Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1867-11-06
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.

WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.
THE Hours OF Duty IN the Departments DO
not appear TO be uniform, notwi'hstanding z the
statement published some time since TO the ef.
feet that the matter had been the subject OF
Cabinet conference, and that the several - cre-
taries had agreed that all the Offices should
adop' the four O'Clock, or seven hour rule, In
winter. We observe that the clerks connected
with some OF them leave at "sharp three"
while in c!hers-iucluding the Trea. ary and
its populous and hard worked bureaus-tney
are held an hour later.
1t is not our purpose TO discuss here the
question whether the six or seven hour rule
should prevail, but Justice and good faith
would seem to require that ail employees or
the same class in the public service should be
placed on the same footing m this respect; for,
manlfestiy, no good reason exists why thase in
some offices should be made to perform, for the
same compensation, some fourteen per cent.
more service than those in others. This. it ap-
pears to us, is a discrimination that ought
not to exist, and we do not think 1t can be ius
titled.
There is another feature connected with the
hours Of service in the Departments, which
works needless Inconvenience, aud which
might be changed without detrlment to any
interest, and, as Is claimed, with decided ad-
vantage to all concerned. We allude to the
practice which has obtained lately, In some Of
the Departments at least. OF closing at three
O'Clock In the summer, and keeping open until
four during the winter. Sound reasoning
would, it seems to rs, dictate the exact re-
verse of this. During the hot weathsr--if any
difference is to be made--the extra hour
could be given without any Incony nyenieuee
or discomfort; nay, we believe the major
ity OF the clerks would be more comfort.
able at work in the cool rooms OF tba
Departments than any quarters they are likely
to find In washington and the days are LONG
enough, beside, to allow q fair attention 10
private interests after Office hours. In winter.
however, 1t is entirely different. Then, if If
any time, the hour from three TO four ia of
value oatside; for, as matters now stand, those
in the public service find darkness upon them
before they have dined, and If they are called
upon TO shop or market or attend to any busi-
ness away from their places Of residence. thew
are obliged to do 1t under discomforts and dis.
advantages those only can understand and an.
preciate who are required to traverse the
muddy and badly lighted streets OF Washing
ton in the winter season.
We trust our correspondents who have
written TO us on the topics herein alluded to
will accept these paragraphs in lieu of the
publication of their own communications
having no doubt but the desired relj-y ,,,u, hs
afforded If the matters comp .a,ne ed of are ss;rIS
ana juolcionsiy presented 10 the powers that
be.
Our tElGhBORs OF the Chronicle and Intslli
gcncer both manage to extract comfort rom the
elections yesterday. The IRtcuiqencer smiles
all over this morning, and exults in many
triple-le AIDED editorials. Il says that the pso-
pie, Tedsemed, regenerated, and disenthralled,
have risen in their might snd confronted ~.
rants ana traitors, and bid them ayaunt cans
ing the tyrants and traitors TO trembIe and
pause in their mad career, whereby The centre
Of the cohorts of radicalism have been pierced
and its banners beaten and the country saved
on the verge OF the abyss of irretrievahIe ruin.
in fact, the IatelitgeAeer feels so particularly
sunny that 1t slings pretty free pen in the
way of tropes and fgurrs :;
The Chronicle also expetiates triple-Ieaded
IL upon the elections yesterday and maintains
that with the exception OF New York where =
Senator Is lost by the Republicans, "the re-
suits of yesterdays election present an aggre-
gate OF substantial encouragement TO the Rad
ieals.' Yesterdays work, il says, "iisap.
points nobody, and leaves the great par;y of
the Union certain of success in he Preuden.
tial election"
r The WHITE HoUsE.-rIr. and Mrs Tom
Thumb, Comm oeore N utt, and Miss Minnie
Warren visited the Executive Mansion this
afternoon, and were received by the Presiden
and the ladies Of the Executive Mansion in the
Red Parlor. A number of visitors were to sec
the President this morning, among whom
was Postmaster General Randall.
AN ERRoR.-Some OF our cotemporaries are
mistaken in supposing that the Legislature
chosen in the State of New York yesterday
elects United States Senator in piacs OF Sen.
ator Morgan. 1t is the LegisIatu chosen
next year in that State that elects a Senator.
Senator DoolIttle's term expires on the 4th Of
March, 1869, not 1868, as stated,
SOME CAPITAL BUsrs and statuettes of
prominent men: Grant, Farragut. Greeley and
others, attract attention at Blanchard sc'
Mchun's book store. They are made by the
new process styled ssphoto.sculpture' by
which the subject for a statuette or bust is
photographed from twenty. -four cameras dis
tributed at equi distant points in a circle.
From these views, with the aid Of a magic
lantern and a tracing board, and the Ingenious
application of a psntograph, is produced a
modei IN clay, either natural Size or any math-
ematicaI reduction, say two-thrds, one-haIf
tCAs OnC-c'SAtu TIC SIZE OF nature.
where every dimension is accurate, and every
physical popularity is reproduced in the mode, 7
with the fidelity OF photograph. Tnis mod.
Ell is then handed to sculptor, who spec lilly
puts the finishing touches to il, when it can
be issued in any desired material, such
as plaster Of paris. parian, bronze etc.
THE PAY DEPARTMENT INVESTIGATING
OoHMIrTRH, Eon Mr.. Lincoln Charm an ha.
examineda large n umber of clerks of that De-
partment, including the Chief Clerk, Mr. Ham
son; also, Colonel Ekin, Acting Paymaster
General, and some half-dozen Paymas.ers
The COMMITTEES adjourned on Saturday last to
meet again in this city on the 18th inst.
In DOuBT.-postmasier General Randall
this morning received a dispatch from Wis. 4
consin. stating there was great doubt as to who
was elected Governor.
THl CoLoRED MILIrIA,-It as understood
that Gen. Emory, acting under orders from |
Gen. Grant. has notified the Coiored Volunteer
Companies OF this District not to ap. |
pear on drili or parade at present 1t is SUP.
posed that an order viii be issued in a few
days disbandfng them. CD CIR 23t5D
A VALUABLB WoRK.-The repor, of Hon
Joseph 5. Wilson, Commissioner OF the Gen.
oAl