The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-04-21
Will Soon Return to His Anderson
Home and Begin n Campaign for
the Governorshfp.
TESTS FOR OFFICE SEEKERS
HOW APPLICANTS FOR CENSUS
PLACES WILL BE EXAMINED.
Denial Of the Report that Ale
ger VIII Resign-RemovaI OF
Claude vi. Johnson Requested.
Special to the 1ndIansipolIs Journal.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, April 20.-Col. W. II.
Durbin, OF the One-hundred-and-sixty-f first
Indiana Volunteers, is in Washington as
sisting the officials OF the War Department
in closing up the accounts of the officers OF
his regiment. By giving his personal atten-
tion to this matter he has been able TO
greatly facilitate the business While hero
he is making an effort to arrange for the
transportation of the regiment by way OF
Washington, and if he can do this the In
diana boys will stop off at the capital and
be reviewed by the President. Counting
everything in, the boys Of the One-hundred-
and-sixty-first will have five months and a
half pay due them when they are mustered
out on the 3Oth at Savannah. The One
hundred-and-sixtieth is to be mustered out
on the 18th.
Colonel Durbin will formally inaugurate
his campaign for the gubernatorial nomi-
nation soon after he returns home He viii
not discuss his candidacy at the present
time. but allows the impression 10 go out
that he will not keep Indiana waiting long
in ignorance of his presence. Colonel Dur
bin is accompanied on his trip TO Washing
ton by Major Smith and by Lieut. Fletcher
Durbin. his son. They have been granted a
five days leave of absence.
Hospital Steward Clinton B. Henderson.
now on furlough at Versailles, is ordered to
report TO the commanding officer at Fort
MeHenry' Maryland 70. duty.
John W. Davis. letter carrier at New AL
bany. was to-day promoted from 5000 to $50
per annum. -
The rural free mail delivery service viii
be established at Shadeland, Ind, on May
l. with Richard n. Severn as carrier. He
will cover an area of seventeen miles. serv-
ing population OF 400.
Secretary of War AIger has cabled to
Governor General Brooke an order extend
ing the majority of all liabilities scollected
by the judicial sale of real estate" until
May i, 1901, but II shall only apply to
liabilities incurred prior to Jan. i, 1889. the
date of the REIMBURSEMENT of Spanish au-
thority. The Cuban planters, who pre-
sented the question to the administration,
are fairly well satisfied with the order and
have returned home. They pleaded earnest
ly for remission OF portion OF the in
terest, which, in some cases. ran as high
as "a per cent, but acquiesced finally in
the view that TO interfere with the rate OF
interest would be the impairment Of ex-
listing contracts. The extension granted
make a crop before any of the obligations
will mature. and in the course of the ex-
tension period it is believed the debtors
and creditors will in most cases be able
to adjust their differences.
The most expert pathologist OF the Agri-
cultural Department, DIR. Zwingle. is
| in Morocco on a mission which Ike de-
partment hopes will launch a new and
of our Southwest. 1t has been found that
date palms, with some irrigation. will grow
well in Arizona as in Arabia. Early
Mormon settlers in the Territory proved
this many years ago. but the trees were
not OF the best variety and date growing
never developed industry. The Agr5-
cultural Department has prepared to push
the experiment on an extensive scale, how
ever DR.. Zwingle is making a close study
of the African date palm, selecting the very
finest varieties and those best adapted TO
cur arid region. These young trees viii be
carefully shipped TO Arizona. where they
will be planted and cared for under the
close supervision of the departments ex-
perts. The plants will cost the department
about s. each laid down in Arizona
A positive denial is given from an un-
doubted source to the reports that a change
is contemplated in the Cabinet of Presi-
dent Mckinley by the retirement OF Sec
retary Alger.
Director Merriam has promulgated rules
for the examination OF applicants for ap-
pointment in the Census Office TO any grade
higher than OF laborers." The efforts TO
incorporate in the law providing for the
taking of the twelfth census a civil-service
provision was unsuccessful, and Director
Merriam therefore found himself threatened
at the outset with evils which might rem
der unsuccessful his most earnesS. and de-
voted efforts to have the best work done
within the shortest practicable period for
the benefit of the country, well as 10 sus-
tain and add to his own high reputation
as a business man and an administrative
officer. In the hope Of averting such dis
aster the most stringent rules within the
scope of executive authority have been es-
tablished. Under the law such rules cannot
apply in the case Of enumerators or special
agents or to employees below the grade OF
skilled laborers at 500 a year. The rules
recognize two lists OF applicants eligible to
appointment-a list Of all those who earn
a marking not below 20 and "a list Of extra
eligibles." such as familiarity with the elec-
trical counting machines used In the elev-
enth census. ability 10 make calculations by
the aid Of tables OF logarIthms. the slide
rule and familiarity with the arithomefer
or other adding and calculating machines.
All applications for appointment are TO be
examined in photography. copying. penman-
ship. arithmetic. elements OF the English
language. letter writing and elements OF
geography. history and government OF the
United States. and also subjected to the