Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1867-11-13
THE EVENING STAR.
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.

LIE u EN1NN Ol AN.
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.
THE EMPLOYMENT OF CIVILIANS IN THE
WAR DRPARTMKNT-The Force TO be Reduced -
By General orders No s6, dated November
11th, and issued from the War Department
this morning, the Secretary directs that
''The employment Of civilians in any branch
OF the service as clerks, mechaH les, laborers,
guards, or for any purpose for which soldiers
could be detailed without manifest injury to
the service, is strictly prohibited, except In
cases where CIVILIAN clerks are allowed by
heads Of bureaus TO chiefs of the staff depart
ments.
"The authority of the commanding officer
shall be requisite for the employment Of hired
labor. He will caus the proper staff officers to
report to MIN the circumstances which render
the same necessary, and will be held strictly
responsible that such necessity exists.
'ln all cases where q commanding officer
authorizes the employment OF civilians, be
will Immediately transmit copies Of his order,
together with the report showing its necessity,
10 the department Commander, and to the
head Of the proper bure1u of the War Depart
ment. Should the circumstances not Justify
the order, the expense will be charged TO the
officer who gives il.
sChiefs Of bureaus under the War Depart
ment will examine critically the rolls Of civil
employees retained by their subord mates, and
order an immediate reduction to the lowest
limit practicable: and will also see that steps
be taken at once TO execute the above orders
INSPECTORS will pay special attent ton IN
their reports TO the manner In which all orders
for reduction Of expenses in the army are being
executed"
THE EXPENSES OF THE POST OFPICK DE.
PARThENT.-A paragraph published a few
days ago relative 10 expe lditureJ Of the Pos
Office Department enormously states that there
will be deficiency Of two and a half millions
fha activ NT
year ending June 30, 1869. 1t is learned from
the department that there will not be a def
cheney this fiscal year. but receipts and ex-
penses will comesTithin the e5timat,s and ap-
preparations. The report of the Postmaster
General, now in course OF preparation, will
show, however, probable deficiency OF over
two millions for the fiscal year Of 1869, based
upon an estimate Al the rate Of six per cent. in
crease Of expenses for that year, which will
probably result from establishment OF new
routes, etc.
GENERAL GRANT AND THE PRESIDENCY.
J. M. Morphis, Esq, editor Of q paper in
Texas, this morning called at the War De.
Fartment, and had an interview with General
Grant During the con versation Mr.. Morphis
said TO the General that the people in his sec.
tion were determined TO support him for Pres
ident, and hoped he would be elected. Gen1
Grant mediateIy turned the conversation to
another subject. Mr. Morphis again brought
up the subject of the Presidency and said
General, we want to run you for President,
and 1 want to know what can say when /
return home" General Grant replied, Say
nothing sir. j want nothing said"
HOUSE RENTS IN WAsHINeroN-Go from
Home 10 Hear the Necs.--The New York Nal
Of yesterday says:
High rents have had their day. apparently.
in Washington. What with the hundreds of
new houses which have recently been built
the dsmissals Of thousands Of government EN-.
ployee, and the cessation OF the immens sc influx
OF contractors, jobbers, and brokers, and lobby
isfs, there are now more lodgings than lodgers;
Prices are falling rapidly, and the sign is
everywhere 70 be seen-"Lodgings to be Let f"
Rents, we are happy to say, have fallen con-
siderably from the high figures Of the war
years, but there has been no such depletion of
the population here as stated by the Mail, and
anxicus ing uirers fail to find - lod dgings every.
where to let"
THE WHITE HoUsE.-A very large number
OF visitors were admitted at the Executive
Mansion this morning, many Of whom had an
interview with the President. Among those
who called to-day were Gen. Grant. Postmas-
ter General Randall, Hon. Montgomery BLAIR,
and several Senators and Representatives.
SPEAKER CoLFAx.- Hon SCHUYLER Colfax
Speaker OF the House of Represen tativ YES, will
arrive mere on Saturday evening, and make
his arrangements for housekeeping during the
session. The large building lately occupied
by Postmaster General Dennison, being the
one known as the Sickles house, fronting on
Lafayette Square, has been rented by Speaker
Colfax for the winter.
CURTAILINs EXPENSES OF THE WAR
DEPARTMRNT.-By General Orders No 81,
issued to-day from the War Department
General Grant directs, with q view to a more
economical administration Of the affairs of the
Army, and TO more uniform and systematic
method Of letting contracts for supplies, that
all commanding officers and especially those
Of military departments and districts will see
that early estimates and timely contracts are
made for supplies, and in conclusion says:
1.-THE Secretary OF War tad ,nterin) desires
to impress upon all branches OF the military
service the ne nccsssity Of greater economy in
public expenditure, and Of the curtailment in
every department Of the service Of the present
expenses, whenever the req uirements OF the
service will permit such red duction."
WAsHINGToNIAHs IN PARIs.-Among a
large number Of Americans in Paris recently
were John NJ. Narnum, Horatio King, Henry
+. King, Mrs. Schllecker, H. b. Titus, w.
Harper, Edward Green, Mrs. Claude d.
Blanchard, and q. Conrad Blanchard, OF this
city.
THE PAY DBPARTMRNT INVESTIGATING
COMMITTEE, OF which Hon. Mr.. Lincoln, OF
New York, is chairman, will not be prepared
to make a full report at the beginning OF Con
gress, but will present partial report only,
and request further time to take additional
testimony. Since the last session the commit
tee has taken testimony In Washington, New
York, Kansas, Missouri and Louisiana.
POSTAL TRRATIIs.-The Postmaster Gen.
eral yesterday submitted to the President for
approval postal treaties made between the
United States and the North German Union,
Switzerland, and the Colonial Government of
Hong Kong, China. The treaties were ap-
proved by the President, and will be published
by the State Department in the course Of a few
days.
MRS. SIHAroR SPRAUeB is expected here
soon. To-day is the anniversary Of her mar.