New-York tribune., 1873-02-03
WASHINGTON.
CURRENT TOPICS AT THE CAPITAL.
INCREASE IN THE PUBLIC DEBT.
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THB TRIBUNRl

showed a considerable increase, Secretary Boutwell,
explained the circumstance by saying that the tax due
from banks, amounting TO large sum- and which Is
paid at the end OF the year. had been received but had
not been posted 10 appear In the statement made
at that time He also semioficiay promised that the
statement for the OF February would surely show
decrease of s.OOO0Oo or $OOOOOo This statement was
given the public yesterday but the reduction promised
has not been made On the other hand there has been
further increase OF nearly 100000 The explanation
given the Treasury Department that there has been
paid during the past month account Of interest on
the Pacific Railroad bonds, over the amount retained
from paw for services rendered. o6. Had 1t not
been for this advance to Pacific Railroads IL is added
the debt would have been decreased 26o3o ss There
was also dsbursed from the Treasury during the past
month IL addition to the ordinary expenses 10
account OF deficiency In postal revenues III ls not % a
to attempt TO explain the increase 10 ,s % W. %ay te
interest on bonds loaned to the Paeihc ralrOads
portation' &C. deficiency bills are also passed at the
beginning Of session OF Congress- 80 tat the sums
past month on these accounts cannot be In any sense
looked upon as extraordinary expenses, while accord
money received during December appears in the bal
anceshee now presented II Is the opinion OF some OF
ther rednetion of the public debt will depend very
largely the condition Of business ana trade ana s s
may look for a considerable increase
A SINGULAR VETO.
The veto by the President OF the Senate b TOT tne
relief OF the East University. the ground
that the b II IL became law. would establish prece-
dent that the Government is liable for the ravages OF
war; is regarded as rather strange proceeding The
President on Jan 49, 1871 approved bill for the ree1
Of the Transylyania University of Kentucky precisely
identical in principle and exactly the same In words,
except In name and amount with the bill just vetoed by
him. The Kentucky University received t25,00O which
amount was for the use and occupation OF the
building grounds, &C., OF the University, ana
when IL has stated that the Government has been
paying for the last ten years claims of precisely SIM
liar character tlw be that the Presidents Obec-
tons are without much force Another objection urged
by the President is that the Tennessee is like the
OF j. Milton Best, also vetoed by him. when az
matter OF fact Dr. Bests property mad been condemned
aud Board of Survey had made examination Of the
property and awarded considerably larger sum than
the bill vetoed by the President allowed him ten years
after the taking of the property. Had the Board not
been dispersed by the eXgencies OF war; before their
formal report signed Dr. Best would long ago have
received pay property taken by the Government
for its time when hostile army within 100
IN the best cSse the PRESIDENT sSd Besides there are
strong for believing that the amonnt OF damage
has been greatly overestimated. If this be true, 10
furnishes an Illustration OF the danger OF trusting & en-
strong reasons" referred TO simply the Presidents
impression he told Senator that he saw no house in
Paducah when he went through that city worth $4,000
When the Best bill passed the House il received the
votes Of such men as Messrs Dawes, Garfield Blair,
Kelley. scofed, Kecham, and Others who are opposed
to any bill paying for mere raVages oil war.
NEED OF CIVIL SERVICE REFORM AT THE
CAPITAL.
The subject OF Civil Service Reform VIII come before
Congress in the Miscellaneous Appropriation bill, and
Senators and Representatives are gathering facts from
which TO construct speeches either for against the
resent system Of reform. Tho old adage that charity
begins at had better application than 10
the Civil Service in tho capitol In old times, the eu-
poyes Of the Senate considered their positions per-
manent aud pages looked forward to promotions to be
messengers and clerks and 10 the higher Offices in
the Gift Of the Senate Now, men hold their positions
entirely by favor, aud several OF the Senators who
have been here for many years 90 out on the an OF
March, of the best clerks expecting TO lose their
places because they the proeges of the defeated
Senator'S Several changes have been made this session
which are m the most direct conflict with all principles
of Civil Service reform. One OF the most expe cenced
clerks has been removed to give place TO the brother OF
thought would look better to have his family name on
rolls of the Senate than those of the House The
Clerk of Senate Committees, who has held his
position Is or 20 years. longer than any member OF the
Committee, has been removed because he said some
thing in the campaign that offended Senator IL has
been proposed that the Civil Service laws be amended
as TO extend their operation to the capitol.
UNEQUAL SALARIES OF CoNGREssMEN.
Members OF the Judiciary Committee OF the House. In
considering the question of the increase Of salaries OF
members Of Congress- nave looked into the facts as 10
the mileage of members and Senator's 1t is shown by
the records that the salaries and allowances OF Con-
gressnen are by no means equazed, some members re-
ceving 81 600 or 81 800 than others over and above
the expenses Of travelling This is shown by the fact
that ten Of the members who receive the greater amount
of mileage get on an average 1920 per
year, while the AVERAGE OF 81, an ~ equal at
amount is about S37 The highest amount OF mileage
drawn by member is tnat OF Deiegass M nd b t
amount is by Mr. Merriek Of Maryland $40 1t Is
held that members and delegates from the Pacific Coast
all of whom have Pacific Railroad passes come from
their homes 70 Washington for from 500 to $780, paying
shown that their pay and allowances exceed those OF the
Eastern States by about 1000 The new bill of tine Com
mittee proposes to abolish the mileage of members and
| pay them their actual expenses 10 Washington.
AN IMPORTANT INDIAN BILL.
very important bi relating to the administration Of
Indian affairs was passed by the House. ON Saturday,
without objection. The bill provides that all books, re-
cords contracts vouchers orders, receipts, and papers
OF every description that relate directly or indirectly TO
the payment anticipated payment OF any money or
other thing OF value Government account in the Office
| OF any Indian agent subagent, shall be public
| records, and open 10 the inspection Of any per-
during all reasonable business hours, and makes
refusal to show such records papers misdemeanor
vouchers ORDERS and provides for the public
distribution of all money and goods to Indians with
duplicate accounts to be sent to the Indian COmms-
sioner. The importance Of law like tins will be
when II is known that many OF the Indian agents have
greater percentage OF money appropriated for the IN
dians stolen than OF that set aside for any other pup
| pose
| CIVIL SERVICE REFORM,
| GENERAL PRESS DIsPATCH.I
BY invitation OF the President, George William Curtis
and other members Of the Advisory Board OF the Civil
Service met the Cabinet during the past week. at the
Executive Mansion, for the purpose OF interchangng
as 10 the operation OF the Civil Service rules The
Testimony OF all the Cabinet officers was unexpectedly
favorable. Ii was conceded that, rule, the per
sons entering the service under the new system
superior In both capacity and efficiency TO
those appointed under the old plan and the
cessation OF importunity for Office Is great relief
There no likelihood that the ADMINISTRATION will re
applied to the New York Custom
house. where pressure for place has been greatest
The prospect be that their operation Will be
extended The Board OF Examiners for the Treasury