The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-03-16
er nor the Presidents private secretary
knows the slate tonight.
u blossoms Last Act.

Eobeson's Last Act.
Warrington Special TO the Chicago Tfmss.l
Secretary Robeson signalized his re-
tlrement from the Naval Department.
to-day by resembling his order OF last
q large number of naval officers then on
waiting orders, thus reducing their pay
by about one-half The amount in
yolYed in operations or this order is
quite large, something more than
$1 900, ,0eo. The original and only cause
for the Issuance OF the order was that
Robson desired to use the money that
should have gone to pay the salaries OF
these meTitorieus officers for other pur-
poses. Chief among these purposes
was to settle some Of Robeson's old
fraudulent contract debts, created in
the Bureau OF Engineering and Repairs.
Ine fault OF the action lies primarily
with Congress, as the appropriation of
last year for the support OF the navy
was made mainly in bulk, and subject
to the discretion Of the department.
head In its disbursement. Tn The lately
passed deficiency bill Is o provision for
arTearagses On this account, and under
Robeson's resembling order OF to-day
the officers thus uujustly dealt with
will be allowed back money to the
extent OF full waiting- order pay. This
order was the last official act Of the late
Secretary.
Civil Service Reform.
WASHINGTON, March 12.-At the Csbi-
net meeting to-day the question Of Civil
Service Reform came up and was dis
cussed for nearly an hour. Two or three
members OF the Cabinet expressed the
opinion that the recommendation of &.
member OF Congress for an appoint
ment ought to be sufficient grounds for
the rejection OF the applicant, especially
Ii it were for o position OF much re-
sponsibility. It was urged that, the
House being the impeaching body and
the Senate the jury. members of either
would would not be capable of perform
ing their duties IL they were called
upon to act In case where they had
procured the appointment. While this
looked directly only to the highest
offices, yet 1t was held that it had great
bearing on minor offices. A committee of
two members OF the Cabinet was APP
pointed to draw up Civil Service rules
of the Cabinet will be guided In making
appointments. The committee, 1t Is
understood, is composed OF Messrs.
Evarts and Schurz.
The supreme Court.
Boss keyeS, or Madison regency no.
toriety, is still here, with his delegation
of Wisconsin Republicans. The boss Is
planning to get Howe's seat in the Sem
ate, and ID, therefore, doing his best TO
get Howe out OF the way. He appears
az champion for the sanctimonious
Senator Davis old place. For the same
reason Zach. Chandler is urging Chris
tiancy's claims, and it seems settled
that IL BristoW does not get the APP
pointment, Christiancy will.
Chandler has the strongest possible
reasons for asking this favor from
Hayes. He does not conceal his desire
to come back to the Senate, and is
bringing to bear influence from num-
ber OF sources to induce Hayes to cut
Bristow and take up Christfancy.
Hayes seems to be making ell questions
and all preferences subservient to the
South, and refuses to be dissuaded even
by a man who shares with 10 Bradley
and J. Madison Wells the responsibility
of placing hin In the White House.
The contest is rapidly narrowing down
to point. Ts..m fs.sssy only is left for
wire-pulling sd csjSEtng the President.
On Tuesday <oiae n&me will undeubt-
edly be sent ~ the Senate, and, unless
appearances slene5gs, Bristow IL the
man