The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-09-08
PLACE SEEKERS TESTS
EXAMINATIONS TO BE CONDUCTED BY
THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT.
Scope OF Questions to he Answered
the Customs or Revenue Service.

for the positions in the customs service and
internal revenue service which pertain to
excepted places under the Presidents order
of May 20. 1899, such deputy collectors of
internal revenue, storekeepers' and gaugers
compensation under $500, and for positions
in the customs service filled by cashiers
chief or principal deputies at customs ports
and the principal deputy at each SUPPORT.
deputy naval officers and deputy surveyors
The department has concluded to reduce the
examination to arithmetic, including the
conversion Of currency, letter whiting, plain
copy and business experience and training.
The arithmetic will be as practical as pos
sible and where practicable will relate to
the actual business transactions intended
for the employees
For storekeepers and gaugers the candi-
dates will be called upon to furnish vouchers
to be filled by reputable citizens who are
acquainted with the applicant The appli-
can't will have to show his age, occupation
and residence. The person signing a voucher
must show the length of time he has been
acquainted with the applicant, whether the
applicant is possessed of moral courage and
would be proper person to employ without
yielding to influences where he would be
subjected to temptation. 1t must be shown
that the person signing the voucher would
curing undoubted honesty; that the appli-
cant has physical ability and can efficiently
dress and familiar with men and the manner
of approaching them; the voucher must
show the length of time he has lived in the
district from which he seeks to be APP
pointed and what familiarity he has with its
inhabitants; must show what knowledge
the applicant has as to the methods of oper-
with the manufacture of spirits at Illicit
distilleries: and that the candidate can rem
der ehcient service as an off1eer OF intern i1
dispensable. The applicant must have this
voucher prepared before he is subjected to
by the collector 1t will count 20 per cent in
en- examination. The other 80 per cent. in
the examination will be the academic tests.
While gratifying progress has been made
toward the arrangement of a modus vi
vendi temporarily defining the boundary
line between Alaska and British Columbia,
and the officials concerned in the negota-
lions are hopeful that success will attend
their efforts, 1t can be stated that at this
moment the negotiations are still running
and, therefore, it cannot be said that an
arrangement has been reached. 1t is still
possible for the whole scheme to be disar-
ranged, owing to the injection at this point
of some such counter proposal as wrecked
the modus thought to have been arranged
Sa Am P Ghoate ana Grq t HasD9 b;ic
Ii is not within reason to expect that any
arrangement, fair and satisfactory to both
parties to the negotiations, shall be entire
ly one-sided. still, 1t will be found. when
the result is made public. that the United
States has secured majority of the points
In contention and that the opposition has
made concessions of the greatest impor-
lance. But one of the difficulties of the stu
alton is that the department is precluded
from making that fact officially known, out
of regard for the obstacles that would prob
ably be placed in the way of the conclusion
of the agreement by those elements in Can
ada and this country who are opposed to
any sacrifice.
Secretary Hay left Washington this after
noon for his summer home in New Hamp-
vivendi respecting the Alaska boundary are
In such shape that no delay will ensue from
his absence. The agreement settled by
the secretary and Mr.. Tower, the British
charge, having just reached London. it is
expected that the Foreign Office will send
it to Canada to learn the views Of Sir Will
frid Laurier. Should he approve the pa
perS must go back to London and even be
returned in duplicate to Washington before
the modus will stand as actually. All
of these moves expected to consume
many days or even weeks. though, of
course, cable notice Of the approval of the
agreement by the British authorities may
considerably shorten the period.
The annual report of General Dumont
the supervising inspector general Of steam
boat inspection. shows that the total num-
the year was 4s, of which Z were from fire.
IL collisions, breaking steam pipes ex-
plosons and IS from snags, wrecks and
sinking. The loss of life was 4O4 an in
crease over the previous year of 123. OF
this number the cause of death in Sc cases
was accidental drowning, 213 from wrecks,
etc., Ii from fire, 81 from collisions "a from
explosions or accidental escape of steam,
and 81 from miscellaneous causes. OF the
hnln ,t,nN nxn
belonged to crews of vessels. The increase
in the loss of life this year over the year
1897 was due to the loss of the steamer
Portland OFF the Massachusetts coast dur
ing a gale on the night of Nov. q, 1885,
wherein every soul on board, 127, perished
In view of the fact that some of the mari
time nations charge fees for the inspection
of steam vessels belonging to other nations
the advisability is suggested of amending
Section 400 OF the Revised Statutes as
to provide that foreign passenger steamers
inspected In the United States shall be
charged the same fees that the nation to
which such vessels belong would charge
American steam vessels If engaged in trade
with such nationality, giving the secretary
of the treasury the power, however, in such
amended statute to discontinue the colec-
ton of fees in the case of vessels of any
nation which shall reciprocate in the nom
collection or enforcement Of such inspec-
General Dumont recommends that the Of
flee of assistant supervising inspector be
created.
The report shows that at the Evansville
station two masters were licensed during
the past fiscal year, thirty-four mates.
twelve pilots, one joint pilot and engineer,
ten engineers, two engineers of motor ves-
sells other than steam, the total of licenses
granted to rivermen being sixty-one.
Stewart Castle, the old home of Senator
Stewart, of Nevada, the scene of some of
the most sumptuous entertainments ever
given in this country was sold to-day by
the senator and Mrs Stewart to Senator
Clark of Montana. The terms of sale were
not made known. Stewart Castle is a land
Senator Stewart many years ago, and later
it was occupied by the Chinese legation. 1t
is believed Senator Clark will erect a large
residence on the site of the historic struc-
ture, which occupies conspicuous corner
on Dupont circle, in the heart of the fash
ionable section.
Jesse B. Montsolf, of Mulberry, Ind. was
to-day appointed a teacher In the Indian
school at the Rosebud Agency.
The annual report of the geological survey
relative to the production of coke in the
United States shows that Indiana has two
establishments and ninety-four ovens built
and in operation. The amount of coal used
ovens was $3.50 short tons, and the coke
produced therefrom amounted to 2325 tons,
valued at $4.6S6 an average value Of 81
ton.
The Postoffice Department to-day accepted
the proposition of F. T. Singleton to enlarge
the quarters now occupied by the postof1ce
present lease at $500 per annum. The pro-
rCSed improvements the pOStoffice by the