The Mena star., 1899-04-06
GOVERNMENT SAMTARUM
The Marine Hospital Service to Use Fort Stanton for a Place
 for Consumptives.
ORDER MODIFYING THE CIVIL SERVICE.
One Expected from the President Which VIII Take Ont of the Classified Service About 5000 P.aces-Iekai Opinion on the Canteen Question-Co Comm mission on the Samoan Trouble.

the Canteen Question-Com on
 the Samoan Trouble.
 Washington, April 5.--The old aban- doned Fort Stan ten military reserva- tion in New Mexico was by executive order yesterday turned over to the marine hospital service to be used as a sanitarium for consumptives in the army and navy. Surgeon General Wyman, of the marine Hospital corps, has for long time been'o the belief that consumption. when taken in the early stages, can be cured by removing the sufferer to proper climate and by according him the proper treat ment It was through Dr. Wyman's efforts that the president decided to turn over the Fort Stanton reserva- tion to the marine hospital corps in order that the experimental curing the consumptives in the army and navy might be given fair trial. The res ervation consists of about 10, ,O00 acres of beautiful land. There are on it a number of buildings which, with inn provements, can be made available for sanitarium purposes As soon as the reservation has been put in the proper shape for receiving and caring for con- sumptives all sufferers from this dreadful disease in the army and navy will be ordered there. In case the ex- pertinent achieves all that Dr. Wyman confidently expects it will, the accom- modations there will be so enlarged as to admit of the care there of all em- ployes of the government who become afflicted with consumption.
 Order Modifyine the Civil ssrvice.
 Washington. April 5.--The heads of departments are confidently expecting from the white house within the next few days an order modifying the civil service. The best opinion of the char acter of the order to be issued is that it will take out of the classified serv- ice about 1000 places in the customs, internal revenue and post office serv- ices. all private secretaries, and. very probably, the employees of the govern ment printing office. The civil serv- ice commission will acquiesce grace fully in the changes, principally for the reason that the places which will be taken out of the classified serv- ice are places which should never have been put under it The civil service commission has all along ad- mitted that the placing of private secretaries under the civil service was mistake. As one of the commission CTS pointed out when the question was under discussion, it would be impos- sible for the commission to frame an examination for the position of pri- vate secre tary, as the qualities which make a man desirable secretary are almost altogether of a personal char acter. While the number of places which will be taken out of the classi- fled service by the presidential order will not be very large in comparison to the whole number of places in the services. nevertheless it is certain to give great deal of satisfaction. for the reason that the places which are to be exempted are so widely distrib- uted.
 Legal Opinion on the Csnteen Question.
 Washington, April 5.-The secretary of war recently requested the opinion of the attorney general as to whether section IF of the act passed at the last session of congress ''increasing the efficiency of the army" prohibits the continuance of the sale of intoxicating drinks by the government in the can teen sections of the post exchanges, which are organized and maintained at the various army posts and encamp- ments throughout the United States. The attorney general, in his reply, holds that the section in question does not prohibit the continuance of the sale of intoxicating drinks through the canteen sections as heretofore or ganized and carried on, except that no officer or enlisted man can be detailed for duty iu the canteen section to do the selling.
 The Samoan Trouble.
 Washington, April 5-Lord Sails bury has accepted the plan proposed by Germany for the settlement of the Samoan trouble by the appointment of a tripartite commission. The ac- ceptance is on the broad principle only and the details of the arrange met are yet to be agreed upon. As the United States has already accepted the general proposition there is no longer doubt as to the organization of the commission.
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