The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-09-03
WASHING ON.



reorganization being convinced that the old fossil
system OF circumlOcuti0n not only pregnant with
delays and unnecessary inconvenience, but.
over. detrimental to the public service. He found
many Old coves in ofice whose ideas OF business
were entirely behind the age. and who seemed In
capable OF getting themselves out OF the ancient
ruts, no matter how much they might be stimulated
BY complaints OF parties injured thereby or by the
eAigenctes Of the public service Viewing the mat
ter in this light, Secretary Bekpap sometime ago
appointed special commission to thoroughly exa-
mine the method OF doing business In the several
bureaus OF the department.. and to report some new
and more effective plan calculated 10 facilitate the
workings OF the department. This commission con-
sisted Of three competent gentlemen-namely,
Colonel Vincent, Assistant Adjutant Generals Major
Bingham, Assistant Quartermaster General, and MIR.
Benjamin. clerk In Secretary Belknaps oilce,
This special commission. after making q thorough
investigation, have made a detailed report which
has been forwarded to Keokuk, and answer from
Secretary Belknap approving Its recommendation
has been returned to this city In fact the plan
Is already being put into execution and several
clerks OF the old fogy school have grief The
committee agree with Secretary Beknap that the
present force OF the department is ample 10 dis
charge all the business, and possibly may be down
to some extent. Ali that is required is a fatal blow
at red tape, which hitherto has held potent sway in
the War as In all other departments OF the govern
ment. The trouble has been that large number Of
clerks who have grown gray In the service have
established dreadful system OF circumlOcutton,
impeding public business while. perhaps,
not much lessening their own Iabors. Each
bureau OF the department has come to be IN
measure isolated. that communications
Of an Onicial character have been delayed
days and weeks sometimes where only few hours
| llv unuldI I'm trad
system. Tho chief OF each bureau also had his own
system OF transactng business which was as i'm
mutabe as the laws OF the Modes ana Persans.
The old cOves would scOn at the idea OF improve
ments compatible with the active spirit OF the age.
Every innovation was regarded with distrust and
horror. No matter how much business people might
suffer 10y delays and nconveniencles, cOmmunisa.
ton required countless endorsements apd
inspections before 1t nnaliy reached ITS
de estimation. THUS, illustration, II the Secre-
tary of War desired TO send order an officer at
Fortress Monroe under ordinary red tape manage
ment ten days might be consumed before the officer
In question would OF II. The order would first
go to the division headquarters, say in PhIadeI
phia; next to tue department headquarters In New
York and next to the post headquarters ut Fortress
Monroe. Then Mr.. Oficer would learn what his
great cnief. the Secretary OF War, required OF him.
Manifestly such system Is absurd. The committee
by the new system they recommend expect
to simplify vastly the workings OF the different
bureaus and to lop on very large branch OF 1.-THE
circumlocuton humbug Several Of the old fossil
clerks have already been displaced by younger and
more active persons who hitherto have been kept
in the shade though practically dscharging the
solid duties of the department These old clerks
have been given other and less responsible positions
as it Is not deemed necessary to get rid Of such old
public servants altogether, and with ruth
less disregard to their long service In the
department, i've clerks in the Quartermaster
Generals ONCE have already been reduced
in grade but the places yet filed Several
have also fallen from their high In the Engi-
| neers' and Ordnance bureaus. The committee will
also recommend change IN the system OF Official
correspondence, which Will do away with the annoy.
ing ana embarrassing delays now experienced.
similar system is being enforced In the Treasury
Department under the management OF Secretary
Boutwell,.
Aid to the French and German Wounded.
The French residents OF Washington have con-
tribued $500 for the relief OF the wounded French
soldiers, which will he sent to Paris week. The
German Patriotic Association OF this city to-day
transmitted to the Central Committee In New York
the second nstalment OF 200 for the relief OF the
wounded ana orphans OF Germany.
Disorder in Florida-Pcrls Of an Assessor.
The Assessor OF Internal Revenue at Tallahassee
Fla, reports to the Commissioner OF Internal Reve-
nue. that short time since he visited in company
with Congressman Hamilton the town Of Mariana
Jackson county, for the purpose Of addressing
meeting on educational matters The people OF the
vicinity had assembled to hear the speakers, when
large BODY Of armed Ku Kux appeared and
threatened their lives. The county Sheriff sum-
moned 600 men TO protect the visitors and to give
them safe conduct home. Ten OF the leading citi-
zens OF the place agreed to assume the RESPONSE
bility and escorted the party by very circuitous
route through Georgia TO Tallahassee. The assessor
complains OF the disorderly element OF this section
and thinks it viii be necessary TO have armed pro.
lection. 90. ~
Illicit Temperance In New England.
An interesting question has been presented TO the
Internal Revenue Bureau growing out OF the manu-.
facture in New England OF favorite temperance
drink disguised under the name OF hop beer but
which before the days OF the Maine Liquor law was
known strong beer, and which Is put up in bot.
ties. Supervisor wolcott. OF Massachusetts, asks
Bureau to decide whether not 1t not subject
to the same rulings weiss beer and thcmatter Is
now under consideration.
Tue Ames- Whitney Case.
Judge Humphreys to-day granted an order vacat-
ing the injunction against taking testimony 10 the
Ames- Whitney case. and the witnesses will be sum-
moned as at first contemplated.
Government Expenditures.
The payments made by the Secretary OF the Trea-
sury during the month of August exclusive OF inter.
est and on account or redemption the pubic debt
was as fOll0ws:--
Civil, Judiciary and miscellaneous .... S. 347, 1856
War. 3,l81, 24U
Navy. ......................... 2O65,97
Interior, pensions and Indians. .......... s557466
Total. ................ ..........., SIT, 152O69
The New Process sr Oscillation.
The Revenue Department has ruled that the FLASH
man process of distiliat!on, now becoming common
among distilers, does not shorten the fermentation
period, while 1t does materially increase the YIELD
Increased Hospital Tax on seamen.