St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1911-12-27
SCARE ABOUT CUSTOMS
Department Wants to Consolidate
the Vermont Districts
The Pension Bill.

Washington, Christmas Day, 1911
Caledonian friends:
1t isn't exactly a green Christmas,
but it certainly is not a white one.
To date not flake of snow has fall
len here yet Plenty of rain, tho,
and still it comes.
The matter of a second rural free
delivery route from the Danville
postoff1ce is not finally determined
yet, but there is little doubt that
it will be authorized if the special
agent who is to personally inspect
conditions there reports the request
favorably. The inspection is ex-
pected soon after the holidays. Ger
tainly the people of Danville should
have no difficulty in convincing him
of the propriety of the additional
route. Nothing has lately been heard
of the agitation for return of the
old star route service up Joe's brook
from East Barnet to South Danville
and Danville via Harvey, and it is
not considered likely that the effort
to resurrect the route will be sue
ceSSful.
Something of a scare is started
in Vermont customs circles by the
proposition of the treasury depart
ment to consolidate the states two
collection districts into one, with
official headquarters at ST. Albans.
This scheme emanates from the fer
tile mind of Assistant Secretary Cur
tbs of the treasury, who is the secre-
tary in charge of the customs ser
vice, and who allows that the idea
is solely and only to provide for a
more economical administration of
the service. However, those who
are much better acquainted with the
situation than Mr.. Curtis are firmly
of the opinion that no saving in
costs of operation would be affected
by such an innovation. 1t is pointed
out that the government building at
St. Albans is far too small to accom-
modate such a force as would be
necessary, as it's area is now fully
taken up by the postoff1ce and the
small branch of the customs service
already located therein. Likewise,
it is extremely doubtful if the one
district resulting from such consoi-
dation could do the business with
any less force than is now required
by BOTH Mr.. Curtis has started the
ball rolling by presenting his views
as to why the change should be made
| to the House committee on eXpendi-
lures in the treasury department,
but the matter is as yet only in an
embryo condition in the minds of
the committee and a report is not
likely for some time. Vermonters
here are showing no alarm over the
possibility of the success of Mr.. Cur
tis' scheme.
AS the work of the various COM
mittees is very largely held up by
the holiday recess no progress can
be reported as to the pension or
oleo bills, which are of special in
terest to Vermonters. The present
condition of the service pension bill
now in the archives of the senate
pension committee is more mixed
and uncertain than ever. 1t is init
mated that the democratic senators
are very largely opposed to the
House bill, and unless it is very con-
siderably amended by the senate
committee that party in the senate
would be responsible for it's death
on record vote. However, it will
be reported with change of title
and many amendments, after which
the situation or result is beyond
even prophecy.
George H. Bickford of the Wood
bury granite company, VINO mas
been here several weeks looking af-
ter the contract to furnish the stone
for the new postoffice here, left Sat
urday to spend the holidays with his
family at DeLand, Florida. At a
hearing held that day before the sec
retary of the treasury as to the re-
spective merits of the different vari-
eties of stone under consideration |
Mr. Bickford received very decided |
encouragement that his goods would |
be selected and that he would re-
ceive the contract.
A large majority of the members |
of both houses, including Senators
Dillingham; and Page and Represen-
tative Plumley, are now ensconced |
in the chimney corner in their re-
spective homes, and the empty cor
ridors only resound to the scuffle
of the colored help as they make
their rounds with mop and broom.
All quiet on the Potomac until next
Wednesday, when business will be-
gin to hum again and continue with
increasing momentum for the Good
Lord only knows how long. We can
only grid UP our suspenders and
hope for the BEST
Acting under civil service COM
mission instructions the postmaster
of Riley w. Densmore as postmast-
er at East Burke and the appoint
ment will be made Immediately.
J. e. HARRIS.