Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1872-01-05
Coryesb0naence.
ORR u.ssAsryvsTO.v LETTRR.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 80.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 30.
PROTECTION AND ANTI-PRoTECTIoN.
IL is announced that the tariff aud reve-
nue. reforms 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 pro-
lection. II is understood that all the tariff
men are willing to go 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 pro-
lection will look to tire Senate for support,
and even here great change has been Of
fected and Senators will advocate lower
duties than they would have done last sos-
sion. 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 max
ing themselves very oflicious in regard 10
the operations of the new rules which will
govern the civil service ailer the new year
under the orders of the President. The
present employees are denounced as ian
army Of incapableS quartered on the ma
tional Treasury" The modest war which
Democrats and those who favor them are
making on the army Of incapables is more
deserved by the powers that be here than at
first appears. The fact is that nothing but
kicking by their enemies will ever arouse
the he DIS of Bureaus TO weed out the old
Incompetent Democratic pensioners from
our departments, and 1t is well known that
most of the dlers and shirkers are those
who have frozen to Office and democracy
under his accidency, Andrew johnson, or
away back since Buchanan's day. When,
therefore, it is assumed by greedy advo-
Gates ard practitioners of the doctrine, "to
the victor belongs the spoils,' that there is
not in the Republican party sufficient COM
petent men and women to perform the civ
IL service of the government, and that COM
petitive examinations will give them all
the patronage out of which to work up the
power to return again to the Jackson policy
OF making an indiscrimnate dismissal OF
political opponents, it is about time that
Democratic incompetency be looked after,
and that examinations he applied to them.
COMPETITIVE RAscALIrY.
1t is said by those who know, that Major
Hodges, at present bookkeeper in the AL
bany Penitentiary, was the most marvel
lousy well qualified in scholarship and
every other respect except morally, for
the position which he prostituted for gain
to the amount of nearly half million dol
lars, that ever filled the office of paymas-
ter. 1t is also suggested that if the Demo-
or ats could procure his pardon and estab
lish purely competitive examination as
to competency, he would go up head on
the list of Democratic civil servilians.
Why not3 But if he should fail as q rep
resentative Democrat, there are number
of aspirants to Office in New York, whose
experience in Tammany ought to qualify
them for an admirable test examination in
big figures, and fit them for max ing large
savings of the public money. If not, why
not?
No important business requiring atten-
ton, and some of the members of the Cab
met being absent from the city, the regular
Tuesday session was omitted, and there
will be no Cabinet meeting till today.
NJ. Catacazy, the late Russian Minister,
is bidding good bye to his friends here and
will soon leave US disconsolate for the want
of regular Catacazy bulletins of news. He
expects to be vindicated by his govern
nent, although he cannot reply to the otfi-
cial indictments against him. en-.