The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1877-03-21
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
The Navy DePa rsmsRt-The Post
once OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES War Bu-
reRu "A l.aWerly Oabtuet-Thc
Next .HpeRker-ship.
From our regular Correspondent. }

L
| WASHINGTON. March 18th, 1877.
There is nothing new in the situation
to-day, and all that is of interest from a
political standpoint arises from the de-
velopments of the reform polio y OF the
new president and his accordant cabinet.
1t is fresh and refreshing to hear an an.
nOuncement like that Of Secretary
ScLurz to the effect that there shall be no
dismissals without cause, and no appoint
ments without merit. and that personal
an! political considerations shall not in.
fiuence him in appointments or promo
tons ia his department.
| rHE NAVY DEPARTMENT Nh
Also it appears is to be swept with the be-
som of reform. The hoary inland Nep-
| tune, who has been called to take charge
of the marine portfolio assembled the va
rious 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 a sort of cabinet meeting over
the condition of the navy. All the chiefs
of bureaus will then be expected to SUBJ
init, among other things, the latest de.
velopments in the business of contracts.
and not to proceed to award any without
his knowledge and consent. This he in
: sisted upon az en- invariable rule from
date, and that he would hold all clerks
accountable for a strict compliance with
it. Furthermore he said there should,
In the future, be no reliance upon de-
ficiency bill. When expenditures
seemed necessary, they would consult
, the naval exchequer, and if the expense
could be afforded all right, but he would
not drive ahead with expenditures rely.
ing on congress TO square the account
by deficiency appropriation; he saw no
use and no excuse for this habit. The
secretary ended his first lesson by asking
, for the report of the house committee Oh
! naval affairs, affirming that lie proposed
8 | to saii Sy that chart.
e IN TIE Po5TOFFICE DEI----.,p~r
IS We have presented remarkabl. pic, nre
y of happy family. The most discordanl
II .is.s.fs have compromised their an
tagonisms ana kissed each other. Mr.
Iyner, late postmaster-geDeral under
N President Grant, has virtually the came
VI place under the new administration, for
G he has been appointed first assistant
III post master-general, and the result will
re be that MIR. Morton's first friend will
d have. as the immemorial prerOgative OF
10 the first assistant, the patronage Of fully
e 25,OOO post offices, or nearly all Of those
J. In the northern and western states.
e Post Master-Gsneral Key has announced
his intention to look alter the southern
appointments only. Here also civil
. service reform has been inaugurated.
e Competent officials will not be removed.
: and incompetent men will not be ap-
pointed no matter how powerful their
political backing may be. The clamor
for Office In this department has, of
7 course, been greater than in any other.
and has necessitatea the printing of q
circular to the effect that there are no va
cancies and that when vacancies occur
they will be filled by merit and In ac-
cordance with civil service rules. Tn G
prospects OF the mere Office seeker were
never more gloomy tn an now, and the
large number who have made pilgrim
age to Washington have lost money.
TIE WAR DEPARTMENT.
j In this department there has
as yet been no policy adj
n advertised. The new Secretary is es-
teemed, by both political friends and
Q enemies, most able, careful, and Judi.
!. cious man, not given to display and
S proclamation. Reform will doubtless be
1 Instituted. when he shall have
4; surveyed the field, but thew
D will most probably be known by their
a iulhllment before they have been an
I hounced In the:bills. MIR. McCreary is a
: lawyer OF great ability, and it Is
known he would have preferred the nj.
s torney-generalship to the place in the
! cabinet he now holds. But since manv
questions arising from the use of the
army in the South are sure to REQUIRE
= 'egai discernment Iand management
there Is reason for congratulation that an
eminent lawyer Is at the head of the de-
partment Of war.
In comparing this administration with
: the last, the predoninance OF the legal
profession is remarkable. With the az.
ception OF Mr.. Schurz every member of
the present cabinet is lawyer. In Gen.
Grants cabiaet the only lawyer was the
attorney general.
The question OF an extra session has
not yet been settled, but the prevailing