Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-10-23

SFkClAL AGENT SPERRY telesrap0s 10 tEe
Postmaster General that the first order for
stamped envelopes was filed yesterday by the
Plympt n company, and the second will proba-
bi- be filed a. day, aud that he sees NO rsas n
wuy the contractors cannot satisfy the require
ments OF the department.
MOVEMENTS or President GRANT-Presi-
cent GrsRt aud party arrived IN Pittsburg Yes-
terday afternoon By special train from Clevs
lsrd. They remained there until this mornin-
when they were to leave for Washington by tue
Pennsylvania Central railroad. Tne Presiden
l. accompanied by Mrs. Grant, ex Seeretar.
Borie, wife and daughter, Gen. BabcOck aud
Marshal Sharp.
WEDDING OUT IMB GCILE OFFICEHoLDRRs-
Special A gents Yaryan aDd Woodward TO day
made their report upon federal ofice-holders iu
Texas. 1t was in the form of Joint report to
Secretary BTistow and Mr. Jewell. The repOr
will be laid before the President on Friday, to
Rether with the recommendation that all the
PrInclpal treasury officers in the state with the
possible exception of the collector OF OF the port
of GalvestOn) and The postmasters of the lead
ing toEn be removed. The names of the sue
cessOTs have been determined on, and are said
To embrace some of the very best men in the
state. Senator Flanagan has persuaded some
OF the officers to be removed, and not to resign,
assuring them that he can and will protect
them in the Senate. The President, however,
has promised to stand by the Treasury and Post
Office departments in this effort to reform the
service, and Senator Flanagan's position is held
d
cept as it affects himself. The report submits
several cases in which money was paid to him
by those appointed and confirmed to office
Evidence is also presented to show that such
payments to him were far from unusual In the
case o. one assessor of internal revenue, 50 900
was paid, One-third of it TO Flanagan. The case
against him is one that the Senate cannot fail TO
take action upon. As soon as Texas affairs are
disposed of, the cases of two other southern
states will be taken up and proceeded with
vigorously, probably South Carolina and Ala
bama.-Wash. Dispatch ". r. Tribune, 22d.
CIVIL SERVICE REFoRM-Independent Stand
Of Secretary BristoW.-During each session of
Congress for the last four or five years attempts
were made to pass bill making it nisde-
meanor for members of Congress to recommend
or att6 mpt tn secure the appointment OF any
person TO a federal office. The bill permitted
representatives or senators to give their opinion
ot any candidate when requested 10 do so by the
President or the head of a department The
measure failed because 1t would take away from
members Of Congress much, if not nearly all of
their political power, and be the means of re-
turning q good many of them to private life
Ine practice of making appointments solely
upon the Recommendation of members of Con-
gress has seriously emb sTrassed the adminstra-
ton Of President rant. preventing thorough
organization of the civil service, founded upon
me1it and qualifications for the particular Off ces
70 De nlled from time to time. Since Secretary
Bri.tow assumed charge of the Treasury depsrt-
ulent be has witnessed the effect which this per-
nicious habit has produced, and as far as he is
concerned, mas determined to apply the remsdy.
In making future appointments he intends TO
recognize the fact that the President and heads
OF departments are responsible for them, and
that members Of Congress have no night TO make
demands for appointments in the Executive de-
partment. The practice which has grown up he
regards as detrimental to the interests OF the
service and tending 10 an absorption OF the
power conferred upon the Executive by the con
srtuton. de regards the civil service rules as
chiefly valuable in so far a. they present bar
TO the practice OF demanding such appoint
ments on the part or members of Congress
hololng these views, the Secretary declines to
submit to the dictatiOn of members of Congress
IN making appointments, although Le ,s willing
TO receive Information from them as from other
persons OF equal intelligence and trustworthi-
ness as to the merits of applicants for Offices but
IN no case will he make appointments solely on
their dIctation or Dispatch to
". 7. Erentng Post.