Omaha daily bee., 1902-08-14

Minor scenes ana Incidents sketched
on the spot.


81 the spot.
A fine bunch Of old barnaoles have been
pried loose from the pay roll Of the pension
bureau. They loved their work and the
pay attached to Il. and they loved booze
a little more. Force OF habit and oficial
lenienoF made them think their lapses we're
for the good of the service. when. how
ever, the new commissioner fresh from
prohibition Kansas found them BOOKING and
snoo1ine during working hours. a warning
signal was hoistedS III you like your Job,
forsake the bottle" The old boys scofed
At the signal, and. proceeded to irrigate with
fresh vigor. Then the commlssioner's
wrath rose to the emergency and a large
bunch Of boozers were turned out into the
cold world. and no one was allowed to
come back. One result Of the bounce is
the absence OF Glove and lemon peel doors
In the bureau.
Besides the JOLT given the boozers. the
commissioners served motive on his clerks
that they must pay their legitimate bills or
seek employment elsewhere. Booking and
beating viii seon be among the lost arts OF
the bureau % I5t
The much-ooveted medal Of honor be-
slowed on onicers and enlisted mon Of the
army for exceptional acts OF personal hero
ism .is. hve-pointed star of bronze. tipped
with ~trefoil. each point containing q crown
of laurel and oak. In the center, within n
circle OF thirty-four stars, America. per-
sonined as Minerva, stands with her left
hand resting on the fasces. while with her
right. In which she holds a shield en-
blazoned with the American arms, she re-
pulses Discord. represented by two makes
In each hand. The whole IL suspended by q
trophy Of two crossed cannons, balls and
q sword surmounted by the American eagle.
.f 60
JfR. Page Of the New York government
assay once and f. w. Bradock Of the Mint
bureau In Washington during the last month
have counted more than s26. 900. 900 In loose
change which Uncle Sam has stored IN the
New Orleans mint Every coin passed
through the hands Of one or the other Of
these expert ~teilers, and careful tally was
kept. Among the other coins were II, oOO,-
600 standard silver dollars, 81, 5000, 900 in
gold coins and subsidiary coinage, and
about 100000 worth Of silver bullion.
These two men went to New Orleans re-
Gently and at once began the task of ac-
counting for every dollar in money repre-
sented In the accounts Of the superintend-
emit OF the money mandatory. They have
just completed the work.
'tl'f.t oN =---
The noted dynamite cruiser vesuvius,
which, used to cough thunderbolts around
Santiago some years ago. is about to be
consigned to the naval Junk pile. The
three 6fteen-inch pneumatic tubes and all
the intricate machinery Of the unique craft
are to be taken out, discarded as useless
and sold. while the hull Of the vessel is
put TO some other purpose. The vessel 10
now out OF commission. It has been for
most Of the time since the Spanish war,
during which It participated in. the blockade
on Santiago. and did work Of more or less
controversy. the Ppeumatic Gun Carriage
and Power compahy, who own the patents
for the dynamite guns, claiming that the
craft worked havoc with the coast de-
lenses, while many naval officers have not
healtated to cay b the vessel was proved
worthless In that campaign. The vesuvius
represents an outlay. Of $S50.00o.
er' sfF -
A statement issued by the Civil Service
commission gives some interesting data OF
special Interest to people anxious TO get On
Uncle Sans pay roll. According to the
statement the total number OF positions at
present In the executive civil service Is
about t2S6, Sz6. ~sof this number Ill 40 are
classified competitive. 11.7es classified ex-
cepted and 1884 20 pnelassiaed. In the de-
partment proper and, the independent o1ices
in Washington there are about 20.07s posi-
lions, Of which 1s.z2s are classified competi-
tive positions. 2s6 classified excepted. ss1
unciassined presidential, and 2.e7s below
classification About 21e.24s positions are
in branches Of the service outside Of
washington, Of, which s4.Ti7 are classified
competitive, it,4So, classified excepted. LII
unclasssned presidential and 1os,s4o below
classification.
The 1855 onacials Of the consular service
are not included in the above figures. The
reason assigned for excepting positions from
the operation OF the rules 10 that the duties
pertaining to them are OF such character
that the qualifications Of persons for APP
pointment cannot be adequately tested In
the manner and by the examinations pro-
vided BY the civil service rules.
ABANDONING THE MISSOURI.