The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1873-02-08
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.

~seAAAt~AAAS - SAASSSSf -
ton Statistics; English Language to
be Generally Spoken by the Japanese;
Congress Refuses to Increase the Edu-
cational Bureau Appropriation; Specie
Payment; Texas Retrograding Under
Democratic Rule; Suez Canal, Etc.
WASHINGTON, D. c., Jan. 80, 1873.
EDrroR CHIEF:
We are experiencing the coolest
weather of the season. The Their
mometer indicated this morning five
degrees below zero with very little
wind. Such weather in the extreme
North would be considered mild at
this season of the year; but here in
Washington where there is scarcely
ever two days. consecutive sleighing
in a year, it is considered intense.
Notwithstanding the cold weather
this morning; the streets subjected to
the rays of told SOL" to-day, are
muddy, and those who were delighted
with the belief that they could enjoy
a good sleigh ride, are disappointed.
The proposition for a reorganization
of the Internal Revenue Bureau and
a reduction of the present force in
General Spinner's and McCartv's di-
vision, is creating considerable con-
sternation among the clerks in these
departments. General Spinner's, like
Mr.. McCarty's, division is composed
mostly of ladies, whose 5salalies are
generally of from $75 to 800 per
month, and whose positions are re-
garded as little better than sinecures,
having in most instances been OBJ
tanned through Congressional infu-
ence. It appears ON examination OF
the record of this class of clerical
force that a great many now employed
there are neither the widow, sister or
daughter Of soldier.
The Credit Mobilier investigation
now going on will, after all, so every
one says, result in a great good to the
country. While the charges just made
against certain Congressman, that
they were stockholders in this sup
posed fraudulent concern, are true had
they not tried to screen themselves
by bearing false witness against each
other, the country might have excused
them. It is now too late. The de-
velopments throughsth investigation
have caused the impression in the
minds of honorable men, At least, at
the Nations Capital, that the country
! has good reason to distrust them.
| With Cakes Ames it was a mere bust
ness transaction; if we believe him, he
never dreamed of bribing any mem
Der of Congress to secure intlu-
entail men to help him carry out a
great enterprise, and had Vice Presi-
dent Colfax, Senator Patterson and
certain M. C's so considered it, two
days would have closed the Credit
Mobilier Investigation, and the morals
Of the country would not have been
contaminated.
Judge Hale, Ex-M.C., and NJ. C.
elect from the 10Th n. Y. district, now
counsel for Vice President Colfax, ap-
pears sanguine that there will be
sufficient evidence elected in day or
two to exonerate his client from all
censure-oth think differently.
Even the opponents of the telegraph
bill, reported by the Senate Post
Office Committee, are getting alarmed,
ard are using every means to defeat
the bill. Mr.. Orton Of the Western
Union has his hirelings on the ground
at work among Congressman. So far,
as lobbyists, they are not success.
The numerous letters received from
their constituents, endorsing the pres
ent movement to insure the people
cheap telegraphy, is having a whole
some influence upon the Senate and
the House of Representatives.
/. 1t has been supposed that by the
rules governing the Civil Service sys-
TEN a clerk in a department. was a
permanent fixture, unless the head of
the bureau over him should sustain a
charge Of incompetency or inidelity
in his official duties. IF the Commits
sioner Of Patents is correct, this is not
the case; for he has just requested a
principal examiner in his office, Mr..