New-York tribune., 1877-03-14
GEN. BUTLER In A GENIAL MOOD.

GEN. Bt1LEh IN "A pLNIhb ''C'''
HE COMMENTS FAvoRABLY ON PRESIDENT HAYEss
SOUTHERN POLICY AND ON HIS CABINEr-lHE
GENERALS PECULIAR VIEWS OF CIVIL SERVICE
REFORM
Gen. BENJAMIN F. Butler, who has never
been noted for paucity of words ideas the hoor OF
Congress or on the rostrum, has acquired reputation
for being anything but talatve to the point "heh
receiving visit from representative Of the pup'ic press
But TRIBUNE reporter who called on the massachusetts
Congressman at the Fifth Avenue Hotel last evening
found him in very genial mood ana very Tree III eA-
pressing his views on the political situation.
He began by taking the Washington correspondents to
task for misrepresenting him. They had said lie was O
posed TO Gen. Devens as member OF the Caohet lie
had not opposed Gen. Devens, who had served with MIN
in the war, whom lie respected man and as soier
and whom judge lie, as lawyer, would Dc Wiling
TO submit any case.
Then too he had been quoted as saying that In the
election Of Hayes "the party had been put to great
deal OF trouble" and had won defeat Tnat was not
epigrammntic lie would have used word 0f Two
syllables when mOnOsyllabe was at hand
"What would You have said, GeneralP
al should have said have won loss" but he had
said nothing of the kind
Then he had been represented absury as saying that
he had no influence with President Hayes. The only
r, atiye for whom he had acquired Office under the
Grant Administration his brother-n-iaw, Mr. Web
stcr who was consul at Franktortonthe-Iain ana VINO
had since died. lie had other relative whom lie
should recommend for the vacancy, nor in fact anybody
of kin whom he desirous of supplying with pupiic
Office
He looked with favor any policy calculated TO re-
store auiet and peace in the South and thought Pres
dent ayess Southern policy, far as indicated, was
acceptable people. MI Hayes had newly entered
upon the duties OF Chief Executive He wasentited
to policy and to opportunity for proving Its vision:
IL his policy should he accompanied win success its
nothing succeeded like success ne Woud not pe "IIou
the support OF the people Bu, MS policy 9ry "d
be onc the TO discover failure ana nave the goo
to change his policy Cen bter ho sia ~ won
be the working of the policy In louisiana Dut ne pc
eved if the protection OF tue General @ Tsc nns
withdrawn, THAI the Democrats won!d quGkV see PJs
session of the House If IL had to be done over te
dead bodies of their opponen s. as III looo ~ Sv on' po
best thing to do though even at sucn cost gen %
erl sometimes sent brigade INTO action 10 DC GUY to
oos nd a'. The brigade might think I; very
rough them and not be able To see tha was ior thc
cen Butler was asked If his opinion of the new Cabinet
agre ed with what might be thought to be the CONVICTION
literary feers" He prefaced his reply by saying that
the creditng Mr. Cameron with that expression was an
error AS ~ the Cabinet. he thought the nmre man
knew tho better qualified he ought 10 be TO hold Cabinet
position and certainly this Cabinet was formed OF men
tneuished experience Mr. schufz had had great ex
percnce Gen Dev ms had won anrss IN the hela e, IN
ability and lad gained practical experience IN CnnSreSs
Mr. Key he knew e sye ina, and ne be % a no." Know S
but that experience would also prove OF value. ,.
Wien asked what lie Thought OF President iayesS
civil service policy Gen. Butler asked What is his civil
policy g. He had read that very day that i2t W.
Morrill, had been appointed Collector OF CUSTOMS az for
brother OF L. b. washburne-wh,o, had been Coy,
eruor of Name, who an Old puDuc servant
and had filled the COlectorship for IL years lie
had not heard OF any charges against Mr. wash wash
hurns official conduct but obliged To thlnk
that he had done something to merit removal
Gen Butler said lie would be glad If the power OF con-
trolling APPOINTMENTS taken ont OF the hauds ol
Con silcn. dsagrC cable matter The worst
part OF IL beug choose which OF two friends should
b. recommended foc Office His view OF civil service
reform was change in the public offices once III Tour
wears II was the Od bO0kkeeper and the old cashier
long i'm your employ who to look upon your money
as being bis own.