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 OulrageS.
Financial Effects Of Consolidating In
ternal Revenue Districts.

Reform Under Discussion.
The Cabinet meeting to-day, which was o very
long one mostly devoted to hearing the views
OF Mr. George William Curtis on civil service REFORM
Nothing OF q definite character was determined
upon but the administration will shortly adopt the
views Of the civil service CORNERS and endeavor to
put into practice the ideas OF tness for Official posi-
non &c, which have long been the stock in trade
Of q very earnest class OF politicians. Already
the clerks In the departments are contemplating the
new era OF competitive examinations. and q bust
ness house here has introduced the .'cramming'
DOCKS the English service to point out to these
stratened oriicals 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 Will soon be adopted by the
President, founded upon the recommendations Of
the Commission. What they will be and what loop.
holes there Will be left in them for political favorit
ism cannot OF course be determined. Mr.. Curtis,
who has no doubt OF the reelection Of President
Grant, thinks the present time very favorable op-
portunty to test in practice the theories advanced
IN the bills OF Mr.. Jenckes and Senator SchurZ.
the five years which viii probably remain to the pres
ent administration he believes so much success may
follow this attempt to keep IN once men OF clerical
political considerations that 1t will be perilous to
the succeeding President to root them out on par.
tisan considerations 1t Is admitted that the dlff-
Guilty In the way is 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 Whole Cabinet meeting
was devoted to hearing Mr.. Curtis, and Mr.. Curtis
reformers win have practical test, are assurances
In the minds OF these people, at least that some
new thing under the is to be tried for the purf.
cation OF public lie But it is not 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
TO excluding all the little Fishes who may want
consular 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 the syndi.
cate, and Mr.. Creswen SAID Postmasters had not
been included in the former bills, and "a 1t
was not important that they should be able
: re- EUt lite they were political
Tie not 10 be interfered with on
.'al election. The Commission
se4 ..a tenn Of rules. but the indiner-
Hl&Hcf erences OF the Cabinet have
A infusion 1t may happen that
r-f..tura,,E rylce reform, Independent OF
p Congressional enactment may prove TO be only
tub TO the whale. Ii would certainly be heroic
thing for President who expects reelection to de-
clare that hereafter nobody should be appointed to
or kept in office who was unit for OH cla position.
Whether such declaration shall be made Is just
now what is agitating the Cabinet.
Report OF the Committee on Southern Out.
RACES.
The testimony taken by the Committee on Southern
Outrages, OF which senator Scott is chairman, in.
clndng the evidence before the subcommittee
which visited South Carolina is now in the hands
Of the chairman, who is preparing 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 Southern States. 1t is
The opinion among officials here that the Ku Klux
are dsbanding IN North and South Carolina and
that before the close OF the year the spirit OF dsln
tegration will pervade Georgia, Alabama and Mis-
sissippl. The Congressional act passed at the last
session for the suppression OF the Ku Klux out
RACES Is regarded complete The only test OF the
powers conferred has been at Raleigh and II re.
mains Tor the judiciary 10 decide whether
the act is constitutional not. The
United to Congress until after the holidays. 1t
Is probable that some recommendation win be made
On the subject of general amnesty. The minority
report will place particular stress upon the extrava.
giant taxation and burdensome legislation imposed
upon the people Of the reconstructed States.
GeOrgians Alarmed ut the Prospect Of Mar
tinI Law.
1t appears from the Georgia papers that mucn
alarm prevails under the apprehension that the
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.
Con. olidnting Int I'm al Revenue Districts.
Since the beginning OF the year nine collection
districts have been blotted from the list OF the
Internal revenue BY the plan OF consolidation IN.
.augu rated by President Grant. Four were In New
York city, two in Philadelphia, one in Cincinnati,
one In Baltimore and In San Francisco. This
effects saving OF at least 100000 In salaries OF
pfhcials.
The Case Of the Steamer Hornet
This government and the Spanish authorities
nave not yet arrived at an agreement respecting
the Hornet, now at Port au Prince, menaced by
Spanish vessels. A correspondence ia In progress
between the secretary OF state and Minister Roberts
the former protesting agalnst the design TO seize
that vessel, which is under the American nag.
Departure of General sherman for Europe.
Admiral Alden aud General Sherman accompa.
MED by Colonel Audenred ana Lieutenant Grant.
leave here tonight 10 embark on the Wabash to.
morrow for Europe. President Grant and wife VIII
20 with taeir son TO New YORK, there take leave OF
him and return to Washington on Monday.
Executive Appointments.
George b. DICK has been appointed as Assistant
Assessor for tile Thirtieth New York dis,rict
Anthony Banning as Gauger for the Fsfth OHIO dis.
frct, and George W. Donaldson as Assistant As
SCISSOR for the seventh Ohio district.
Opening Of the Fashionable Season in the
Capital.
The fashionable season was opened in Washing