, 1874-03-17
Secret Session Of the District In
vestigating Committee.
hlr. Carpenters Right to Name Its
Chairman Denied.
Session of the Howard Court Of
Inquiry.
The Accused Acquitted of lntentiona!
Wrong by Gen. Be!knap.
RETRENcHMENT AND REFORM.

Special 9spatch to The Chicago Tribune.
STOPPING TIE LAHDAULETrEs.
WASHINGTON, D. c., March 1G.-lfr. ODrion,
Of Maryland, introduced bill thlR morning for
tho reform Of certain abuses In tho
Civil Service III tho District Of Co.
lumbia, which will attract some attention.
Tho bill has q "whoroas, setting forth that
slavery has been abolished, and TINT private
Ivory is Il mark Of seryitule dorogatory to tho
dignity Of d citizen or solttior Of tho
United States. Tho bill then provides
TINT any Government official. Of whatoyor
rank, grade, or branch Of public aorvce. who
shall use for his private purposea my OF tile
property OF the Government, shall be doomed
guilty Of embozzloment, mud Oh conviction thore-
Of punished accordingly, rs already provided for
by law, and. IN addition, bo removed from his
office that all the
NECESSARY TRANSPORTATION Fol- THE DEPART
MENTs
aud officials In tho District Of Columbia shall be
Ind by ,ncans OF plain, stropgly-Guilt Wagons.
constructed for the purpose, md the use OF
pleasure calringes or family coaches ut public OK
peuso, is especially prohibited. The bill DIRECTS
TINT, II any Government official in tho Dis
trict shall provide himself with any
car!iaeo, lanaanetto; buggy, or any other tls de.
public expense; ehall Use tue horses belonging
to tho Government, or procure Or compel any
employe Of tho Governmontt to act in the capacity
Of driver OF servant for him, or to wear his
llvory such official Bhnll 10 held guilty Of Mis-
demoanor, aud bo liable to impeachment md re-
n1ovnl from Office, or may be found guilty by D
court OF law, tiaod not to exceed s100, and i'm.
prisoned not to exceed ono year, or Do subjected
to both punaitfeB at tho discretion OF the Court.
| NO I.1vEnIED SERVANTS.
Tho bill concludes with B. provision that, II any
Government ohicial III the District shall compel
| his servant to wear black cocknlo, Which is tho
| distinguishing mark Of tho meniRl servants OF
tho British Crown, lie snall Oil convlctio on before
Justice Of the peaco pay fine OF 910o for oacl,
.offonse, tho money to 80 to the school-fuud Of
I the District.
| II tLiH bill should pass both Houses, IT would
deprive tho peusive public Of the insprating
privilege OF socing their rulers dash along
| the avenues IN carriages purchased at
| Government expouse. and driven by dovorn-
ment employed, Houere, otc., in private liverieB.
| Tlure will be q universal howl go up forthwith
| from all snobdom II this bill Is pressed to q
speedy paasago. Judging from the present tom
per Of lilo House, 1t will pasa without much op'
! poaitiou.
| POSTAL CORRESPONDENCE.
It is asaericd that the Post Office Department
llayo been sending their official mail ma.tor, o
| q part Of it through tho mails without going
through tho formalltY Of paying postage On it
Tl1is is held to be unlawful, as no other Depart
| meut ia allowed tho Same privilege, uud a sun'
| committee Of the House Post Othce Committed
has been appointed to investigate tue matter.