The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1870-12-16

wAaussros. Dse II. 1870.

campaign. and said that Mr.. Coz, the ex-Sece-
tary Of the Interior. would be brought forward
rs . reform candidate, and recent Developments
20 10 confirm the idea A few days since prom
inent political manipulators Of parties and
makers Of presidents, left this city TO confer
with prominent democratic politicians OF New
York City to cndcayor. II possible. 10 organise .
reform party with Mr.. Cox as the coming man,
but failed 10 receive any aid or encouragement.
The democracy cf New York prefer TO run
Hoffman. and decline. altogether, any dilution,
by the way Of reform candidates, and therefore
the commitfce, composed Of conservative repsb-
licans, returned to the city somewhat discour-
aged, yet, II Is not to be supposed that the
prcjcct win end here.
Ii win be observed that the President and SEQ
rotary OF the Treasury do not agree in regard
% the tenure Of Office. In connection with the
civil service. The PRECEDENT fayos reform In
the civil service or tenure Of Office, whilst Mr..
Boutwell, thinks Il imprasticable, and that the
present system Is the best. The idea which Is
conveyed by the term, .'reiorm In the civil SER
vice." Is apt to mislead the people to great eI-
tent Whether tenure OF Office. and competi-
tive examination would lead 10 reform Is ques-
tiousble, therefore Il strikes me that new sys-
ten might be called change In the civil SER
vice. but 10 PREJUDICE the proposed plan BY cali
ing 10 . reform Is assuming too much. Reform
means .'to correct, TO better" and whether q
tenure Of Office would do this remains TO be
proved The Secretary Of the Treasury thinks
Il would not. 49,.
In the revision Of the Senatorial committee,
sor,e considerable confusion occurred in relation
To the committee on Foreign Relations, As u was
the desire Of the president TO secure, II possible,
one Senator upon that committee favorable to
the annexation Of San Domingo, and therefore
Il wa, proposed TO put Mr.. Couklng, who IL
now favorably inclined towards rstifying the
treaty, in the place Of Mr.. Shurr, but Mr..
Sumner strongly objected, and some consider
able discussion ensued. The result OF The con-
troyersy was the continuance Of the same CON-
mittee, which Is considered rs equivalent to
rejection Of the treaty. The president has urged
the ratification Of the treaty with such warmth
that its rejection would be kecnly fslta the
present time, especially as il is, or seems to be,
a tilt between Sumner and the president, but IL
would be well IL personal feelings were thrown
aside, and the question discussed as national
enc alone.
The next question Of Importance that has nj.
ready come before Congress IL the abolition OF
the franking privilege, and upon this subject
there viii probably be 4 spicy debate; IL has al
ready assumed some prominence. One thing,
however, Is sure. and that is, II the people de-
sire the abolition Of the privilege, they don't
desire to be imposed upon by amendments
granting still greater privileges to the members
OF Congress. The idea Of allowing members
500 TO pay their postage hardly meets the
question in the manner in which the people un-
derstand the subject, and il would be much bet
ter 10 let the law remain rs il is. This subject
il the great hobby Of the present Postmaster
Gen.ral, Mr.. Cresswell, and he presents its APP
parent evils in great force. .
I said, q short time since, that / thought o
change would be made in the Cabinet by ap-
pointing Mr.. Rorney proprietor Of the Chronic
Gle Of this ethyl Postmaster-General, and have
reason to suppose that the change will be eff
fected very room. Mr. forney adyertises for
sale the ChrOniele, with its good will. and 1t
may be that this is preparatory to his advent
into the Cabinet.
The Porter. Grant controversy is still much
talked about In the city, but the coolness with
which President Grant takes the affair is quite
remarkable, and his sending Porter's name to
the Senate as Admiral was noble act, which
certainly will tend 10 raise the admiration OF
tut VtOlAC tof theOS st@aeSs~sssf~ t-''~-
which snnoble the President.
Gen. Logan has presentsi to the House res-
olution abolishing the Office Of Admiral, and
also Of Vice Admiral when the latter shall have
become vacant. To-day at the Capitol quite an
animated discussion was had upon this ques-
ton, in the House. Gen. Dutler. Cox. Dawes,
Banks, and other prominent members aiyocat-
ing the affirmative Of the question. Ii Is con-
Ill III ,k.k tha nfH NJ AL
miral win be abolished, as IL seems to meet with
great favor by Cnngres., and the rccent apollo
getical letter Of Porter's will tend to hasten &C
ton upon the subject. The bill presented by
Senator Wilson to prevent the assessment OF
money upon government employees, Is certainly
rather condemnatory Of the action ofthe National
Committee in imposing tax upon the clerks
Of the government. Senator Wilson Is chair
man Of that committee, and Il was generally
understood that he was opposed to such meas
ure. His bill presented to the Senate confirms
the idea.
II Is authoritatively stated that Gen. Schenck
has accepted the English mission. and for the
self-sacri6ce that be has exhibited in thus tax
lag the situation aftsr 20 many have refused, he
Is entitled 10 the thanks Of the nation.
The sudden death Of Mr.. D. X. Grant Of the
Census Bureau, whose family resides in South
Berwick, Was announced on Monday last to the
surprise Of tho~c who were acquainted with the
deceased. Mr.. Grant Was recently appointed to
tbs Census Bureau, and although his connection
with this Office was brief, he had formed very
pleasant associations and wen many friends.
Although past hfly years Of age Mr.. Grant po-
sessed all the freshness Of youth, and by reason
Of his genial manners and conversational pow.
II. W.
death was occasioned by the inbsling OF chloro-
form preparatory TO . surgical operation being
performed, but no blame Is attached TO the ply
sieians who administered it. II has been con-
siderei unsafe 10 administer chloroiorm TO per-
sons who have deceased lungs, but more espcc-
tally 10 those who are troubled with the heart
disease, which understand was the case with
Mr.. Grant IL seems that Mr.. Grant had some
apprshensions that he might not survive the OPP
grafton, and that he wrote letter TO his wife TO
that effect. II is thought that his fears may
have tended 10 hasten the fatal rosulS The
Lafayette Lodge Of Masons, Of this district
assumed the expense Of sending his remains to
his family and some over $500 MAS contributed
By the clerks Of the bureau with which he was
connected.
A meeting Of the citizens Ct Maine residing
In this city iscalled tomorrow evening, to or
CANINE Maine Association, Hon. L ID. French,
81 Auditor Of the Treasury will undoubtedly be
elected President.
Quite eommotion occurred at the Census
bureau today, II. IN the fact that upon cIami-
nation. the buildiRg, occupied by the clerks at
the corner Of G-Sth street, was considered un-
safe and were therefore dismissed ut II o'clock.
. PRESriss.
POLITICAL.