The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-05-25
WASHING TON.
The Cabinet and the Civil Service Ad-
visory Board en- Rapport.
President Grants Determination in the
Natter Of Departmental Reform.
COCKBURN AND GUSHING.
England's Chief Justice t. Reply 10 the At
tack Of the Geneva Counsel.


tack Of the Geneva Counsel.
Expected Arrival In Washington Of the Rio
Grande Commissioners.
WASHINGTON, May "a, 1873.
Meeting OF tho Cabinet with the Civil
Service Advisory Board.
The President convened the Cabinet this morn
ing, at ten O'clock the members OF the Civil
Service Advisory Board ana talk over civil service
reform. All the Cabinet officers, except Secretary
Robson, and five members OF the Board were
present. The President said the meeting was In
formal and to put the heads OF departments and
the members OF the Board en- rapport. A general
discussion then followed, all present having some
thing to say. The President renewed his assurance
that he was in earnest and willing to carry into
effect any plan approved by the Board. congress-
man Sheabarger frankly stated that he was more In
sympathy with reform after hearing the Presidents
declaration and what progress had already been
made, and was glad to know the Cabinet was q
unit on the subject. This brought out Secretary
Richardson, who briefly stated his views, a.
gathered rom practical experience at the head Of
the department having the greatest number Of em.
pl0yes In important positions For departmental
work proper here In Washington his suggestion
was distribution OF appointments among the States
according to population; competitive examination,
as now, with special regard to the ability OF the
contestants for the positions to be filed, character
and education-in o word what any merchant at
the head OF a great house would do In the selec-
ton Of employees. He was glad to say the
system proposed by him did not contemplate any
political interference, and he would be glad n the
system was adopted
Nothing was definitely agreed upon, but IL was
the opinion Of the members OF the Cabinet as well
as the Advisory Board, that the appointments in
departments should be distributed over the ceun-
try. The result OF the interchange Of views, which
was harmonious In every respect, Will be embodied
In the plan to be drafted at their meetings next
week, and submitted to the President for approval
1t can be positively stated that Secretary Rich
ards0n's plan will be the basis of the proposed
vision. Shellabarger is more jealous than ever in
his determination to give the reform his best
energy.
Sir Alexander Cockburn to Reply 70
Cushing's Book.
It is understood that Chief Justice COckburn will
reply to the book written by Caleb Cushing in the
same spirit, and give his views OF Adams and the
American Counsel Gushing will again reply; and
1t Is said by one Of our Counsel at Geneva that
Cushing has plenty Of unused material with which
to remind John Bull OF the determination not TO
agree to the decision OF the majority OF the arb-
traitors The only thing regretted by Cushing's
associates is his attempt to belittle Cockburn's
ability.
The Mexican Border Commissioners Eek.
pected In Washington Shortly.
Advices received here to-day state that Colonel
7. p. Robb, General T. Osborn and Major r. II.
Savage, comprising the Commission investigating
depredatlons and disorders on the frontier will ar
rive In this city on June 8. The Commission has
visited nearly the entire extent OF the Mexican
Texas line. and taken evidence at many points,
The health OF the party is good but they have
countered many exciting adventures. Some time
since, while in camp on the Rio Grande, above
Fort Mcintosh, one OF the Commissioners, Major
Savage, was attacked by what was supposed to be
large specimen OF o Mexican lion, which
made desperate charge at him, but which
was shot by the sergeant OF the escort before the
Major was seriously injured. On one occasion one
Of the Commissioners was attacked by one OF the
dangerous lizards peculiar to Texas and Northern
Mexico, but succeeded in shooting 1t before being
bitten by the reptile.
Nothing Is said in the letters received about the
recent battle with the Kckapoos but they that
unless authority Is given the military commanders
to follow and punish predatory bands on Mexican
soil, the constant raids and robberies cannot be
stopped without force large enough to guard
the entire line from the Gulf to FL Paso Del Norte
The Atlantic National Bank Paying UP.
The Comptroller OF the Currency has received
such information from the receiver of the Atlantic
National Bank as to warrant the statement that in
a few days a dividend OF forty per cent win be
declared, and that in a few weeks another OF the
same amount will be declared. while the final SET
Element will bring the dividend very close to 100
per cent
Affairs I'm Louisiana.
The Attorney General this morning received Q
despatch stating that the Supreme Court OF LOUISE
has just decided two cgses OF contest for office
under the Intrusion act and in both cases the
legality OF the officers holding Office under the
Kellogg government was sustained. 1t Is also said
that the opposition in Louisiana are dissatisfied
with Senator Carpenters speech.
The Minister to Colombia.
william L. Scruggs, Minister to the United States
OF Colombia, is here en- route to Bogota. He re-
ceved instructions to-day and sails from New York
next week. Mr.. Scruggs Is from Georgia. native
OF East Tennessee, and former editor OF the At
antic Ne,c Era. He was rebel during the war.
Railroad Land Squabble.
The Secretary OF the Interior has overruled the
application OF the McGregor and Missouri River
Railroad Company for the reversal OF his decision
recently rendered against the said company and in
favor OF the st. Paul and Sioux City Railway Com.
pany, involving the title to certain lands covered
by overlapping land grants. The Northern Pacific
Railroad Company has filed with the Secretary OF
the Interior maps showing the definite location OF
Its road between the Red River OF the North and
the Missouri River. This Ia formality to secure
the permanent withdrawal Of the lands on this
portion OF the route granted to the company
Signal station ON Pixies Peak.
The Secretary Of War, at the request OF Professor
Hayden, has ordered signal station to be estab-
lished on the summit OF Pixies PEAK.