The Portland daily press., 1874-03-21
The Five Points Reformer.

By mere luck Mr.. Fernando Wood, the
present Democratic leader of the House of
Representatives. has been more fortunate
than some of his associates who are now hay
ing too much time on their hands in the peni-
Tertiary. After life of unusual disrepute and
political record of unrelieved blackness, by
virtue Of his position in the Democratic par
ty, he put himself to the task of setting forth
the sins and sinners of the Republican party.
That it has both, we have always freely ad-
mitted and have spared no effort to warn our
friends against them, but that this Five
Points Reformer should undertake this work
can only be accounted for on the ground that
The knows how it is himself,
Some time since we published an abstract
OF Mr.. Woods speech in the House. 1t was
delivered to the country and intended to in
huence the pending elections. Mr.. Wood
sets forth his acc usati8fs under fifteen sepa-
rate heads like an old-fashioned sermon,
making formidable array; but being man
Oh sagacity, he is fully aware that his charges
VIII have no more weight with candid men,
IMAM the daily accusations of his party press.
consequently the few that he desires to make
enective, he bases upon official reports.
Under the head OF 'sfour.hly," Mr.. Wood
charges that under Republican administra-
ton, the civil list has been increased from
44,5O0 persons in 1859 to $1,000. To prove
this statement he takes the biennial register,
known as the "8lue Book These figures
have been extensively published, and in the
next campaign will stare the reader of the
average Democratic organ in full face capital
letters, both for the purpose of astounding
Republicans who desire reform and melting
the famishhfg office seekers in their own
ranks to deeds of valor, in the hope that after
1875, they may be allowed to fill these sc, $50
places. er-.- ri q .aesr...r .5s..,-
A few days since Mr.. Kellogg of Connecticut
replied to the speech of Mr.. Wood, showing
conclusively that the Five Points Reformer
has deliberately undertaken to stuff the
blue Book with false figures as it is alleged
he has SO frequently caused TO be done to the
ballot boxes OF his famous locality. For in
stance in the War Department, Mr.. Wood
gives the civil service list as numbering / 6ee
when, as Mr.. Kellogg says. there are 992 nv
actual count, the balance being undoubtedly,
officers of the army and perhaps the cadets al
West Point. Mr.. Kellogg next turns 10 the
Postal Department. Of the 1,022 pages o.
''Blue Books 66s pages are devoted to the
Postal Department Alone Mr.. Wood in his
speech states that there was OPS civil EN-.
ployes in this department. On this point
Mr.. Packer, chaiimen of the Postal Com.
mttee said that, including postmasters clerks,
route agents, letter carriers, contractors. in
short every employee of the service, even
though he received but SIS year fol
taking a mail bag from a train
to the Office, there are 400 instead of
oo'225 as stated by Mr.. Wood, difference of
io'zlo. The fact is the Blue book contains
.ne names OF persons who have resigned,
49, VI oeen employed but a part of the
Time. Considering the extension of the mail
service since 1859. at which time M, woo,,a
figures give 1924 names on ~ WI "ooe >
the increase Of employees is not composs sa ns''
with the growth of the service =. .,sn
increase OF business. M INC great
Similar err9rs were shown and the c,rso -
the increase explained in all the departma n !,