Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1869-03-03
Washington City Gossip.

The new regime promises well. Although
Cant keeps his own counsel, enough ha:
been said b. him to assure the public tina,
merit and worth are absolutely essential to
an appointment to Office. More. be will
not hesitate to change his list, with the per
mission of the Senate, until he succeeds in
securing precisely the sort of men he re-
quires. At this rate we may safely say that
the official patronage will not run in the old
grooves. Influence and wire pulling, when
opposed to character ard capacity, will be
at discount. Honesty will be recognized
in the distribution of patronage, and cor
rupt men will fud their occupation gone.
The only class of people who are in an agony
of suspense are the professional politicians.
The National Bank bill now seems likely
the two Houses. 1t is not cause of grief.
The army reduction has been tackled on a
bill that is pretty sure to carry it through,
to wit, the Army Appropriation bill. The
House Postal Committee have been guilty
of disresrect of the dead, by kicking the
defunct carcase of the Postal Telegraph
schemes, and The Globe has proved strong
er, even in its supposed hour of dissolution,
than the friends of reform, and has carried
a renewal of its contract for printing the
debates through the Senate.
The copper tariff bill was vetoed by Pres
ident johnson, last week. Both houses,
however, at once passed it by more than
two thirds vote.
Under the stimulus of the passage by the
House of Representatives of Mr.. Schenck S
bill solemnly pledging the faith of the Uni
debt in coin, and of the almost assured concur
renee of the Senate in the measure. our five
twenties advanced yesterday to Sl4 in Lon
don. The quotation, being on the old val
uation of $4 A to the pound sterling. is
equal S93 at the present par of exchange in
gold, or nearly l20 in currency. The pros
pect is that by the first of mex; May our six
per cent. bonds will all sell in London at
par in gold, if they do not exceed that limit.
When this takes place, the problem of re-
suming specie payments will be greatly sim
plifed, since it will be easy to fund our sur
plus greenbacks in long loan at low rate
of interest, and payment of the rest will not
be demanded
Foreign Relations in Congress express the
belief that the present condition of affairs
in Cuba and San Domingo, will lead to a
proposition for the annexation of those
countries to the Unite States within the
first few months of Generals Grants ad-
ministration.
1t is stated that the incoming administra-
ton will revise our foreign policy in several
important respects. Minister johnson will
he promptly recalled, and when his success
or has been appointed new proposition
for the settlement of the Alabama claims
will be made, which will include demanJ
for pay of actual damages to our shipping
and idemnity for the loss sustained by Amer
lean commerce from rebel cruisers issuing
from English ports, whereby our commerce
was driven to British bottoms and under
foreign flags.
The bill affecting the Supreme Court,
passed by the Senate, increases the number
of judges to nine, making one additional ap
pointment necessary. In each of the nine
circuits a judge is created, who shall reside
therein and hold the courts. The original
jurisdiction of the justices of the Supreme
Court over the circuits is not impaired. The
large extent of the circuits, and the increase
OF the business, especially in those embrac
ing the Southern States. make the duties of
the justices more than ordinarily oneroms, so
that the assistance provided by the addition
al judges will prove timely. But the in
crease of the chief justices is hardly sustain
able. The Supreme Bench should be com,
pact rather than unwieldy. Had the num-
Der of chief justices been reduced to FIVE,
and the number OF circuits increased, each
having a judge, the machinery of justice
would lave been more complete and work
able