that pay an export bounty on sugar.
Wien the German an bassador request
ed that reciprocity negotiations be OPP
ened he was informed that his govern
ment must take the first step by agree
ing to remove the restrictions now i'm
posed upon American cattle and beef
imported into Germany.
The administration is doing every
thing possible to expediate the sending
OF food to the kloudIke region, as the
President and all the members of the
Cabinet believe that relief will be need
ed by the gold seekers before regular
traffic is resumed On the Yukon river.
Agents of the government are now
bringing number OF reindeer from
Norway to carry the food, which viii
all be ready and on the grUn ID when
the reindeer get to Alaska.
There is probably no provision of the
Constitution Of ,he United States that
furnishes more proof of the wisdom of
its makers, or that is more rcvered by
our people, than that which provides
for our Judiciary system. But nothing
suits the Fopulists, except personal
notoricty or gain for themselves, and
Senator Butler, Of North Carolina, who
aims at being the Populist boss, wants
an entirely new judiciary system, the
| judges to be elected Tor terms OF eight
! ears, and has otiere,! joInt resolution
! proposing TO amend the Constitution
according to his ideas. There isn't the
! slightest probability of any such change,
! but that it should be even pronused is
4 warning to the country OF what might
/ be expected should the people ever
allow the Organizes to get on top.
During the three days that the SEN
ate WIS in session IN the week lust
! closed President Mckinley sent more
nominations TO the Senate than III any
single wcek-.ince he was inaugurated,
but some Of them were recess aprolnt-
ments.
OLD accountants were not surprised
when it was !ouud Necessary to aban-
don the Duckery system Of auditing
postmasters' accounts. because of dis
covered frauds. This system was adopt
ed during the Cleveland admiuistra-
ton as the result of an investigation by
4 commission, headed by Representa-
tive Dockery OF Missouri, and it was
pointed out at the time that it was full
OF opportunities TOR fraud No less
than nine ways il which dishones
postmaster could rob the government
have been discovered lv Sixth Auditor
Castle. who has thrown out the system
ami introduced Il new one. The new
system WAS specially intended to detect
the frauds made possible by the Dock
cry system and although it has only
been III operation 4 week it has done sc
in 4 number OF cases. The government
was probably robbed OF many thousand
dollars under the Dockery system OF
auditing I. Q. money order accounts
Auditor Castle will ask Congress Il
authorize the employment OF a specia
force TO 80 over and check up lie old
accounts, believing that the stoleI
money can be recovered, aud the
, thieves punished. by securing PROOFS o
the the!ts.
f-Io-los D,ra p-yo, ,,-I,- ,,-,- .