Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-01-17
FROM WASHINGTON.
Raising Salarfes--RecOnstru
DiminutiOn of Clerical Force in De
Partments-RepOrts from the South
Cold Weather.

1
! Especial Correspondence of the Cleveland LEAbER
WAsHIEGToN, January IL, 1866.
1t is said that bill will be introduced
soon in Congress to increase the salary o.
the Cabinet officers to $4,000 year. By
degrees the pay of these gentlemen will
get up on par with the stipend of q
Prince in amonarchial government. There
| is, whether this forthcoming attempt to in
crease the salaries of the cabinet officers
be an evidence of it or not, growing ten
dency to extravaganza in some branches
of the government. All of them are in
clined to be liberal with themselves, how
ever stingy they may be with the interests
of others.
Reconstruction is on the tapics just now
in Congress, but it is not going on so
smoothly as 1 imagined it would at the
commencement of the session. The South
is froward and intractable. think l state
theconclusion ofsome excellent judgements
when 1 say that the probabilities of her
nsnttinrr intn Connrraes this session ora nat
very strong.
1t is quite true that the present indica-
tions may be changed, at any time, and as
have said in previous letter it is with
the South to insure her representation in
Congress soon or to prevent it. The ma
jority in Congress mean to obtain guaran-
tees fromthe South that she accepts the
new order of affairs, cordially as fixed
fact and will shape her action in time to
come with a common purpose to sustain
the Government as an entirely free one,
and not By its refractory course, curse US
from the day she entered upon the enjoy |
ment of her privileges under the Govern
ment. That Is what the statesmen now |
representing the nation in Congress mean
to do,
The Departments are gradually adapt |
ing themselves to the condition of affairs. |
The force is being lessened as cireumstan-
ces will permit. Last month seVenty-fye |
clerks were discharged in the Treasury De-
partment and it is reported that there will |
be another reduction, if not this month,
soon. But notwithstanding this necessity, |
apparent to everybody, for diminishing the
force, the applications for clerkships seems
to be increasing. 1t is said that last month
300 applications we're filed.
The condition of the South is very bad.
The social elements seem to be all up
turned. The prejudices of the common
people against the North are very strong
and very bitter. Brevet Brig. Gen. VIM.
W. Burres, who is now in this city, but
who is commisssry Of sundry Southern
States, with headquarters at Hilton Head,
and who has taken some pains to inform
himself Of the character and animus of
the people, says, without hesitation, that
the South is not fit to take its place in the
Union as independent States, with repre-
in Congress. Too much bad
blood there yet In view of the Generals
political associations and antecedents, he
ought to be deemed good authority.
Monday of this week was a very cold
day for this locality. On Saturday the
shipping and steamers were plying on the
Potomac. Sunday it was closed, and on
Monday the return of the cold weather
was reached. There are indications now
that the Potomac will soon be cleared
again.
The season of Presidential levees has
Just opened. Speaker Colfax opens on
the 18th inst. AGAIN.