The silver star., 1899-04-13
WASHINGTON GOSSIP
AND DEPARTMENT NEWS.

Frederick Hollis OF New York will be
secretary of the delegation.
The financial statement from tile
treasury for the LIST of April shows
remarkable gain in the receipts from
customs during the last nine months
Since the beginning of the current fs-
cal year on the LIST of July last the
duties on imported goods under the
Dingley act have amounted to $15l,-
S1O.OS1 %. For the corresponding per-
iod OF the previous year they were on
ly $1O7. .JO2. 1ST.6S. thus showing an in
crease OF 81 i,301 .939.61. The collec-
tions thus far In nine months exceed
by $4,000, 600 the customs revenues for
the entire year of 1888. they are only
100000 less than for the entire year
1894, which gives the advocates OF the
Dingley tariff law great satisfaction.
Senator Fairbanks of Indiana is here
arranging for n journey to Alaska with
the American members of the high
joint commission that has been nego-
iiating for Il settlement OF the diner
ences with Canada AS the boundary
line between the United States and
Canada is the most serious subject in
controversy. he thinks the American
members Of the commission could
strengthen themselves by Il personal
investigation. He intends to leave Chi
cago for San Francisco about the mid
die of May. Senator Faulkner and
Mr.. Kasson have already agreed to go:
Representative Payne Is expecting to
Join them and they hope TO persuade
Mr.. Coolidge also.
The President and the officials at the
War Department are disposed to ac-
cept with satisfaction the encouraging
advices received from General Otis.
They are quite certain that lie UNDER
stands the situation. and that his in
formation is reliable. 1t Is the first
time he has expressed so positive an
opinion. and knowing him TO be very
conservative and careful man. more
reliance is placed upon it than II some
one of more sanguine disposition had
signed the message. Now II is expect
ei that the Philippine commission.
which consists of Colonel DENLY. Pres
idcnt Schurman and Professor Worccs-
ter. will he able to assist him in per-
suading the rebels TO lay down their
arms. III Aguinaldo could be captured
or shot the officials think the end
would soon come.
Assistant Secretary vanderlip has is
sued new regulations regarding civil
transfers In the mnts and assay Off
ces Of the United States. The posi-
tions are arranged under five general
scientific. clerical. mechani
cal. trade skilled. positions below
classification and one other not yet pro-
mulgated The scientific and clerical
positions will he filed nfter competi-
tive examinations but without regis
trations. while the mechanical. trade
or skilled positions will be filled after
slight educational test and n registra-
tion examination. The educational
test will be letter writing. arithmetic
and plain copying. and the registration
test will consist of rating persons ac-
cording to age. character ms workmen
and experience. Physical qualifica-
tions will also be considered. Credit
will he given for apprenticeship and
work rs 5ourneymen. Graduates OF
technical schools will he given credit
In lieu of nm apprenticeship.
Having come from Hustleville. Will
lam X. Merriam. the director of the
census. gets very impatient when he
encounters the customs OF this land of
dcliberation. The government clerks
begin work NJ O'Clock In the morning
and stop at !. with hnlf-hOur for
luncheon. which are shorter hours than
Mr.. Merriam has been accustomed to.
They nre also In the habit OF taking
things IN an easy. happy go-lucky
manner. and find that hurrying is ant
Ia put them out of work. When n new
bureau is organized the first persons
to ge; places are old-timcrs. who have
lost positions In other departments but
| have lived so long In Washington that
they know the ropes. AS usual. the
new census office got It's share OF such
experienced people. who years ago nc.
puircd the habits OF the clrcumlocution
office and have found II impossible to
get rid Of them. When Mr.. Merriam
went TO ST. Paul 10 close up his private
affairs he gave instructions to have
certain things done during his ab-
sence. and says the force of clerks in
his office ought 10 have done Il four
times over during the time allowed,
hut when lie got back II was not half
finished. and he has since been trying
/ 10 discover the reason why. II is n
serious question whether he or the
Washington habit gives In. II IL not
II new experience. Other men have
come here filled with western vim
and energy and have attempted To re.
form things. hut after n few months
Of bnfllcl effort have hnd to give up.
lie VIII probably Ito the same.