Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1868-12-01
From our Special Correspondent
From Washington.
tIr.nr,t,.cro>y Nov %
WAsn1NGToN, Nov. 20.

lIldteu IN lne IatenI OlHce' NVtiAA
er Foote has commenced to apply the
principles Of Jenckes' civil service bill,
which, il viii be remembered, was not ac-
ted upoh at the last session OF Congress-
because of pressure of other business
All the Examiners Of Patents and their
assistants are being submitted to a rigid
examination as to their respective qualifi-
cations, by Board appointed by the Sec
rotary of the Interior, in conformity to
law. When it is remembered that there
is actually more money invested in Pa
tents in this country than all the railroad
and telegraph lines put together, some no.
ton may be formed of the Importance of
securing the highest competency practical
bic on the part of the government to deal
with so vast an interest. Whereas, when
Judge Foote assumed the Commissioner
ship he found IL his bureau both incompe-
tency OF special intellect and requirement
and habitual sighting of duties were so
far as they wire understood. This evil
certainly should-be remedied if it can be.
And undoubtedly iscn specially capable
in the various branchcs of science and me-
chanics--cach man in his own speciality
are to be had at the salaries given; men
who will be reasonably faithful to their
trust, too; and Commissioner Foote de-
serves great credit for his effort to secure
them.
There is law in existence, at present,
requiring an examination Of all subordin-
rtes in all the Departments, but it little
observed. Judge Foote, however, seems
to have felt himself bound by his official
oath and sense of good faith to the public
service, to observe that law as much as
any other. Certainly in his bureau he
was justified in considering it something
more than mere matter Of form.
This new regulation i: said to have
created great furry in the bureau, and
is expected by some to excite much oppo-
sition to the Commissioner. Those who
are really competent and faithful will not
suffer by it. To them, on the contrary,
it will be a certificate Of merit To my
apprehension, therefore, those who do find
fault with it, and appeal to their political
patrons to resist it, are publishing their
own unftness, and giving their own testi-
mony to the need of observing the law.
Preparations are active for the meeting
of Congress. Hotels and dwellings in the
most central and desirable quarter are
putting every available room in readiness.
There will be however, more vacant room
''ior rent" on all sides of the centre than
perhaps has ever been before during a ses-
sion Of Congress in the experience of Wash
ington, Tho number Of additional new
buildings within two years is immense,
considering that the necessities of the city
are very little more than they were before
the war. ...
Among the business proposed for the
early attention Of Congress are PROPOSE
ton to amend the Constitution to provide
uniform suffrage in all the States; the
measure for postal telegraphic system ;
appropriation for building a new Execu-
tive mansion; bill for increasing the Pres
idcnt's salary; bill repeating the tenure
of-office act ; and a resolution of inquiry
into the instruction given to our Minister
to England, and calling for the correspon-
dcnce. Jencke's civil service bill will re-
ceive attention probably as soon as practi-
cable. Something will also be introduced
relative to the currency-its contraction,
expansion, and specie redemption
From some intimation, of which | may
speak another time, | think little inaui-
ry by Congress into the money of the AL
aska purchase would not be barren of de-
velophent.
President Grants Cabinet is being form
ed without his help. Probabilities are
only arrived at yet but then it will all
be arranged for him in ample time. STAN
ton, Schenck of Ohio, Gen. Rawlins, chief
of Gen. Grants staff, Senator Wilson, 4.
b. Washburne, Farragut, and Horace
Greeley are mentioned for the Departments
in the order of their rank +; Greeley and
Washburne are also named for Minister
to England and France respectively.
The feeling against our Paraguayian
Minister Washburn, is moderating. 1t
would seem that physically he could do
nothing, to prevent the arrest and impris-
onment Of his two attaches and that he
advanced them, as it is called. only to 20
in quest of the American feet to enforce
his interference within their behalf.
Mr.. Blaine, of Maine, is understood to
be the favorite candidate for the Speaker.
ship of the next House. An expression
Of friendly regard | heard of the other
evening speaks very emphatically in his