The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-03-16
WASHINGTON.
One Step Further by the Banking and
Currency Committee
SILVER BULLION CERTIFICATES.
Civil Service Reform at the Expense
Of a Doorkeeper.
COMING END OF A VICIOUS SYSTEM
SILVER BULLION CERTIFICATES.
COMING END OF A VICIOUS SYSTEM
The Bill for the classification Of
Mail Matter.
FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.

WARRINGTON, March 15 1878
PROVISION FOR CERTIFICATES ON DEPOSIT OF
SILVER BULLION.
The majority OF the Banking and Currency Com.
mttee have determined to 60 q step further, and
have directed Of their members to report to tho
House bill authorizing tho issue OF certificates on
The deposit OF silver bullion. these certificates to be
legal tender for all public dues Tho bill cannot BIO
brought into the House under week or ten days. and
It Is not now at all probable that it can got the sup
port OF majority II it should como to vote The
moderate silver disnolined to any further
silver legislation for the present. and they strong
enough with the anti-slver men to control the
House. There Ii therefore danger OF the pas
sage by the House of this pill. and 1t could not hope
for two-thlrds majority in either House Al this
sion.
THE CHARGES AGAINST DooRKEEpER POLK
PROBABLE END OF VICIOUS SYSTEM.
This miserable business Of reforming civil
vice. ANNOYING and disgusting o. II is to the practical
pelticans. we'll some OF the civil service re-
formers themselves will not stay down. 1t is about
70 break out In a place In the House OF Repre-
sentatives The House has for some years been I'M
fortunate In It's doorkeepers Some OF the gentlemen
who have occupied this place have fallen into the
error Of believing that the House Of Rep
resentatives existed mainly tor their benefit Tho
Doorkeeper has good deal OF what Is
called patronage. He Is not merely q keeper Of the
doors, for he superntends the folding and document
rooms, he "bosses" the army OF janors he appoints
the people who attend to heating and ventilation, the
pages derive their pay from him. In short. when q
doorkeeper two or three years ago inoauiousy called
himself "a bigger man than old Grant" he not
entirely without for this funny conceit. Gen.
sral Grant certainly much loss ind entail man
In the House of that timo than the
Doorkeepor, who was 1attered and petted by
the majority of ConRressmen, who wanted
10 get small places Tor some anxious
constituents The present Doorkeeper been under
investigation by the Committee on the Reform OF the
IN this examination have convinced the majority Of
che committee that the fault Is not much with In
dividual doorkeepers with the vicious system which
makes petty officer OF the House the disposer OF
great number OF places and exposes him tho solicit
taton OF members of Congress, with whom. II he is q
weak or q bad man, he may attempt to bargain and
arrange. The whole thing is a disgusting nuisance
and has long been so, and the prospect
Is that the House will receive from tho Civil Service
Committee q recommendation to abolish the patron
age OF the Doorkeeper, and, fact to permanently
dethrone this officer and remand him, whoever he
may at time be- TO the actual duties OF keeping
the doors Of the House against intruders This re-
form has the approval of the Speaker and OF all the
members OF character both parties. and It will
doubt be carried but when It is proposed 1t is possible
that the whole subject of civil service reform may
come up for general discussion.