Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1838-06-08

abused, and the readiness and almost tele
graphic despatch with which the wires o
patty machinery are felt throughout ano
from the most distant parts Of the Union
may be mag ned after reading this laconiC
note written by Mr. Van Buren,, soon altel
entering on the duties Of Secretary Of State
10 gentleman in Louisiana.
washington, April 90, 1929.
Nv Dear Sir IL have the honor of nc
knowledging the receipt Of your letter Of the
2ls, ult and ofinlorming you that the re-
movals and appointments you recommend
were made on the day yourletter was leceiv'
ed. With respect, your friend, &c.
NJ VAN BUREN,"
And, so far from being willing to reduce
the number of clerks in his Department, as
the People were induced to believe would
be done, Mr. Van Buren,, when called on
for that purpose, saw the whole affair
through new medium, and replied my
opinion is, that there can be no reduction in
the number OF officers employed in the De-
partment (of State,) without detriment TO the
public interest !" And yet the Retrench
ment Committee, when Mr. Clay was in that
Department, reported '1hat they felt satisfi-
ed that, had the officer at its head concurred
with them in the opinion, they might have
presented plan for not only gradual re-
duction Of the number ofclerkS, but for an
actual increase in the efficiency Of their la.
bors"
When the Department Of War passed in.
to the hands OF John II. Eaton, a JEALOUS re-
former, he. too, was called upon to carry out
his retrenchment system, and reduce the
number of his clerks, in the flllilment oflhe
public expectation, which he and others had
excited To the surprise of all, he referred
the subject to the CLERKS themselves and
here, sir, is his reply:
"War Department, Jan. 81, 1880
Sir:-I have the honor 10 lay before YOU
reports from the several bureaus connected
with the War Department, on the subject Of
a resolution Of the 9Th inst. referred to me
BY the Committee on Retrenchment Res
pccluly, J II. EATON"
Charles A. WicklifTe Esq"
These bureaus, so far from agreeing TO
part with any OF their eseUieheons, actually
asked for an additional supply Thus en-
led that farce
Another Preccpk This rrlrenchment re-
port alleged that our diplomatic relations |
and foreign intercourse were unnecessarily |
expensive, and recommended "a fixed ap. |
for the contingencies of each /
mission" Tin no case exceeding 5000 ian. |
nually,) to cover the expenses Of stationary, |
postage Office, clerk hire, and all other con-
ingencics whatsoever"
Let us see the practice. Andrew Steven |
son, our Minister at London, is allowed for |
these contingencies, including presents to
The mental officers and servants Of the Court, !
and others. on his presentation. and at
Christmas S2,09S So, in the space OF about
a year! The like expenses of nearly all
our other foreign missions are in correspon.
dent ratio.
Professionally grade OF our Foreign
Ministers was 10 be reduced in SONS instan.
,cs especially that al Madrid to a Charge.
with salary ofS4,50O.
Praetice.-A Minister Plenpotentiary
mas been kept at Madrid constantly, and
John H. Eaton is now there OH n salary OF
$4,000, having also received his outfit oilhe
same amount. And during the last session
ot Congress an attmept was made to an
crease the salaries Of all our foreign Minis.
ers
Aaothcr preeept Of the reforming report
The committee thought the mode of zap
pointing and compromising bearers Of des.
patches liable TO strong objections, prone to
degenerate into species OF favoritism little
hort OF convenient mode OF sending favor
les abroad TO travel for their pleasure,
health, or instruction, out Of the public cof-
ers"
DrorI,r, The
airy of State, both Jackson-reformers, now
akea favorite clerk Of the State Depart.
nent, whose salary al the time was at the
ate OF SLIGO per year, send him MS bearer of
lespac hes to Mexico. and, for about three
months service, pay him Sl2l2 SO. and SUI.
er him also 10 draw his clerks salary for
he period of his absence For this | refer
you to the case OF Robert Greenhow, who is
he translating clerk ofthat Department : all
he facts ofthe case being stated in the re-
'oris of the Secretary He excuses this
by snying that the transalions
which were required during Mr. Greenhow's
bsence were made at his expense. Ii mipbt
re well 10 inquire whether any TRANSACTIONS
we're required during that period, and why
lso 1t would not have been quite as we'll to
discontinue the salary for the time, aud let
he Government pay for any. TRANSACTIONS
which were needed. But do we not here
distinctly realize what the retrenchment re.
'ort condemned in these words: that an I
ctual incumbent is considered to have such
sort of property in the office as to enable I
nm TO farm out its duties, and 10 receive /
art of its revenues for doing nothing2" {
Another illustration of this convenient
node of sending favorites abroad" "out of
he pnblc coaersn is fund In lhn sannn Ii.