Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-01-24

1 VI tHeil sudden Cndnge OF front In this
particular Is found in the fact that they are aware
that the South Americans and Democrats, when
they may again ballot, will in all probability vote
almost as unit for some conservative gentleman.
the time in the opinion OF both having arrived
| when union Of their forces is absolutely neces-
sary to render it certain that Helperite shall be
| installed into the Speakershp. Up to the term
| nation OF their sessions Of last week the South
Americans evidently entertained hopes that sooner
or later the Republicans would abandon Sherman
and concentrate upon some other Of their number
| equally hostile to the National Administration
whose antecedents have been more conservati ve
than those of their present candidate That il to
say, upon any Republican not VIGOROUSLY Hell.
| perite in the tone of his abolitionism
| IL being now certain, however, that half the
| slgners Of the Helper-boOk manifesto In the Hall
refuse, to the bitter end to vote for anv one not a.
ultra on the slavery question as themselves-and
therefore as objecto nable to the South as Mr. Sher
man himself-the South Americans perceive that
| the hour has arrived when they must terminate
| the contest, and in such manner as will not al
most necessarily lead to the triumph Of Helperism
| IN the approaching great contest Of 1850
| PURsERs IN TIE NAvY.-The communication
hereto appended is well worthy Of the attention of
Congress. 1t is from the pen Of veteran Purser's
| Clerk, now in service OH foreign station His
statements and suggestions carry with them
weight of truth and proprety to which our pen
can add nothing:
Editor Star: I'm the annual report of the Secre
| tary Of the Navy to the Congress of 1859 an
| increase of the navy was recommended Including
the addition of fifteen or twenty Pursers Evi,
dent as 1t was, at that time, that an ad.
ditiomal number of officers in that department of
| the navy was actually necessary, il has since be-
come much more so; for besides the five first class
| and seven second class screw propellers which
! were then being built, and all Of which are now
| or soon will be placed in commission the seven
| vessels chartered for TIE Paraguay Expedition
| have since been purchased by our Government
| and added to the Navy, making, in all an adj
dltlon OF nineteen vessels during the wear J.59
At the time Of the fitting out Of the Paraguay
| Expedition, In consequence Of the deficiency Of
fursers, although the number authorized by law
was filled up, no less than twelve of the vessels
| attached to that squadron were without actual
| futsers; and, In consequence, the commanding
/ officers Of those vessels were called upon to per
| form the extra duty of acting Pursers Now.
| as most OF tue vessels which have of late been
/ added 10 our navy are OF the smaller class OF
| steamers, would ask, with all due difference to
| the able report Of the Hon Secretary if 1t would
not be more advisable, instead of increasing the
| present number of Pursers, to establish Grade
Of officers as Ass istant Pursers," at less SALARY
| than that allowed to full Purserst By adoptiuy
| this course, not only would the commandinS
| officers of the smaller class Of national YES,
| sells be relieved from attending to extra duty as
4 r
| formed with efficiency bv Assistant Pursers who
| from experience, being acquainted with the req
| ular routine of duty, would be enabled TO Der
| form the same in much more satisfactory man
ntr: SO much 80 as to relieve the Fourth Auditor
| of great deal Of extra trouble when overhaulinu
| Tue accounts OF vessels without regular Purser
| IN correcting errors upon final settlement.
| Besides, by appointing persons who have here
| toiore been In the habit Of doing duty Purstrs
| Clerks, not only would the services of Gamble
ass slant PurserS be secured, but act Of Justice
4 prehf .a nnSt nj
| service for under the present arrangement a Pur
| ser's Clerk only holds his appointment while the
| vessel TO which he is attached is in commission
at the termination of the cruise his pay ceases and
| he has to depend upon his own resources until
| situation is offered on board another sea-goinp
| vessel, and months elapse before such may occur:
| IN tue MeanWhilea more permanent and desirable
| situation having been obtained Shore ana the
| Purser DESTROYS Of securing his services is COM
PEELED to find substitute elsewhere, not knowing
| whether capable or not or go without; for, as
| ''tlme and tide wait for one neither will a
| ''Han-of-war' delay her day Of sailing. and wait
| until the PurSer can furnish himself with con,
| petent Clerk. 1t is a well known fact that in
many cases the Purser, unable to procure the ser
| vices Of an old and experienced Clerk has been
| compelled to tax a hand fresh from behind the
| counter OF dry goods or grocery store, with no
more idea OF the duties he is required to perform
| than d donkey has of a derrick, and perhaps
| whose only qualification may be the ability to
| write fair legible hand; in which case the Pur-
ser has To go tn work and devote his time and at
| tentiOn to insructinS him in his duty when his
| own services, particularly in fitting ont a vessel
| preparatory to being placed in commission are
| urgently required elsewhere. And thus the G. ERIK
at time when his services are most especially re-
CURED instead of being an assistant is actually
| clog upon the Purser; and, in nine cases ont OF
ten, 1t will be found that all that has beer done
| by Il raw and inexperienced Clerk will have to
| be, not, as was about saying, done over again
| but commenced afresh and done correctly
| knowledge of the duties of Purser's Clerk To
| make ali able and etic snt one can ONLY he
/ OF th.ri in
ard or on board sea- going vessel and not tith.r
| at college, in counting room or behind conn
Ter II is nonsense to suppose that all that is relus-
| tie for "A Purser,S Ciri is the ability to write
| good hand aud have some knowledge of accounts
| There Is much more to he learned before a Clerk
| can be fairly pronounced ''ft for servicc,'' and
| experience is the only school wherein il can be
| taught. Then why not, to the trouble and
| Inconvenience Of inS'ructing Clerks for the
greater part Of our vessels when going To sea find
| sonIe mems of retaining old ones?
| There is no measure which has met with moro
| general IaV"', or hes had more beneficial effect
| in retaining good men in the service tLan tina,
provided for IN the LIST and 2d sections of An act
| 10 provide more efficient discipline for tn.
| Navy" approved March I'd, IejJ But that oul,
| extends To shipped men, They are iustry pro
vided for, and are actually under pay during the
| short time they wish To stay ashore with their
families relatives or friends, previous to refntar
| ing: but nothing whatever has been done for
| Clerks, Especially those Of Pursers.) whose ser
vices are as absolutely required those Of any
| other grade OF officers or men in the Navy. II
| should, in my opinion, be the aim Of the Govern
ilent not only to obtain. but also to retain in the
| service, Clerks for Pursers who by long practice
have become thoroughly acquainted with and
| are fully competent to perform the duties in an
efficient and satisfactory manner; and do not be-
lleve better plan for carrying the desired object
| into effect could b. adopted than the passage of
an act establishing the grade, and authorizing
| appointment of such number Of assistant Pursefs
as would be requisite tn supply at least the smaller
class of vessels in the Navy when in comrlission on,
II no. to assis. in the larger Navy Yards and on
| board ships-of-the-iine and first class frigates.
when required.
Jan. Il, 1859. JACK
TRIUMPH OF ART.-Nolk'S statue of Senate,
Douglas is being exhibited to-day for the first time
in this city, in window of the drug store on the
corner of Pennsy lvsnia avenue and Twelfth street
and attracts no little attention, being n happy hit
indeed. 1t is a very correct imperscnaton Of the
figure, features, expression and air Of Mr.. Douglas
THE WEATHER.-The following report of the
weather for the morning is made from the Con-
| soldated Telegraph Line to the Smithsonian In
stitution. The time of observation is about
o'c