Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1877-05-08
BELLE BOYD,
Late of Virginia.
WASHINGTON LETTER.

WASHINGTON, D. c., May 4, 1871
The President has agreed to visit New York
before the meeting of Congress in extra ses>
sion, and it is believed preparations will be
made for such reception as has hardly ever
been accorded to any man. The partizans of
the President have q great battle to fight
whenever the policy of the Admin lstraton
comes before the people at the polls, or is dis
cussed in Congress, and they will naturally
attempt to show in advance what the chief
city of the country can do at reception.
Nothing has occurred to indicate the loss
by Randall of his lead in the Speakership
contest. While his friends do not claim an
absolute certainty, they feel that it will be
next to impossible to unite many votes in
caucus on any other man as on him. Among
Republicans, speculation as to candidate
has almost ceased. There is no doubt Carr
field or Banks will have the comfort of being
defeated by the Democratic candidate.
The complete removal of the army from
South Carolina and Louisiana ought to be in
sisted Cd before the House votes a dollar of
army appropriation. The President may be
determined at this time not to use troops in
the political affairs of those States, but all
danger of his or his possible successor, doing
so, may be removed by sending the troops
elsewhere. The like danger does not exist
in any other State.
A considerable reduction of the force has
also many advocates, including the President,
and of course many administration men,
Besides the danger of improper use, the sx.
pense of the present organization is a strong
argument for reduction.
II is probable that on the first day of the
Extra Session, as soon the Presidents
message is read and referred, test question
will be submitted so rs to decide whether any
business but the Army Appropriation bill
shall be considered If the Administration
is confident of its strength it will insist on
restricting business to that one subject.
Our District Government is about to con-
wooden pavement laid by the late Board of
Public Works, and the laying in place of it,
of stone and concrete pavements. The e4-
pertinent of Washington with wood pave
ments has been a costly one, and has demon
stratcd satisfactorily to every citizen their
complete failure to Withstand even light
travel
Speaking of this District, it is gratifying
to be able to say that President Hayes prom
Uses to appoint our own citizens to Office
Unlike any other community in the country,
We are deprived of tho right to vote, and it ia
not unreasonable to ask that our officers, if we
cannot ourselves elect them, shall be of our
own people. Grants plan was to make the
District hospital for decayed politicians.
One of the hopes that MIR. Tlden's friends
had WAS that the same administrative ability
he had shown in New York, to the great ad-
vantage of that State, would DO exhibited
when he came to reorgauize the Offices here.
He failed to receive the office to which he was
elected, and it may be too much to expect
from Hayes that he will do all that Tilden
would have done, but the friends of the AID.
ministration continue to promise the removal
of all inefficient bureau officers, and the ap-
pointment of better men in their place. So
far as bureau reformation is concerned, a
thorough change under Hayes, if made as he
says all changes should be made, would be as
beneficial to the public as any other.