The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-02-14
Sweeping Order Contem-
plated by the President.
.PAYNE'S A FORERUNNER
Postmaster General Carrying Out
the Executives Views.
BLACK EYE FOR sPoILs HUNTERS
Fourth-CIass Postmasters May Serve
for Life If They but Behave
themselves.

building, Washtngton.
Washington, Feb. 14.-It is now sappar-
ent that Postmaster General Payne, IN
Issuing his famous order that fourth
class postmasters shall not be removed at
the will Of congressman and Others, was
interpreting President Roosevelt's ideas
as to the merit system in the federal SER
vice. If Mr. Payne can carry out the new
rule he will do much to reform the most
fragrant of postofice abuses. He thinks
that the present is a good time in which
to put the new rule into effect, for there
can be no valid party reason for changing
the incumbents appointed under Mr..
Smith and President Mckinley. At best
such changes must be sought in the inter-
ests of one republican faction against an
other, and .With-these the administration
need not concern itself. -:
The president is said to be considering
putting fourth-class postmasters formally
under the civil service cloak, making
their terms for life or good behavior.
This is step further than that taken by
Postmaster, General Payne, but it is the
logical result of that officials action.
The president has not yet made up his
mind but is seriously considering the mat
ter. 1t is said that nothing in that dl-
action, although. there are differences OF
opinion on that point. 1t is conceded now
that the postmaster generals order is
perhaps nothing more than an entering
! wedge for a. presidential policy that will
interfere seriously with the. spoils hunt
erS. T%S r.
/ NELSON HAS Senator Nelson is with
.. a congressional party and
ADVENTURE Minister W.T. returning
= -, .@$.s:7 from Michigan, which
narrowly escaped wreck last night IN tne
depot grounds at Fort Wayne, Ind Mel
son and other senators and representa-
tives have been in Michigan making ad-
dresses on the Lincoln birthday, ami
versary. The two big observancese OF the
day in that state were at Kalamazoo and
Grand Rapids. portion of thescongres-
sional party spoke lat one place and
portion at the other. FL "
CENSUS Secretary Hltchcocks re-
=- port to the senate on the
CLERKS number and salaries of
employees in the census
office shows that total number, of all
classes on the rolls Feb. 13 was 2,29S.
OF those above the grade of skilled labor
Ler. 145 are temporary clerks, appointed
for temporary work. This force originally
numbered about 1000, but has been re-
duced from time to time as their work
was completed and the services Of all
will be dispensed with in few days. The
report shows that ninety-one clerks and
other employees are from Minnesota, ten
| from North Dakota. fifteen from South
Dakota, sixty-three from Wisconsin and
seventy from Iowa.
| AS an offset to a possible charge of IA
voriteism on Director Merriam's part for
| having appointed an excess Of clerks from
Minnesota, it is only necessary to point
out that there are ninety-fve employees
from the District of Columbia and ninety
three from Maryland, neither of which is
| entitled to as many places as Minnesota.
| FUNDS FOR Indian Agent Chamber
lain of Grow Creek, S. D.
THE CROWS. is here to urge the dis.
| -: tribution of the fund O.
$16S 900, now in the treasury to the credi
| of that tribe. He proposes to use sou,
! 600 for the purchase of stock, the re
mainder to be distributed among the In
dians in semi annual installments to bt
fixed by the secretary of the interior
Agent Somers of the Lower Brule agenc!
is here to urge the ratification of the
treaty made with that tribe for the ces
| sion of some of their lands.
~. w. w. Jermane.