Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-09-26
Our Washington Letter.

OlNlI sfitNl'E httOhms
Hitherto, for long series Of years, members
have come up to Washington, especially under
new administration, with a greater or less string
Of retainers confident Of their right to graft these
friends Of theirs on the Government tree The re-
tanners we shall doubtless see as usual, but the
unquestioned right no longer exists. Every Con-
gresham knows, whether he believes II or not
that the present Executive does not intend TO be
controlled in his prerogative Of appointment by the
legislative branch A few prominent men in
Congress- like Senators Edmunds, Hoar, Hill and
Gordon, have already made known their inteD-
ton TO refuse to be solicitors of places for constit
uents, promising, nevertheless, to give all proper
recommendation and advice II called upon by the
appointing power. The great body of both houses
on. the other hand, have maintained a silence
Which looks, in some instances, like open oppos-
tioh. We can therefore anticipate, as soon as
Cohgressmen are fairly on the ground, a trial Of
strength between them and the Executive over
the prerogative OF appointment. Even where no
intention to force struggle exists, it will be pre-
cipitated when the member realizes fully what
Change has been going since Mr. Hayes came
i'm. The first positive refusal to accept his dicta-
ton in this matter will be a rebuff which will be
liable to exasperate his passive indifference into
active spite. They may then rally under the
leadership of those astute advocates OF machine
politics, who have already been heard from, and
the ensuing scenes may be for time, at least,
exceedingly lively and interesting
Certain 1t IL that but little can be done in re-
forming the civil service without the consent of
Congress. It would seem, at first view, that the
President, based in the stand he has taken upon
the constitution itself as well as upon the plat.
forms of the Republican party for many years,
could laugh to scorn the siege Of these adversaries
however ably led. But the legislative branch is
50 powerful in the frame of the government that
even minority therein can effect great mischief
and make their malice badly felt However party
lines may be drawn in the next Congress, and
that no one can exactly predict, there will GER
tanly be on every national measure an admins.
tration and an INSTRUMENTATION vote. II then
the haters of good in civil service reform are tc
be uniformly thrown into the latter SCALE they
will be a thorn in the side, even IL they are moi
fatal to many important measures. The tempta.
ton will be strong to the President and his ad
visers, quite naturally, to conciate at least the
most prominent of these antagonists And her,
will be best shown just how mach the President
means by his utterances and how far he will q
in carrying out his purposes of reform. The ad
minisration has large affairs on hand Tn,
President and his Cabinet, like all men working
for the right and feeling that they are running
with the tendency Of the country, are buoyan
and sanguine. Mr.. Evarts believes that event,
combine to make this the brightest four years il
our history. Mr. Hayes is Fastening with all hi
heart to spread peace and reconciliation through
ont the land. 1t will be an annoying check t,
find his great and generous plans marred anC
baked by the side issue of the civil service at ever,
turn, alternating those who would otherwise be neu
trail, and breaking the party on unexpected lines
The President can use, against any attempted
ABUSES OF THE LEGISLATIVE POWER,
his veto, supported by his adherents. Moreover, III
has sagaciously neutralized the principal influence
Of the machine politician by ruling oflice-hoder
out Of the political arena The machine men will
therefore fight ut disadvantage. The only rea
play for their forces will be upon the mere hu
man weakness of the President. If he sacrifice
improving the civil service to the temporary gail
of passing necessary or popular measure, or /
he gets disguised, as the late President pretende,
to, ut the thankless task of trying to make peopl
better than they want to be, the purpose of tn
malcontents will be effected But like many mel
of unvaryng courtesy and complaisance tn
President has great tenacity of purpose The re
| suit of a complete victory by the President will
be total change of front by the Legislature Con
| gressmen will then put the minor appointment
| out Of their own reach as that Of the President
| In giving up their meaner advantages, member
| will gain better and higher ones Though a
present they seem to control federal appointment.
in many cases federal appointments control then
The civil service they have cooked now tyrannize
over them. The rural postmaster il a. great a
his Congressman. Civil service reform will ther,
fore he an emancpator for Senators and Repr,
sentatves as well as for their constituencies tn
impending trial of strength is, therefore, on
| which all may watch with absorbing interes
aud with the warmest wishes for the President
| success.
The work Of reform il the more difficult frol
the fact that the principal abuses of the civil SCI
vice grew up
UNDER GRANTS ADMINISTRATION.
And this was not the fault of the President hin
self, or of his Cabinet, Ms of the times in which
ruled Washington city, up to the late civil wa
was village made up Of sleepy Southern peop
| getting their breath OF life through the halls
Congress and the corridors of the department
The expenditures were on an economical scat
the display far from extravagant, while the maj
ners were simple, although somewhat formal an
stilted. During the war Washington people, thu
is, the old residents, sympathized with the Soui
To a large extent, They saw with dismay col
tractors and suffers fatten apace, and, rs the
swelled their money bags from Uncle Sans purs
claim and receive social recognition. Postic
passed from political endowment tn military, al
as the war closed it again passed from the militai
to mere wealth. Enormous fortunes were mac
by dishonest people through contracts with Il
government, The road to wealth through frau
once opened, was soon crowded. Every possib
interest was effected by legislation, and every /
terest had its agents at the capital, seeking
fight off or encourage interference. The cons
quence was the lobby swelled in numbers al
influence until it grew to he one of the controllii
powers of the government This was Washingtt
after the war and during the greater portion
Grants administration. Wealth in its worst for
had made it, corrupting influence felt Forum
easily made were quickly squandered. His
officials found themselves without the influence
social position save in their expenditures, and
their meagre salaries were far from adequate
their expenses many Secretaries and Senate
found it impossible TO resist the temptation
speculations that were only thinly-oovered fraud
One Secretary (BoutwelD was so sneered at al
ridiculed for attempting to live within his incoI
that he was glad to vacate his thankless and u
| easy plapa Tn nvarcnnp the influences M a q
of prongacy like unto this requires time, perish
ence and patience 1t is at least reasonable al
just to give President Hayes credit for inaugurat
IA different state OF things Whether or not pr
, feet cure will be effected time alone will tell
SOCIETY AND Personal.
new daily paper is To be started in this ci
on the first Of October. The principal prophet
Is Hon John Lynch, ex.member OF Congress fro
Maine and founder of the Portland Press. T
paper will start under the most favorable AZ
pices, financially as well as editorially and will
a staunch supporter Of the administration
good newspaper has long been needed in Wa
ngton and the forthcoming one IL looked for wi
interest by all
General Butler is now spoken OF Ms probal
champion OF the administration in the next Iloui
It is said he intends to make war upon seye
well protected rings about which he claims To Ia
good deal OF knowledge.
Secretary Thompson has issued an order viii
virtually dissolves the United States Marine Bar
They are to play at the White House groun
| mex, Saturday for the last time The order
/, made in the interest OF economy, and a strict c,
struction OF law, while 1t is also believed that I
4. 4 l.