Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1876-09-07
Our Washington Letter

Special Correspondence Of the OBSERVER.
W AsHINGTON, ID. c, Sept. /, rs.
There was much excitement
yesterday in the various De-
partmcnts, as it was currently
reported thata large reduction
would be made in the clerical
force OF the government. I'm
der the provisions of the legis-
lative, executive and judicial
appropriation bill it is necessa-
ry TO discharge seven hundred
and sixty-fve; of this number
sixty sometime since resigned,
feeling that their tenure was
frail. The remainder received
notification yesterday that their
services were nolonger required,
or in other words they were
| given leave Of absence till Oc-
tober 10th, when they would re-
ceive a months pay in advance
and be excused from further
service. 1t has been customary
from time immemorial in the
! Department when a clerk was
to be discharged to leave on his
desk a note from the proper
authority slating that his servi-
ces were no longer required.
These notes always game in
yellow envelopes, and to say
that one had or would receive
"a yallow kivver" was in eff
feet saying that he had been OF
would be discharged. But it
seems that yesterday the Treas
urcr having four males and six
ty female clerks to discharge,
and fearing that if the usual
style was adopted it might Gre
ate much confusion in the Of
fee, and perhaps result in I'M
desirable scenes, especially a.
mong the ladies; he therefore
obtained the private addresses
of all that we're doomed, to theil
residences and upon their re-
turn home after office hours
they found the unwelcome mis-
sive awaiting them. This seems
sad, but if the party in power
would at the solicitation of
prominent politicians, make
needless appointments and Gre
ate uncalled-for offices merely to
give employment to the pets
and favorites Of men who de-
manded patronage for services
rendered, they have themselves
alone to blame for the unfortu-
nate state Of affairs produced by
the rctrenchment their eXtrav-
agance had rendered impera-
lively necessary. Long and
meretorious services received
no consideration in selecting
the parties for dismissal; po-
litical influence or personal pref
erence was alone the criterion.
SeymouTs nomination is re-
ccived here with tokens of high
appreciation; it is hailed by the
Democracy as the harbinger of
victory in November.
The full force of the secret
service division is just now
lending all its skill and energy
to discover the haunls Of the
dealers and producers Of coun-
terfeit coin, a large amount of
which is now in circulation. 1t
is said that even the train boys
on the Railroads are becoming
agents for counterfeiters. The
Democracy in all the States
heard from-Virginia, Ohio, IL
linois, Iowa and Alabama--ap-
pear to fully endorse the course
of their representatives in the
last House, if we are to Judge
by the cordial denomination that
have been given.
In a recent speech Mr.. Carl
Schurz said 81 admit that cor
ruption is to be found every
wherein the Cabinet Of the
President, in the Senate, in the
House Of Representative, in the
Legislatures Of the States and
even among the Judges" Can
there be a stronger plea than
this for a change Of Admins
tration? Here is a converted
champion Of Grantism, an adj
vocate Of Hayes, who is the a.
postle of all the odious "isms"
with which the country is af-
fiicted, ard admits that there is
corruption in the cabinet and in
the Senate. With the sources
of all federal patronage pollu-
ted, how does Mr.. Schurz hope
for better things when he urges
the people to bolster up the cor
ruptionists and maintain them
LIS nnunr2 Nnthino more than