The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-06-22

house OF the bill adding twenty per cent to their
salaries for the year ending June 80. 1t was benefit
they had counted on all the year past, because Con-
eress had established the precedent IN ITS own case
and by the passage OF the clerks twenty per cent
bill for the year previous. The decisive ma
jority by which it was carried was appar-
entity conclusive that there would be no
effort to reconsider, assurances had been
given that 1t would pass the Senate,
1t was known that the President would not withhold
his autograph and with so good foundation for
faith and hope the laborers In the government vne-
yards would not have taken ninety nine cents on the
dollar for their prospects But Mr.. Bingham sue
ceeded In having the bill recalled from the Senate,
Mr.. Bingham carried his point to reconsider and Mr..
Bingham rejoces most OF all in the knowledge that
"twenty per cent is dead"
The killing is political measure and in that light
1t will bear brief review. Mr.. Bingham became
convinced that the sacrifice was needful as party
expedient. He had heard the testimony Of Mr..
Greeley against an increase OF pay and In favor OF
farming for clerks in government employ and sala
ried men generally, and the idea advanced by Mr..
Brooks, that the clerks might properly vacate in
favor OF others who would work cheaper Then there
came pressure from portion OF the Impeachment
Managers which took an economical turn. The
people were already greatly overtaxed and the
radical Congress would be brought TO
severe account for an outlay giving re-
lief to the government people. 1t would
injure the party, argued Mr.. Bingham, and it must
be killed as party expedent.. Butler opposed It
yehe%en'ly ct, and on purely Political grounds
comfort OF 'rebels and traitors" and it would add
to the burdens OF the suffering but patient masses.
Liberal minded Congressman were confronted with
arguments such as these, and they were speedily
and almost unconsciously restrained from acting In
accordance with their conscences and judgments.
ia N
ment folks have to get round on cork legs with
arm, and with bodies maimed-that thousands OF
them could not buy quarter interest In two acre
farm, II the market value OF such plantations was
$50 each, and that such financial and physical con-
dIton is decidedly unfavorable to engaging in the
agricultural line, as well as to the theory OF Butler
the bold. Under the spur and pressure OF the mo-
ment they yielded, and twenty per cent, as Prince
John Van Buren, used to say, "died a-b0rnin'."
But the premature demise OF the clerks bantling Is
not the end OF 1t. 1t has LETT ghost that promises
to play ubiquitous pranks and to get the better
OF its executioners, "n it takes all SUMMER 1t
objects to being done for the ground OF party ne
cessiy, and In this 1t has the sympathy OF the rad
Speaker Colfax who distrusts the sagacity OF prac
Using economy on the government employees and
making them the frst example; and this little mat
ter trihing as it appears in the report OF Con-
gressional proceedings, may raise quite respect
able political breeze.
II IS but just to say that the clerks in the various
departments here compare favorably as to ability
and responsibility in the proportion OF numbers with
any other body OF men, not excepting the Senate
tors, correspondents reporters and other employees
OF the press are better remunerated by an average
ont ~ ee Of 70 IL s
Congress and opposed to President Johnson; but
they have hitherto been judicousy cautious and
reserved. The natural tendency OF denying them
an increase Of compensation will be to produce
gradual but positive political revolution In the de-
partments. They are conscious that the House was
urged to pass the twenty per cent bill upon the
ground that it was to benefit very large proportion
OF men who sympathizcd with the majority OF Con-
gress In order to defeat the measure they have been
stigmatized as rebels recommended to turn their
tention to agricultural pursuits and to vacate in
favor of men who would be glad to take their places
aJcheaper rates. They argue too, that General Grant
at first recommended additional compensation for
clerks in civil employ: that he subsequently with
drew his recommendation, while he still favored in
creasing the pay Of the army thirty three and one
third per cent They also recall the fact that Con.
gress nearly doubled It's own pay, upon the ground
that the expense OF living at the capital had been
doubled since the war; consideration which, they
claim, should have equal weight in their case They
are also becoming so captiOus that they venture to
crticse the lavish expenditures of Congress IN its
duplicated effort TO impeach the President, its cap
ture and detention or Wooley and its untold outlay
for registering the negro vote and supporting the
Freedmen's Bureau. AT this writing the clerks are
excited. They feel that they have been trned with
traduced and fallen below the stature Of the 'man
and brother' African in the estimation of the cha
grned and nonplussed Buffers and Binghams They
are seven thousand strong, are these government
people. They represent a numerous constituency
In every State IN the Union. Many OF them CORE
spond for their local papers and would undertake to
$4,000 year. Before this Congress adjourns the
chances are that petitions Will pour In from their
sSares from sso 70 year Mr. Bingham dne
will cost his party than he viii save the coun.
try by his economy for party sake and neither the
The democrats nearly all OF them, voted for the bill
The chances are even for and against the election
OF General GRAFT. II elected he Will not favor be.
raj pay, and he may lose. Here Is a chance for the
clerks 10 play little game OF political coquetry-
Was ever in such humor wooed.
Was ever woman In such humor won!
and they will doit without regard to sex or previous
political condition.
The Cabinet troubles are eliminating. The long
promised reorganization, 1t s affirmed, is TO COM
not the only whose resignation would he accept
ble 1t is not improbable That the Secretary OF the
Interior win be the next TO vacate. So far
as the Presidents political prospects are con.
cerned, none OF the heads oil the departments
have availed to his practical benefit except one, who
has been actively and consistently faithful TO the in
terests Of the administration. With this exception
ali the power OF patronage and influence have failed
to produce any advantage.
Intending the vacancy to be created by the resg.
nation OF secretary McCulloch there several I'M
porant offices to NIL; but 1t Is possible there will be
no appointments until after the New York Conven-
ton. The President, never expeditions In flling
cancies may conclude that these places viii do To
keep for future emergencies
There are no changes indicated here In the political
situation, except in the augmented interest shown
by the friends Of the rival candidates for the Presi
dency. Those who favor General Hancock speak
with great confidence OF his prospects protesting
that their faith is fortified by the assurances OF nu
merous correspondents from all sections They ex
pect TO encounter strong opposition from the Pendle
ton organization, but hope to make more than he In
the compromises. Senator Hendricks is held In very
high regard not only by those who advocate hi:
nomination, nut by the friends OF other candidates
II is claimed that he excels Mr. Pendleton In pon
OF ability as a statesman and as TO his record as
politician. In the Convention his friends Will be ad
hesye to the last.
The friends OF Mr.. Chase 1t Is believed. will go into
the Convention strong as TO numbers and confident
81, at,ac md nvpa pfh m
They regard his liberal views upon the suffrage ques
ton only as those Of individual and II In the igh
he has enunciated them they are held by any to b(
ectonable the antidote Is found in his declaration
OF the right OF the States to regulate their own fran
chise and ignoring the interference OF Congress HE
ments at the earliest possible period the specifies
adjustment Of the public debt consistent with the In
terest OF the masses, upon whom the burden OF it,
payment falls, and the relief 80 far az practicable,
The industry Of the country from taxation supplying
any deficiency that might ensue by an Increased taxa