The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1869-01-01
CORRESPONDENCE.
Washington. Dec. 2s. 1868.


EDITOR USIoS AND JouRSAL.-We are in the
midst of the holidays and there is quite a lull
in public business. Many of the officers and
employees Of the Departments have left the city
for few days. Very few Of the Senator's and
Members remain. L. u. washburne spends
the recess in visiting Departments and Bureaus
to discover where appropriations may be re-
duced and economy practised. Senator Sumner
is said to be preparing an exhaustive argument
in favor Of immediate return tOspecie payments,
and Gen. Butler is likewise preparing aspecch
TO show that return to specie payments is inn
possible. Gen. Grant is among US again and
is the faSorite of all. No one is more popular.
SO great is the pressure to see and congratulate
him, he has been obliged to announce that he
can see no one after twelve O'Clock. suppose
he meant twelve at night. A wonderful retor-
nation has taken place here among the office
holders. All have become original Grant men.
We hear nothing about "Rump Congress" or
.'Radieal usurpatiOn." No one asserts that
Grant is q "drunkarl'' "butcher" or wanting
in military capacity or ability to run civil
Office. The General will soon make another
.alank movement and visit Philadelphia and
other places North. ... .. .
Reports from Louisiana represent that the
most astounding frauds and corruption have
been going on in that State, by the Government
officials, and no efforts made at head quarters
to stop 1t, although changes have been frequent
ly made The Supervisor Of Revenue for that
State is young man without business expert
enee, and win make = POor show against the
powerful whisky and cotton rings. Our civil
service is becoming sadly demorslircd. Men
Of small salaries suddenly become wealthy.
Commission man as Treasury Agent to ferret
out frauds, and he shortly lives in style, and
retires ON fortune. 1t is fortunate for the
Treasury and the tax payers that Grant is so
soon to assume power. lie says little and
makes few promises, but enough is known to
warrant that the revenue will be collected whis-
XIV tax and all, and the most rigid economy
enforced in all branches Of the Government
All schemes FOR swindling the Treasury will re-
cei,e no support from him. The Executive
Departments all need the same pruning which
he praetiscd on the War Department in 1867.
There are hundreds Of sinecure positions here,
which need inspection. | know officials whose
duties chiefly consist in reading the daily news
aud signing the pay roll at the end Of each
month. Such persons are won't to find fault
with the Frccimen's Bureau for supporting
..lary nigrers." The force in these Depart
ments could be reduced one fourth. and the
public business done as promptly and faithfully
as now. The same is quito likely true in all
the large custom houses and federal Offices
throughout the country. Uncle Sam is Kind
old gentleman, who works his men easier, and
pays them better, for the same service, than
any other corporation or business firm in the
land. Legislation and reform is needed and
Grant is the man to marguerite Il.
Maine residents here are quite interested in
the Senator question a, home. Mr.. lIamlin
has q host Of warm friends in all parts of the
country. who feel tha, the party Ought to make
some reparation for the sad hunder made in
1864 in retiring him for the renegade johnson,
aud would rejoice to sce him again placed in a
position Of prominence and honor, Mr.. II. Is
always true to his constituents and friends, and
IL unable to gran, favor when called on, he
wOull. like Mr.. Lincoln. show his good viii,
and turn none away with GOODNESS or neglect.
Mr.. Morrill, has performed his duties well As
Senator and Republican, and Is rcgarled by
bis fellow Senators as faithful. honest and
uprisb, public man. lie j, good legislator
and Is always at his post. Either OF them win
ably Represent the State anil contribute much in
continuing her prOmincnee in public AFFAIRS
which shc has 10 long held 81.
O