Litchfield enquirer., 1877-11-22


 civil service reform, in full, because it states 50 plainly the difference between the old ol presidential, and the later or congressional system of appointment. We consider both bad, but the latter much the worse The first step in reform is to make the federal officer respon- sible not to his congressman, but to his presi- dent. When the president, has thoroughly vindicated his old right of appointment against the congresaman,4he may@hope come support from the latter in the further, most arduous, and important step of making the subordinate appointments non-political. There is no doubt that General Grant was at one time sincerely desirous of reforming the civil service, but he could never bring the congressman to relin- quish his practical hold of the appointments. It is now the favorite claim of the supporters of the Senatorial clique that the Presidents present policy promises no thorough reform of the spells system. Such is unquestionably the fact :; but can we expect the President to make the second step in the uphill work of reform until he has made the firstf Ought we not, in the first place, to help the President to reclaim from greedy Congressmen his constitutional right of appointment to officer. That will be partial reform even if no more is accomplished. Then, if he fails to obey the requirements of the latter clauses of the memorable fifth reso- lution of the convention to which he owes his nomination, let us hold ourselves in readiness to call him to strict account.
 l xI.o of revival of trade, this fall. The iron and steel mills at Pittsburgh are running at their fullest capacity, marked improvement at place where depression has been lowest and longest. A New York firm of contractors is building narrow guage railroad in South America-a five million jSb with payment guaranteed by the Brazilian government The building of several iron steamers is contracted for. The New York imports for October are quarter larger than last year, while the exports were $31, ,OOO, 900, the largest ever known in one month. The New York exports for the past ten months are $1s, 900, 900 more than for Che same ten months of last year. Our foreign consuls report that American goods would be largely used abroad if it were not for the high CT freights they are compelled to pay; so that "a revival of our shipping interests would ap- parently lead to a valuable foreign trade in American manufactured goods.
 Mir. A. T. Stuart's Working Women'shote is completed at last, at cost of $2, ,OO0. 900, and will be opened in January next. It contains over 800 rooms, about one quarter of which are double, and will lodge 1000 guests It is built around large square extending from 32d to 33d Street on Fourth avenue, and is sev- en stories high. It is one of the most beauti- fully furnished, as well as the largest hotel in the city, with library, reading rooms, pianos, and every other luxury At this magnificent house board and lodging will be furnished at $4.50 week! If the hotel does not pay ex- penses at these rates the deficit is to be charg ed over to the Stuart estate. In one part of the house there is an immense restaurant, large enough to furnish meals at cost to 400O women.
 This charity is splendid one; we only fear 1t may prove too splendid and not benefit the class for which it is intended Will not the poor working woman shun such a palace for places more in keeping with her poverty? At any rate the enterprise is a noble and costly one. !
 The Senators seem to have failed entirely in the pressure they have brought to bear on the President. MT. Edmunds reported to the cau- GUS of Saturday night, says the N. Y. Tribune, that, 'in regard to the general question of ap- pointments the President as much as told the committee that he proposed to follow his own ideas on the subject. Mir. Ed munds thought it evident that no satisfac- tory result had been reached by the consulta- tion with the President, and he regarded the Presidents position as one of substantial de- fiance."
 The other papers represent the Senators in better disposition, on the whole, than before the caucuses. One thing is evident: the Pres ident has not yielded. He has been courteous but firm. He can rely on the support of all the Democrats in the Senate but Eaton, and of enough Republicans to secure the confirmation of his appointments, and he need ask no favors of Mir. Conkling.
 The ATLANTIC MONTHLY for December con- tains: Can Herculaneum be excavated? An- ticipation; Washington Society; Portugal and the Portugese, II; Beneath her Window; Modern Shoemaking What they Said; The Sermon; Crude and Curious Inventions at the Centennial Exhibition, VIII; The San Fran- cisco Vigilance Committee; Asters; Three Bos- ton Painters; Some Rambling Notes of an Idle Excursion, III, by Mark Twain How to Change the North American Climate; Wapen- take, by Henry w. Longfellow Detmold.
 H. o. Houghton & O., Boston; $4. ayear
 The capture of Kars is decidedly the most brilliant feat of the war. Fifteen thousand Russians climbed the steep rocks, ramparts and walls and drove an equal number of Turks, re- sisting desperately, out of their works, killing or capturing the entire garrison. The assault seems to have been general, commencing at about half past eight in the evening. Fight ing continued all night, and early in the morn ing the chief works surrendered. The loss of the attacking party seems uncommonly small as reported, considering the almost in- surmountable obstacles in their, way and the fierce resistance of the Ottoman troops.
 Mir. J. Ernest Whitney, ,late"J G. B., fthe Enquirer, is now chief editor of the 'R H. s." well edited sixteen page paper issued month ly by the Rockville High School, nicely print ed on heavy paper. One feature of the school seems to be thorough instruction in vocal mu- sic. Mendelssohn's four part songs are sung in the High School, and the pupils are instruc- ted in copying music, matter in which some good performers are strikingly defective. We notice that Mir Whitney ranks second in the senior class of the High School.
 GREAT FIRE IN NEw HAvKN.-On Monday night, L. Candee 6 Cos. Rubber Factory at New Haven was burnt to the ground, destroy ing property to the amount of half million and throwing from 600 to 800 hands out of en-