Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1867-12-14


New York Tribune should so persistently op-
pose the twenty per cent increase OF the sala-
ries of the Government clerks IN this city
The last article on the subject In that paper,
IN which the editor advises them, IL they can
not live here, TO emigrate 20 Kansas or Nebras-
ka, is an unfortunate one for the opponents
Of 500 per cent, because the assertions that
Washington is not q nice place to live IN,
and that Sthe rents are high, the food rs bad,
the dust is disgusting. the mud is very deep,
and the morals are deplorable, would, il they
were true, be the strongest possible arg uments
Why those so unfortunate as to be compelled
70 live and labor here should be well paid for
their work. The proper and prompt admmistra-
ton Of the affairs OF the Government requires
the services in this city OF great number Of in
teligent employees. These duties must be
performed by some one, and If all who are COM
petent 60 10 farming, what will become of the
public business! We are told that il the
clerks are dissatisfied with their pay they can
leave, as there are others who will take the
places for the pay. No doubt. So there
are plenty OF needy men who would under
take 70 make a watch or run an engine for
good pay, who know nothing Of the coBstruc-
hon OF either. There are now in the Depart
ments here, many gentlemen and ladies OF
great Intellectual ability occupying RESPONSE
BILE positions, whose services save the Gov
ernment thousands Of dollars annually, aud
whose salaries are totally inadequate. They
cannot save a cent, ana advising them TO go
west 10 till the soil, is very much like the ads
vice Of another New York paper TO starving
laborers in that city, to buy small farms and
raise vegetables for the city markets.
REORGANIZATION OF THE AGRICULTURAL
DEP new Commissioner OF Ag.
riculture, Col. Capron, MP TO TINS date dis.
missed twenty male and twenty seven female
employees of the Department, being the whole
number Of females employed therein. The
seed on f ST. room has been closed up, and the
building will be vacated on the lst OF January.
The distribution OF seed Will be discontinued
until the reorganization of the Department, so
soon as the lot on hand is disposed Of. The
Commissioner has been instructed by the
House Committee on Agriculture to curtail the
expenses Of the Department and some thirty
or forty more persons will be dismissed at an
early day. Representative TTowbridge and the
Commissioner have been appointed by the
House Committee TO prepare bill looking TO
the complete reorganization OF the Department
and TO place 1t in the position required by the
act organizing the same. The Committee and
Commissioner will stop the wholesale distri.
button OF common seed and have the Depart
tural interests of the country by distributing
rare and valuable seeds plants, &c
COMBINATIONS BY THE SRNArs-The Sen.
ate, in executive session, yesterday confirmed
the following nominations Captain Theo-
dore =. Greene, to be Commodore in the navy,
on the active list. Command der Egbert Tbomp.
son. to be Captain. Lieut.. Commander Fran
els II. Baker, tc be Commander. Lieut.. Com
mander Austin Pendergrast, 70 be Command
and %sm OF 70 De
Island, Adam Frank. Of Pennsylvania, and
Alfred Griffith, Of Maryland, to be Assistant
Surgeons in the Navy. First Lieutenant Viii.
liam J. Squires, to be Captain in the Marine
Corps. Israel II. Washburne, to be First Lieu.
tenant in the Marine Corps. VIM. J. Chand-
Ter, TO be Collector OF Internal Revenue for
the Fifth Distrsct OF Missoari. 80
THE INDIAN OFFICE 1t is reported that a
majority OF the members Of the Indian Peace
Commissioners will recommend to Congress,
that the Indian Bureau shall not be turned
over to the War department, but be made q
separate Bureau, detached from any of the DE.
partments, and be governed by Commission.
er 10 be appointed by the President.
PKRsoNAL.-Senator Morton's health is i'm.
proving, and he will soon be able TO come to
this city. ''"Gen. Joseph q. Abbott, of N. G.
H H. Day, Of New York; and p. q. Tucker
Of Texas, ale at the National
MAIL CoHTRACT.-The Postmaster General
has awarded the contract for carrying the
mail from Alexandra TO Shreveport, La, 196
miles, three times q week and return, to John
Jamerson, Of Lake Charles; the contract 70
commence April |, Is6s, and continue until
June 30, ISL.
MANUPACTURRRs.-Th Director Of Tie
Bureau of Statistics reports that the man ufac.
hoip
compiled. Several thousand manufacturers
have been heard from.
WE HEAR THAT Mrs. Gen. Banks and Mrs.
Horace Greeley are among the new contribu-
tors Bonner has secured for the Lsdger.
TIE SuB-CoNMITTEs Of the Joint Commit
/ tee on Ordnance met agaiR this morning, and
continued their investigation Of the alleged
frauds connected with the Amsterdam pro.
jectile. The committee adjourned until
Thursday next for the purpose Of
obtaining further testimony and important
papers relating to the case. 1t is alleged that
| a regular ring was formed here during the
war for the purpose Of controlling the action
| OF the Government In purchasing projectiles.
| FLOUR CoNTRACTs.-Major g. Bell, Com.
missary OF Subsistence, Department of Wash
| ington, this morning opened bids and awarded
1 SOhlAoS'S ioi tuAhtshluk oS iO1iOWs.
VIM. M. Galt--20O bbls. No. I, at s IL: %; 300
bbs. do, at Sl2 Gu; l66 bbls do, at Sl3.0O POO
bbls. No. 2, at S1l IS. ...~ .Fs. s
ID. l.. Shoemaker-25s bbls No. !, At SI3.
| Harryman, Nipe d Co-J6 bbls No /, at
Sl3; 100 No. 2, at S1l.S5
Benjamin Darby-25O bbls No. 2. at slI 75
$50 do at SllS5.
| EDITOR STAR:-I have noticed an announce
| ment in the STAR and other city papers, to the
effect that the new Commissioner Of AGricul.
| ture, on the score Of reform and retrenchment
| In that department, will dismiss nearly all
| those employed in the .'seed room," which ID
an adjunct OF the department. Besides, we are
told the Secretary Of the Treasury, on the same
| grounds, proposes to do likewise. Now, MT
| Editor, this announcement may fall on some
| ears as Of no sort Of consequence or rs worthy
| OF the off cials who seek to thus lessen the
great burthen Of our expenditures; but, sir, this
| believe is all wrong, and especially Is il I'M
| just and terribly severe upon that class of per.
sons who have and are rendering ficient and
faithful services; and now, at this fnclement
season OF the year, to be discharged" and
| thrown in absolute destitution upon the world
| is terribly hard and undeserved, aud, what is
| more. unnecessary. Is there any power, any