The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-11-11
The Question Of Civil Service Re-
form Before the Cabinet.
Sharp Criticisms Upon the Report Of
the Committee.
The Ku Klux Organization Shown Up by The
Committee on Southern 0uirages.
Financial Effects Of Consolidating In.
ternal Revenue Districts.


Reform Under Discussion.
The Cabinet meeting to-day, which was q very
long one, was mostly devoted to hearing the views
OF Mr. George William Curtis on civil service reform.
Nothing OF definite character was determined
upon but the administration will shortly adopt the
views OF the civil service reormers ana endeavor to
putinto practice the ideas OF tness for ofcial posi-
ton, &C., winch have long been the stock IN trade
Of o very earnest class OF politicians. Already
the clerks In the departments contemplating the
new OF competitive examinations. and bust
ness house here has introduced the 'crammingn
DOCKS of the English service to point out to these
straitened oricias the way to favor under the new
order OF things. Just now the rules adopted by the
Civil Service Commission are In very chaotic state
and are subject to modification and revision by the
Cabinet politicians SO that their publication
would be practically useless but code OF
rules VIII soon be adopted by the
President founded upon the recommendations OF
the Commission. What they will be and what loop.
holes there VIII be left in Them for political favort
ism cannot OF course be determined. Mir. Curtis,
who has no doubt OF the reelection Of President
Grant thinks the present time very favorable OPP
portunity to test In practice the theories advanced
In the bills OF Mr. Jenckes and Senator SchurZ. In
the five years which will probably remain to the pres
ent administration he believes SO much success may
follow this attempt TO keep in ONCE men OF clerical
ntneSS ana Known honesty, independently OF mere
political considerations that 1t will be perilous to
the succeeding President to root them out on par.
tisan considerations. 1t Is admitted that the dInl-
Guilty in the in the appointment OF the pres.
ent officers IN The usual manner political influence
only being considered ana that much is lacking,
owing TO the fact that few OF them
have been long In the civil service. But
the circumstance that a Whole Cabinet meeting
was devoted to hearing Mr. Curtis and Mr.. Curtis
own confidence that the appeals OF the civ service
reiormers will have practical test, are assurances
In the minds OF these people, at least, that some
thing under the sun is TO be tried for the purif
cation Of public LIE. But it is improbable that
even this hope, which may spring from Mr.. Curtis
earnestness, may be defeated. The Cabinet
officers picked TO pieces the rules which
ne presented, and the whole work OF
the Commission was rather contemporary dealt
with. Mr. Fish could not quite see his way clear
20 excluding all the little Fishes who may want
consular or diplomatic appointments, and Mr..
Delano showed that he had particular regard for
certain class OF Ohio politicians; Boutwell, showed
no interest, being entirely absorbed in Inc synd
cate, and Mr.. Creswen SAID Postmasters had not
been included in the former balls, and az 1t
was not important that they should be able
1850 Rut tie they were q political
..ht not 10 be interfered with on
ae ete val election The Commission
a4 ntr 4sd tenn of rules, but the indiner-
ntaeI erences OF the Cabinet have
EIe infusion. 1t may happen that
IGsbronrs ,.N rvice reform, Independent OF
Congressional enactment, may prove TO be only a
tub to the whale. IL would certainly be heroic
thing for President who expects reelection to de-
clare that hereafter nobody should be appointed to
or kept in ONCE who was unit for OH cIa position.
Whether such declaration shall be made Is just
now what is agitating the Cabinet.
Report OF the Committee Southern Ont.
The testimony taken by the Committee on Southern
Outrages, OF which senator Scott is chairman in.
Guiding the evidence before the subcommittee
which visited South Carolina, is now in the hands
Of the chairman, who is preparing a careful digest
Tor the special report. II will trace the history OF
the Ku Klux organization from Its formation in
Giles county, Tennessee In 1866, through its
qualifications in the Sou hern States 1t is
The opinion among officials here that the Ku Klux
are disbanding IN North and South Carolina and
that before the close OF the year the spirit or disln-
tegration will pervade Georgia, Alabama and Mis-
sissippi. The Congressional act passed at the last
session for the suppression OF the Ku Klux out
RACES 10 regarded as complete. The only test OF the
powers conferred has been at Raleigh and IL re.
mains for The judiciary 10 decide whether
the act is constitutional not. The re-
port OF the committee will not be sub.
mitted to Congress until after the HOLIDAYS II
is probable that some recommendation Will be made
On the subject of general amnesty. The minority
report will place particular stress upon the extrava
CANT taxation and burdensome legislation imposed
upon the people OF the reconstructed States.
GsOrsians Alarmed at the Prospect Of Mnr-
tiaI Law.
1t appears from the Georgia papers that mucn
Alarm prevails under the apprehension that the
President Will declare martial law In that State. 10
may be safely said, however, that such Is not his
design, there being nothing In the present cond.
tion OF any part OF Georgia to warrant such
measure report was published recently that
Senator Scott, Chairman Of the Ku Klux Committee
had recommended the Issuing or the proclamation
bot that gentleman himself denies that the report
has The least foundation
Consolidating Internal Revenue Districts.
since the beginning or the year nine collection
districts have been blotted from the list OF the
internal revenue by the plan OF consolidat alton IN
.augurated by President Grant. Four were In New
York city, two in Philadelphia, one in Cincinnati.
one In Baltimore and one IN san Francisco This
effects saving OF at least 100000 In salaries OF
officials.
The Case Of the Steamer Hornet
This government and the Spanish authorities
have not yet arrived at an agreement respecting
the Hornet now at Port au Prince, menaced by
spanish vessels. correspondence IL in proQress
between the secretary OF State and Minister Roberts
me former protesting against the design 10 seize
that vessel, which is under the American nag.
Departure Of General sherman for Furopc.
Admiral Alden and General Sherman accompa.
MED by Colonel Audenreid ana Lieutenant Grant
ieave here tonight TO embark on the Wabash TO.
morrow tor Europe. President Grant and wife win
30 WIN their son to New York, there take leave az
Nun ana return TO Washington on Monday.
Executive Appointments.
george .. DICK has been appointed as Assistant
Assessor for tile Thirtieth New York a,srr,c,
Anthony Banning as Gauger for the ESfth ONO a,s'
frct, and George w. Donaldson as Assistant A..
SCISSOR for the seventh Ohio district.
Openisg Of the Fashionable Season In tho
Capital.