The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-12-30
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 20, 1871.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. CORRECTED.

ana several Olncr papers, OppOSeu W inc
denomination of General Grant, greatly
misrepresented the late contest in the
Senate on the subject of creating COM
mittec on investigation of the Civil Service.
If these misrepresentation were not calcu
lated to throw discrcdit upon the entire
Republican party, they might be passed by
in silence, for their intriguing and personal
character is sufficiently exhibited when
they hold President Grant responsible for
the votes and conduct of the thrty-fve
Republican Senator's WHO voted for
standing, instead of q special, committee.
Senators Morrill,, of Vermont, and Howe,
of Wisconsin, and others are no more
likely to ask Grant how to vote than Carl
q Schurz. a
The question of standing or special COM
mittee was sorely incidental. The real
and only difference between the Democrats
and their pseudo Republican allies and the
Republicans was whether said committee
should be clothed with the extraordinary
power, which no other committee has and
which number of Senator's deem uncon-
stitutional of instituting er pmte inyesti-
cations, without the knowledge OF the Sem
ate. The Republican majority declared
that they would grant this power of send
ing for persons and papers whenever Sem
ator would propose the investigation of
particular subject, which would meet the
appreciation of the majority. If they
had, under the threats Of the New
York Tribune, succumbcd and ceased
to guard the constitutional liberties
of all the people--bo they members of the
civil service or in private lifc-they would
have committed weak and foolish act.
And SO far as proper bounds have been ex-
cccded, the Democrats and their allies are
clearly responsible. AS soon as the people
understand that the only difference between
the sensible majority and spiteful minority
was whether a roying and uncomfortable
star chamber commission should be set to
work, or whether all investigations should
be conducted according to methods hereto
fore practiced; they will rest satisfied that
in general as in this instance, wisdom has
prevailed among our national counsellors
on the side of the administration.
PROTECTION AND ANTI-PROTECTIoN
1t is announced that the tariff and reve-
nue. reformers are fully organized, and are
acting in unison with the American Free
Trade League with several representatives
here during the session, while the tariff
men are not well organized, and only
Pennsylvania is moving for general protec-
ton. 1t is understood that all the tariff
men are willing to 90 as far as the Secreta-
ny of the Treasury recommends except as
to the reduction of fifty per cent. on the
duty on coal and salt. The Ways and
Means Committee are so organized that
protection will look to the Senate for sup
port, and even here a great change has
been affected, and Senator's will advocate
lower duties than they would have done
last session. The salt companies of New
York, Ohio, Michigan, and West Virginia,
have entered vigorous protest against the
fifty per cent. reduction Of the duty on salt.
GREEDY FOR PLUMBER.
The Democratic papers are just now
making themselves very oflicious in regard
to the operation-of the new rules which
will govern the civil service after the new
year, under the orders of the President.
The present employees are denounced as
''an army of of incapables quartered in the
national treasury" The modest war which
Democrats and those who favor them arc
making on the army of incapables is more
deserved by thcpowers that be here than
at first appears. The fact is that nothing
but kicking by their enemies will ever
arouse the heads of bureaus to weed out
the old incompetent Democratic, pensioners
from our departments, and it is well known
that most OF the oilers and shirkers are
those who have frozen to office ana De-
mocracy under his accidency, Andrew
johnson, or away back since Buchanan's
day. When therefore, it is assumed by
greedy advocates and practitioners Of tho
doctrines 'to the victor belongs the spoils,
that there is not in the Republican party
c,tfficiapt p0ponafant mon and women to