Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1877-11-10
Our Washington Letter.
WASHINGTON, D. c., !

Nov. Z, 1877.
There was yesterday little progress
IN legislation, the silver bill passing the
House, aud the bill to repeal the clause
OF the Resumption Act which fixes
date tor resumption, getting finally be-
fore the House for discussion. Over
both these measures the real contest will
De in the Senate. The silver bill, how
ever, had unexpected strength in the
House, and that fact will keep it both
in the Senate and with Mr.. Hayes.
AS you are already informed the
Military Committee of the House pro-
pose to ask for money enough to sup
port twenty thousand men only as
regular army. 1t is not likely any lar
ger number will be sanctioned. 1t is
enough. With large standing army
We should be forever trying TO find
warlike work for it,
There is an unexpected willingness
among membefs of both Houses to
make reasonable appropriation in aid
of an American representation at the
Paris Exposition next year. Probably
100000 will be voted.
Mr.. Hayes has apparently made up
his mind to publish new revelation on
the subject of civil service reform. He
has the tecundity in respect to relations
that distinguished Mahomet and Brig
ham Young. He produces one when
ever he needs one The new one, in
relation to which teeler has been put
out, is in the shape of a command to
slaughter the Bureau officers and De
partment clerks who are not Admins
tration men-who, as l wrote you i'll
April last, are disloyal to the prophet
occupying the White House. If | re-
member aught, the original reform COM
mand was to destroy only those who
failed to do their official duty. The
change is not really sudden one, but
only one of series of changes, each
making its successor necessity. There
are two results possible from this trifing
One is that Mr.. Hayes will sink into
mere party slave, of all the less account
in the party for what he has done
The other is that he will take himself
entirely out of the Republican organ
ization, and rely for support on Demo
Gratis, Independents and those Republi-
cans who will follow him. To stand
still is impossible. Whichever course
he may take, reconstruction of his
Cabinet will be necessity. Scharz has
been a damage to him from the first.
Unpopular with Republican leaders,
disliked by Democrats, and not enjoy
ing the confidence of anybody, his APP
pointment was a mistake. Not practl
cal, not sincere, not stable, but eloquent
and plausible, he was of value in the
campaign of 1876; but he was worse
than useless the moment he entered the
Cabinet aud had the work of civil ser
vice reform assigned to him. 1t was
said OF Chas. Sumner that he had forty
nine names for a grindstone, but not
practical ability enough to sharpen
broad-aXe. But Sumner was prodigy
ofbuSinesS talent compared with Schurz
So, whether Hayes continues in his own
party, aud becomes its servant, after
failing to become Its master, or leaves
it, to attempt without its supper: what
it will not support him in doing, it
| would seem that Mr.. Schurz would have
to be dropped. IL would not be hard
to show that other members OF the Cab
met will probably have to be displaced
in the near future, but | will content
myself for this time 10y asking your
readers TO stick pin in this present
chapter of prophecy, so that they may
turn to it soon after the elections Of
today.
One bill presented yesterday deserves
attention, and will doubtless receive it.
1t provides for perpetual loan of
5000, 900, 900 to bear 4 per cent interest.
The idea of the author of the bill is that
the amount would be rapidly absorbed
in this country for permanent invest
ment, and would enable the government
to call in an equal amount of bonds
bearing a larger rate of interest. The
''pe7manent' feature is what he sup
poses would make this loan more &C
ceptable than any other as an invest
meut.
The friends of Gen. Don, Carlos,
Buell., w. b. Franklin and scores Of
other officers dismissed during the late
war, are moving through. Mr.. Hayes
&c have their trials and sentences re-
considered. Many of them refer to the
case of Gen. Runkle as precedent for
executive action, but it should be re-
membered that in Gen. Runkles case
no competent authority had ever ap-
proved the action of the court. In the
other cases mentioned, no matter what
their merit. may be, no action can be
taken except by Congress.
HILTON.
| Rishnn Whiitle has decided to call