Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-04-07
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.

Government service under them.
We have to write few words in reply. Whom
the clerks under the Government stood in need
of a friend, they found enc in the Star-one
laboring with all possible zeal, and laboring
successfully, too, to better their condition.
We refer to the occasion when Congress were
to determine whether or not to increase their
compensation. Subsequently We have suffered
no opportunity to pass wherein We could do
them, as o class, good turn. Those now in
charge of public affairs here have striven
to equali1s the iabOrs Of those for
the proper discharge of whose duties they are
responsible. This is a fact too notorious to
be contradicted. The result has been that for
the last year or two there have been less com.
plants of unfairness and inequality in the
amount Of duty required from gentlemen in
public employment here, than ever before.
We never before knew a time, in all our ex-
periencs in Washington, when the great mass
of the Government clerks in this city were as
we'll satisfied with the distribution of their
duties as throughout the past year This great
mass are faithful men, and we purpose to look
out for their interest only in this connection.
We are not willing to see the faithful nanp
,Vr iRe Accommodation of the un
faithful few. Hence the paragraph to which
" Clerks" evidently enc of tho latter class,
takes exception. We believe the best way to
prevent the recurrence OF a state of things
under which A, B and must do the work in
addition 10 their own, for doing which D is
paid out CT the Treasury. is to stop the prac-
tioe in the bud to which we referred. Every
Administration on being seated in power here
strives to work reforms. Yet it is rare to find
their good intentions holding out more than
two years. This is fact notorious to all old
residents of Washington. In this case the two
years have just passed. AS it is necessary for
the real interest of the great mass of the Gov
ernmsnt's employees at this point, we felt it
to De our duty to note publicly the first evil
donces Of disposition On the part of few
persons to break the rule which has operated
go much for the comfort CT the so great majority
Of the clerks who strive consoisntiously to dis
charge their whole duty.
We took it for granted that those to whom
honest labor is irksome would iud fault with
the paragraph in question, and mis,epresent
and misapply it, as does the writer to whom
We are replying, who is evidently some clerical
politician by trade, whose chief aim is to
threw upon his colleagues the labors which he
should, rigatfuly, perform while absent from
his post on one pretenco or another. Ee is
conscious that the cap fits him, and SO lacks
brains as to step forward and put it on His
whole article bears evidence that he feels our
remarks IS applicable directly to himself
We are content that he should thus appro
pirate them. and LIE may groWl at US to his
hearts content. But We have to assure him
that when we again End him throwing labors
on his colleagues, for doing which an 1,ropyia
persona he is regularly paid, VIC shall take
the liberty, for the credit Of the many honor
able and faithful gentlemen on whom he brings
disoredit, Of correcting his dsrelictions before
they come to e pass which may m Ike it neces
sary to deprive his wife and children Of bread
for the sake Of the services in which he ia
noIninaiiy engaged.
Characteristic. seems that the Legisla.
ture of Massachusetts were somewhat unfor-
tunate in thsir selections for the low 80 infa-
nous smelling committee. the committee
to visit AID examine those shocking PLACES,
tie female schools kept By Sisters of Charity,
whose good works have been the theme OF
praise of the philanthropic, the enlighs.
ened and the truly honorable for half centu.
~ at least. Proof of this fact il to be found
IN the following which we take from a late
number of the Boston Herald. The manner
les to which the editor refers as having beer
visited by this man, are houses of ill. fame:
EXTRAORDINARY LABORs OF ONE OF THE
COMMITTEE ON NUSEERIES One of the COM
mittee OF the Legislature, appointed to exam
Inc the nunneTies of the commonwealth. mar
tormed some extraordinary fe ats in the way of
Investigation last evening and suffered SINE
WHAT In consequence. This gentleman, who
represents town in western Massachusetts
voted for the new liquor law, and has distin.
gulshed himself by his zeal in searching for
hldJen iniquiIies in our nunneries Yesterday
ne visited Lowell, with others Of the commit.
tee, for the purpose Of visiting the nunneries
Of that city, and last evening he mad tour
OF inspection among the aunneries of thu
Nor:h End in this city.
Inc last nunnery visited By this indefati-
gable member of the committee i'm Endicott
street, and it appears that the nuns in that in.
stltutlon treated him very badly, for when he
emerged from its clustered walls, he was ex.
cessively ine6riated, and his pockets had been
cleaned OF every red cent. A gang of boys
followed and surrounded him until ho was
tak:n iute the National House, and kindly
provided for during the night
'Wili not the Legislature pass an order TO
indemnify the Committee on Nunnories for the
extraordinary labors and expenses incurred
by them in their vocation? These visits to
Nunneries, especially those established in this
city, arc awfully expensive"
1t will, doubtless, striko all right thinking
men that it Is by no means wonderful that the
now famous committee behaved themselves
like blacksrards and brutes in the female
school in Ro1bury, with such men as is de.
scnbed above among its members. Pretty fell.