The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-05-30
To be Amended By the
President.
FOUR THOUSAND EXCEPTIONS
Made to Classified List-Cabinet Diss
cusses Cuban shipping and Postal
Franks I'm Cuba and Porto Rfco-Ad.
His Itinerary Not Known-Senate
Finance Committee TO Meet-RetaIia-
tory Measures Against Canada

Washington, May 26.-At the cabinet
meeting today final changes in the
civil service order were approved and
the order will be ready for the prest-
dents signature as soon as the changes
are incorporated in the final draft OF
the document. All the members OF the
cabinet expressed themselves as salts
fed with it. 1t is said the order Will
exempt about 1000 Of the $1,000 posi-
tons in the classified service.
The question of Cuban shipping was
again brought up by Secretary cage,
who also furnished some data showing
that the amount of shipping tied up
because it has no flag to sail under
has been greatly exaggerated. The
question, with the data, furnished by
treasury department, was turned
over to the attorney general and Secre-
tary Hay for examination and report.
TOO MUCH FRANKING In CUBA
AND PORTO RICO.
Postmaster General Smith brought
up the question of the ranking privi-
lege in Cuba and Porto Rico. The post
master general cad a letter from Ma
jor Rathbone, who is at the head of
the postal affairs in Cuba, saying that
the number of persons exercising this
privilege now was excessive and the
question arose as to whether it would
not be wise to cut the privilege off
altogether. No decision was reached.
QUESTION OF POSTOFFICE AT
LAKE CITY. S. C.
The postmaster general has decided to
send a special agent to Lake City, S. c.,
Far Tho 1>r,n ~ ava Mining the still
alton there with a view to determining
whether or not a postOffice shall be re-
established there.
FREIGHT RATES TO THE SEA-
BOARD.
The Interstate commits
sion will give hearings on the question
of rates upon export and domestic traf-
fc in grain n grain products in chi
cage on June 18th and in st. Louis on
June 18th. 1t is proposed to secure evil
dence showing all important changes
which have taken place in rates to the
Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico ports of
s e>ments of grain and grain products,
an1 lie reasons why such changes were
made.
DEWEY TO ARRIVE IN OCTOBER.
Admiral Dewey t~elegraphs the navy
department that he will stop at Varl-
ons places on his way to the United
J States and will reach New York abo1t
October 1St.
Admiral Dewey's dispatch did not
enumerate the points where the Olym-
pia will touch en- route to New York.
1t may be that an effort will be made
to ascertain these for the benefit OF
the officials of some of the towns, es-
pecially along the Mediterranean, who
may desire to tax official notice of the
visit to their ports of the distinguish
n1 naval officer and his famous fla o.
ship.
Some of Dewey's friends in the navy
department suspect that the admiral is
purposely eVading a statement of his
itinerary, desiring to avoid as far as
possible all demonstrations. His
friends here intimate that, having been
obliged by his health to decline to at
tend the dinner at Hong Kong in honor
of the queens birthday, a very unusual
d~eclination, Admiral Dewey will find
it impossible to depart from he rule
he there established n attend any
banquets or popular demonstrations in
this country .
SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE TO
MEET.
Senator Aldrich, chairman of the
senate committee on finance, has issu-
ed a call for a meeting of that COM
mfttee to be held at the Fifth Avenue
motel, NEW IOIh, III III IL VI odhO'
1t is considered probable that the COM
mittee will authorize a subcommittee
consisting of the republican members
to take up the financial question with
the view of recommending a bill to the
next session of congress.
RETALIATORY STEPS TOWARD
CANADA.
There is little doubt that our gov
eminent is inclined to retaliatOry con-
siderations against Canada by the dis
~couraging results of the negotiations in
London, looking to the clearing of the
field for the re-aSsembling of the Ca
madam joint commission. 1t is gather
ed that the British foreign office, which
had seemed desirous to meet Mr..
Choate's advances in the spirit Of COM
promise that promised well, has been
again influenced by C~anada's refusal
to agree to any less han a concession
of all of their demands which has
stopped all progress.