Washington Standard

A Permanent Appointment—We have been informed that Mr. Laighton, the Special Agent of the United States Treasury Department for the North Pacific Coast, has taken up his abode in Victoria where he with his family can ponder. If this be true, we think that the attention of the Department in Washington should be called to it. No Federal officer in the United States, by caprice or otherwise can reside in a foreign country unless specially directed to do so and as to reside, if one can "permitted to break this rule, why another cannot do the same? The Collector of Oregon has the right to live in Victoria that the Agent of the Treasury Department has to reside there. The business of the San Juan officers have hitherto virtually made Victoria their headquarters, and now another of our officials goes to reside under the English flag. Our Territory is poor enough, and requires every cent of Government patronage that can be expended in this section. If Mr. Laighton requires fine air and a healthful climate, he should come to Olympia, where other Government officials think the society and the flag good enough for them. We ask Mr. Flanders to look into this matter, and whether the question be pertinent or impertinent, we intend to agitate it until we can have the residences of United States officials upon the American side of the Straits of Fuca.