New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-11-19
WASHINGTON.

PBcr OF THB ELECTIONS ON Mr.. JoHNsoN--RB-
LEASH OF MURpERERs OF UNION soLDIBRs-oP-
PrcB-sEEKBRs OUT OF pAvoR-EHB CLEVELAND
Posr.oPFICB PERSONAL - THB COMMITTEES ON
RETREECHMssT.
pr ruLseaAyB TO raisuxs.
WASHINGTON, Nov. ls.--It has already been stated
that during the past week President johnson has had
audiences with prominent gentlemen from all sections
in relation to the present condition Of political affairs
Chief Justice Chase, Gen. Grant, and MsiorGens
Sckles and Dix among Others have freely given their
views being aetuated By sincere desire Tor sucn &C.
ton as may be best calculated to freely restore the
late insurgent States in all their relations TO the ZEN
eral Government The idea seems to be that as long
as the Executive and Legislative branches are divided
in opinion the South must remain unrepresented IN
Congress Hence the desire 10 effect some arrange
ment to accommodate the differences between them.
Mr.. Chase's first interview with the PRESIDENT was
merely TO give the latter some opinions in judi
cial matters; the second interview was merely a
friendly one, and Judge Chase took occasion to ad-
wise Mr.. johnson to depart from nus pres
ent policy and urge the southern Lsglsla.
lures to adopt the Constitutional Amenumenc
as a final settlement Of the present dithcul-
ties; that in case they objected TO the second aud
third clauses of the amendment. to compromise Dy
substituting universal amnesty and Impartial suHrage'
Not only has Judge Chase urged this course on the
President but so also have several prominent men
of his own party from both North and South Clement
c. CLAY among the latter. Whether these arguments,
and the facts which they are based, Will change tne
course Of the President remains TO be seem couple
of Democratic Congressman who have lately conVerseu
with Mr. johnson state that he has no idea oil altering
his present policy, and claim that the elections nave
had no effect except 10 make him more determined IN
his old plan. They claim, with what truth IS uncer-
TAIN that he insists that the people were hoodwinked
and deuded and will soon begin 10 see their mistake
and adopt his views. =,
Not the least important work OF the approaching
IN cd far
Special Committee on Retrenchment, appointed
toward the close Of the last session, with leave TO st
aud take testimony during the recess. lhere IL
scarcely man familiar with the machinery OF the
Government, in any Of the departments, who cannot
pot out some superfiuOus Office that may be abOl-
shed without detnment 10 the general veal, or some
financial leak that may be stopped, TO the certain
benefit of that extremely large class Of the community
who now if never before, realize the truth and vivid
ness VI Sidney Smiths famous article ON the blessings
and beauties of taxation. The Retrenchnent Com
mittee bad been hard az work during portion OF the
vacation period AID il now, believe, in session in
New York City. There are several important items
that seem 10 me 70 invite ts intention right here IN
the city OF Washington, and that ought not TO be
overlooked though very apt to be- one Is the item oi
Government advertising IN the Washington Clty pa
PER-. Exactly how much IL expended for TINS pur'
pose cannot easily be ascertained, except by search
OF the records of tho department, when are not al
ways open Tor public Inspection. IL certainly
amounts % several thousand dollars a month.
or enough a. any rate, 20 support these so-ealled
organs of the administration, not one Of which
could exist without the Government subsidy. mat
the money expended for this purpose on the organs
70 which refer il thrown away 10 toeraby clear rom
the fact that Of the three papers to which refer DuD
one is either known or ever heard OF beyond the ely
lrnta of Washington and Georgetown; and even
there il will puzzle many readers of The TRIBUNE TO
name the other two Journals Now, advertising IS
a matter of business with the Government, as With
individuals Ii merchant wants TO buy or sell goods
he seeks publicity for his wants or desires through the
columns of newspaper which ne believes has clrca'
lation among the class OF persons whom ne
wishes to reach. He does MT pay % cents
line for an advertisement III "a journal
which he knows is never seen by those whom
he wants for customers, still less journal mat mas
"A hundred readers of any class or denomination Yet,
here in Washington, the Government is made TO pay
thousands of dollars every month on exactly this knd
of an investment. The advertisements are sucn as
should reach all sections of the country, consisting
for the part Of invitations for contracts bids, etc.
vet il fair presume they are rarely heard OF outside
of Washington City. They are paid for at full
rates. and constitute, as l have before said,
the main pecuniary reliance OF tne jour
nails referred to- At the last session OF Congress
law was passed restricting Government advertising
in this city TO the two papers having the largest bona
fde daily circulation. This would have confined II
10 The Star and Chronicle Two evening papers, The
Constitutional Union and The Times, Immediately con-
triyed way Of eyading the law and retaining the
patronage by changing pretending to change, their
publication offices from Washington to Georgetown.
Th, Iuteg,ncsr continued and still continues despite
the law TO publish the advertisements, and receive
paw for them as before. Its propretors also put IN
bin last Summer for $l5, 600 for publishing report
of the trial of the assassins of Mr. Lincon-something
that the NewYork press thought proper to PRINT and
nav for telegraphing q matter OF news. Mr. John-
SON ordered the account TO be paid and the proba-
bity is that his order has been complied with long
ere this. II is TO be hoped the Committee on Re-
trenchment will at least look into this subject OF de-
partment advertising, and so change the law as to
make il matter of business for the Government.
As the number Of governmental clerks and messen.
gers in the Treasury Department has been often asked
and much disputed about, the following list from
official sources shows the exact number employed last
year: