Litchfield enquirer., 1876-03-16

On Thursday Senator Gordon, of Geor- gia, made speech in favor of civil ser wee reform in which he showed, as it seems to us. a sincere desire to do away with the system of partisan appointments
 which has demoralized our civil service
 for near half century. He even went so
 far as to propose that excise officers should have moderate salary. hold office during life or good behaviour, and receive pensions at the end of their service. He said he considered the Democratic party honest, noaU, but did not want them ex. posed to the temptations of so demoral- izing practice as that which gave to poll. tical partisans all the offices in our civil service Mir. Morton end others taunted
 Mir. Gordon with having been rebel, and with the demoralization which they claim ed prevails under Democratic rule in l Georgia.
 We regret to see so excellent proposi- ton as that of the Georgia Senator receiv- ed in such a spirit. If the Republican l party is to prove worthy of another term of power, it must grapple at once with this great question of civil service reform. No doubt if the Democracy should suc- ceed they would prove as weak as our par ty has done. What the country needs is body of officials appointed becaused they are honest and capable, not because they are active supporters of the party in power.
 People who know anything about Gov. Jewell will not readily believe in the charges of corruption some of our State journals, following in the wake of the New York Sun, are making against him. The Hartford Post publishes 8 full ex- planation of the only two cases that have even show of plausibility. The first is that of a fellow named Hester, who was recommended by Senator Spencer to work up the case of mail agent shot by Ku- Klux in Alabama. The fellow busted himself doing Spencer's instead of the governments work, and was soon dis missed from employment by Mir. Jewell, thus making an enemy of Spencer. The whole amount paid Hester for salary and expenses was less than $500. The other case was that of one McLane, sent as agent to this State. On his arrival he pad his attention to politics instead of the business he was sent to do. On dis covering this fact, Mir. Jewell promptly recalled him. Learning. subsequently, that he had collected money from mail contractor for election expenses, the Post master General dismissed McLane from his position. The amount paid McLane for his services as special agent was $81, and it was afterwards discovered that the money he had collected from the mail con. tractor he had converted to his own pri- vate use. It appears, ill fact, that the outcry against MT. Jewell is raised by the very rascals he has sent about their busi- ness.
 The situation of Mir. Orville Grant, brother of the president, is not pleasant one. He admits having begged trader ships of his brother, and then selling them out to real traders for consideration. In some he claims an interest still; but the important fact that he sold his influence with his brother for money is admitted in his own testimony.
 Most outrageous frands have been dis covered in the census of New York city taken fast year The number of voters was swelled from 150.000 to 232, ,O00 by Democratic census takers who were anx ious to increase the representation of the city. It is pleasant to be reminded, once in q while, that all the rascals are not Re- publlcans
 18th Dist, Senatorial Convention.
 At Republican convention held at Washington, Conn, March 9th. 1876. Dr. O. Brown, of Washington, was chosen Chairman; B. H. Mattoon, of Watertown, Secretary.
 Edward F. Morehouse, New Milford. Wm. B. Gilbert, Thomaston, George c. Hopkins, Warren, were appointed Con- mitte on Credentials; and H. c. Scott, Watertown, Nelson Bennett, Thomaston,