New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-11-20
CONGRESS and its Work.

The following is contained in q special
dispatch from Washington to the New York
Graphic:
am enabled to state on the very highest
authority the probable programme OF the
administration during the coming session
of Congress.
First, there is no thought whatever on
the part of the President or Of any of his
advisors OF making change in the person.
mel of the Cabinet. The President is per
fectly satisfied with every member of the
present administration. They know their
duties, are thoroughly efficient, and. as the
President believes, are honest and prompt
in the performa' &c Of the various functions
which pertain to their offices. The Presi-
dent does dot see any necessity for a
change, even in the least important men
bers OF the administration.
Secondly, think am authorized in con.
tradicting entirely the notion that there is
any change in the financial position taken
by the President in his messages, especially
the veto message. He does not propose to
bulge one inch from the position respecting
. return to specie payments-as early
"a the business Of the country will admit Of
He is in favor of no rash or immediate
change, but would like to signalize his ad-
ministration by the restora ion Of good
order and good feeling in the South, and
BY the resumption of specie payments, SO
that the currency of the United States would
be identical with the currency OF the world.
He is inclined to the belief that there c.:
be no return to any real prosperity uni
gold and silver are again made the circulat.
ing medium of the country. 1t is not i'm
probable that the administration may favor
. repeal of the legal tender act, which re-
peal many here believe would restore the
prosperity of the country and start COM
mercial and manufacturing interests at
once. But contraction, it is believed here,
would only prolong the present dull state of
trade, and might even produce another
panic. The specification of = time, how
Dver, when the greenbacks would cease
to be legal tender for debt, would, it is
believed, stimulate business, as every ore
would be anxious to part with his notes for
some form of property. The stimulus once
given, it would continue up to and after the
time they ceased to be legal tender, and
when they were simply deprecated cur
rency quoted at q discount.
Thirdly, have the very highest authority
for saying that it will be the aim of the
administration to favor works of public
improvement on the seabOard and lakes
and on the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. in fact
that labor can be employed at fair rates. A
hard winter is approaching, and instead of
charity the President believes the people
ought to have work. A liberal disburse.
ment Of funds by the government would
affect the retail trade OF the country, and
would induce manufacturers everywhere to
increase production. A judiciOus spending
of money during the coming winter would
be an immense help to the final resumption
ct business all over the country. OF course,
no works will be undertaken except such
~ are of permanent value to the ma
ton. There will undoubtedly be an in
crease in the army and navy, and there
will be appointments for new and better
ships, repairing of old vessels, and, after
the meeting OF Congress. dOckyards and
arsenals will be busy and noisy with the
hum of industry. That there will be
disposition on the part of the coming Con-
gress to take some such line of action as |
have indicated in regard to appropriations
for public works is, l think. highly prOba-
BILE. A large number of the members will
be irresponsible: they will he in frame of
mind to spend money. The government
can not prevent that. All it can do is to try
and influence legislation, and see that the
expenditures are for worthy objects, and
that their effect will be the employment of
labor and the promotion of the industrial
interests Of the country.
FOurthly, the President will do all he can
to enforce the civil service rules. The last
Congress failed to make an appropriation
for continuing the work Of the commission. |
This will be rectitied this year, and, it is
thought that, if there is any danger Of the
Democrats carrying the next presidential
election, an effort will be made to give us q
permanent civil service. Commissions will
be everywhere appointed to investigate the
fitness of the present otficeholders, and, if |
they pass proper examination, they will
be appointed for life or good behavior. 1t
il the Presidents wish that this should be
done. His Cabinet will support him, and
the only difficulty will be with the Senate
and House. If the majority Of the members
do really think that there ia danger OF the
election of Democratic President, they
will pass this great reform, and 20 before
the country as to the permanence of the
system.