Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-03-11
From the National Capitol.
WASHINGTON, March 7, 1874.
Ell. Rca,ubkcan j:

Appellant, against the City of Watertown,
of which you doubtless were informed,
through The telegram to Mr.. Hall, nothing
is yet known, rs the opinion itself is not
made public until printed. Justice Hunt
delivered the opinion, which was the first
one read on the re-assembing of the Court
on Monday last, and Justices Clifford and
Swayne dissented.
The discussion in the Senate during the
last week has been chiefly confined to the
Centennial bill, which is generally presum-
ed to be the forerunner for large appro-
priatoB from the government The ch ief
objection seems to be to making the Cen
tennisl the occasion for an international ex-
position, but unfortunately it appears that
Congress has already committed itself on
the subject by the first bill passed year or
two ago, and that several governments have
already accepted an invitation to be repre-.
scented at the exhibition. The opposition
to any appropriation from the government
seems to be quite general, and it looks as
if Congress weud not be willing to assume
any futher responsibility in the matter.
The House has done but little, except peg
sing away at some measures Of minor I'M
portance.
To Judge from bill introduced into the
senate b. Mr.. MorriI, Of Maine, it does not
look as il Congress intended to be very hard
on tie 'grasping monopoies." The bill
provides that the use Of the mai Is shall be
solely restricted to the transmission of let
,ers, newspapers aud unbound books, and
that no bound books, samples or merclan-
disc seeds, &C., shall hereafter be Transmitted
by mail. It will readily be seen that this
vii! throw very large amount Of business
in the bands of the Express companies, now
already monopolizing the business of carry
ing such goods as cannot now be carried BIZ
mail 1t strikes one that instead of re-
st!cting the transmission Of matter by
mail, it should be extended, so as to allow
packages heavier than four pounds to be
carried in the mail. 1t is urged in favor of
the bill that it would reduce the expenses
OF Post Office Department for railroad car
riage very materially, aud this is undoub'-
eddy true, bu, on the other hand 1t should
be taken into consideration that the mails
are not instituted for the purpose of making
money for the government, but for The
benefit and convenience of the people.
The bill TO send public document. free in
the mails has been temporarily defeated in
the House by a majority of two it will I'M
doubtedly be brought forward ag,in, as
will also bill restoring the ranking privi-
lege, but the latter has but little chance Of
success. Many bills are on the calendar for
the free transmission of papers in the coun-
ties where published and one of them vii.
undoubtedly become law.
The reaction against the so-caled "Ciyil
Service Reform has partly set in, and it is
not very likely that we will heer much
more of that humbrg, as far as examlna-
tons for clerkshps and promotion are con-
cerned, The several heads of bureaus
whose opinions have been asked, are nearly
unanimously against the system in its
practical work. ngs, and many outside of
the Departments have opposed it from the
beginning. Among those General Butter
has been foremost, who, whatever else may
be said against him, certainly stands up for
the soldiers on every possible occasion and
warmly advocates their cause. His victory
in the confirmation of Simmons as Collec-
tor at Boston against strong opposition in
Senate and House, and in Boston itself, has
been matter Of great pride to him, and
has probably been the downfall Of Senator
Boutwell,, who tried to be on both sides,
and, as usual, offending both parties
Byssa little resolution introduced few days
ago Butler has done more to reform the
Civil Service than all the ordeas and man
dates Of the me begs Of the Civil Service
Board, who received $50 a day for their
services consisting Of two or three hours
work. The resolution is to the effect that
two or more members of one family shall
not be employed in any one de, a~tment;
this will cure an abuse that has gradually
grown up in all departments under which
whole families are being fed at the public
crib. The appointment of some person to
an important Office has generally been fol-
lowed by the appointment of several mem
bers of the family, sons, daughters, son-in-
law, &C., &c, to subordinate offices under
him, and custom has generally grown
up in the city here by which sons of per-
sons employed n the Departments, as soon
as they are old enough to leave school, are
appointed in the same Office where the
father is. This system is said to prevail to
and immense extent, and the resolution, if
finally passed, will root ont a number of
such cases. w.
The following report of the celebrated de-
cision Of Rees vs.. the City of Watertown,
nv the T1nifn1 Stofoe Cunro,,o ro,,t IVA