Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1877-03-21


ment like that of Secretary Schurz to the
effect that there shall be no dismissals
without cause, and no appointments with
out merit, and that personal and political
considerations shall not influence him in
appointments or promotions in his Depart
ment.
TIE NAVY DEPARTMENT
also, it appears, is to be swept with the
broom of reform. The hoary inland
Neptune who has been called to take
charge of the marine portfolio, assembled
the various chiefs Of bureau Yesterday, and
read them some sailing orders that were
both startling and impressive. In the first
place he said it was his intention to call
them together regularly, once week, and
hold II sort Of cabinet meeting over the
condition of the Navy. All the chiefs of
bureaus will then be expected TO submit,
among other things, the latest develop
ments in the business of contracts, and not
to proceed to award any without his know
ledge and consent. This he insisted upon
us an invariable rule from date, and that
he would hold all clerks accountable for II
strict compliance with it. Furthermore
he said there should, in the future, be no
reliance upon deficiency bill When ex-
pendiIures seemed necessary, they would
consult the naval exchequer, and, if the
expense could be afforded, all right, but
he would not drive ahead with eXpendi-
lures, relying on Congress to square the
account by n deficiency appropriations he
saw no use and no excuse for this habit
The Secretary ended his first lesson by
asking for the report of the House Com.
mittee on Naval Affairs, affirming that he
proposed TO sail by that chart.
IN TIE POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT
we have presented n remarkable picture
of happy family. The most discordant
elments have compromised their antago.
nisms and kissed each other. Mr.. Tyner
late postmaster-g general under President
Grant, has virtually the same place under
the new administration, for he has beer
appointed first assistant postmaster gcner-
al, and the result will be that Mr.. Morton's
first friend will have, us the immemOria
prerogative of the first assistant, the pat.
ronage of fully $4,000 post offices, Or near.
ly all of those in the northern and western
states. Postmaster. General Key has an.
nounced his intention to look after the
southern appointments only. Here, also
civil service reform has been inaugurated
Competent officials will not be removed
and incompetent men will not be appoint
ed, no matter how powerful their politica
backing may be. The cIamor for office
in this department has, of course, beer
greater than in any other and has neces
STATED the printing of circular to the eff
feet that there are no vacancies, and thu
when vacancies occur they will be filled by
merit, and in accordance with civil service
rules. The prospects of the mere Office
seeker were never more gloomy than now
and the large number who have made
pilgrimage to Washington have los
money.
THE WAR DEPARTMENT.
In this department there has rs yet beer
no distinctive policy advertised. Til,
new Secretary is esteemed, by both politi
cal friends and enemies, Il most able, care
full and judicious man, not given to dis
play and proclamation. Reforms will
doubtless be instituted when he shall have
surveyed the field, but they will mos
probably he known by their fulilment be-
fore they have been announced in the bills
Mr.. McCrary is a lawyer of great ability
and it is known he would have preferred
the Attorney-G eneralship to the place il
the cabinet he now holds But sine
many questions arising from the use o
the army in the South are sure to requir,
legal discernment and management ther
is reason for congratulation that an emf
nent lawyer is ut the head Of the depart
ment of war.
; In comparing this administration will
the last the predominance of the legal pro
fession is remarkable. With the excep
ton of Mr., SEIZURE, every member Of thu
present cabinet is II lawyer. In Gen
Grants cabinet the only lawyer was TIN
Altorney-General.
The question of IN extra session has no
yet been settled, but the prevailing i'm
preston is that it will he indispensable
The competitors of Mr.. Randall for tn
speakership are urging delay. They op
pose the assembling of Congress until De
cember, with the object of forming com
binations in favor of Cox, Sayler, Springer
Wood, Potter, Blackburn and others
Should an extra session (as is most prob
able) be called in May, Mr.. Randall, it i
thought, will have but little opposition fol
the Speakership. C.