New-York tribune., 1878-05-25
CONTINUING THE ROAST.

postion which made it his first duty to apologize 10
Senator Matthews for leading him into palpaOle
and public msstatement IN regard TO ms tlper agent
Mr. Nowlan. If my gentle hint shall nave stHred
ND the Secretary's pure mind by way OF relnem-
brapce TO that imperative but graceful act shall
GLADLY chronicle his entrance upon the line OF a
genuine reform in his own Civil Service.
l have already stated that the Timber question
did not come into Congress by the act, or, so far as
is known, by the desire of any Senator or Repre-
sentative Ii came by the memorial of the aggreved
citizens of MOntana-a memorial "most trivial" IN
the estimation of the Rev. James Freeman Clarke
vet proceeding from 5000 American citizens carry
ing civilization into the wilderness, one winch
thought worthy to be quoted at length.
The Timber question came into Congress also by
the act of Secretary Schurz himself In his haste 10
send agents to the Territories in utter disregard OIL
its expense be had prematurely and to0llshly eX-
bausted his appropriation, and he appealed to Con-
eress for a deficiency 'allowance-asking, indeed
twice and thrice as much for effecting nothing but
confusion as Secretary Chandler had required for
initiating and organizing thorough work.
This estimate as Secretary Sehurz sent it to the
House of Representatives, was Objectionable Doth
I'm form and substances Objectionable In ways which
lead directly to that "waste and extravaganza
which Mr.. Clarke so vigorously and virtuOusly but
sums for specified Objects this austere RefOrmer
who thinks the business of the country should be
conducted on business principles sent in the follow
in4 grotesdue and omnivOrous petition, which re-
minds one of that indescribable dish known to the
frugal New England hOusekeeper ON washlng-day
as "pOt-luck:" :"
For diagrams furniture and repairs in the General
Land o1ce miscellaneous items including Two or SL s hs
use of the Office; for the actual expenses OF clerks de
tailed to 9vesugate IraSauenS ny SRG and
for advertising and telegraphing the sum OF @-ooVV'
How much of this $4,000 Secretary Schurz
wanted for teegraphing; how much for mendlng
leaky roof in the Land Office, or for new knob to
the Pension Bureau: why he should Gull from his
''mlscellaneous items" two newspapers with the
minutie of "filed bound ndpreserved," while eav-
ing the rest of the miscellany to the limbo OF Lost
Arts and what ratio of the $4,000 was to be de-
voted to a steeplechase after timber thieves, or a
SQUAD of "gentlemany clerks" hunting "oihclal
misconduct through the detiles of the Rocky
Mountaius-the unreformed mind can only conjec-
ture But this nameless and aimess Jmnble OF
items this heltersketer and hurry-skurry of broken
rocking chairs and base officers this mixing and mud
ding of expenditures which have possible rela-
ton to each other except the caprice of juXtaposi
tiop must be accepted as the great Reform idea OF
keeping accounts in business way! 1t certainly
needs all the "untiTing industry which MI.
Clarke attributes to Mr.. Schurz and it is no wonder
that under the strain even Mr.. SchurZs great
ability Temporarily succumbed. L venture to say
there is not merchant in the United States
wholesale or retail, who would not be bankrupt IN
twelvemOnth if he should venture on this book
keeping by double and multiplex entry, after the
model of Secretary Schurz. l think some electric
chord would convey, even from another world, the
IN lo,- ho,Iy I,nt11l aaI
"To broadcloth, sweeping the floor, gunny bags
kid gloves, collecting bad debts, telegraphmg'
mouse traps, Lisle thread, stockings cleaning the
snow from the sidewalks, postack stamps, mendng
the windows night-watcb, cretonne, $4,000"
Even Dora COpperield might take her pencil from
the tender and careful dissection of Davds nose and
write IN her pitiful little memOrandum-book: Flour
q silk gown, buns for Jp, picture frames, dishcloh
Dickles repairing the furnace, many other things
including canary seed, man TO fetch the Goals
feather duster to get the oysters opened, washtub
$780,"
1t would be idle to plead that this variegated style
of estimate had been practiced by any OF Secretary
Schurzs predecessors. The beauty of having Mr..
Schurz in the Department is that he was vociter-
ons reformer, and was put there to show us more
excellent way than had ever been known before.
Moreover the law Indicates that different method
N''@'e''N' -
States in their last published revision, direct that
the Heads of Departments in communicating es-
Inmates ofeXpendture and appropriation to Congress
or TO any of the committees thereof, shall specify,
as nearly as may be convenient, the sources from
which such estimates derived, and the calcula-
tions upon which they are founded"
Cohng still closer around Secretary Schurz the
statutes declare again that whenever the head OF
department finds that the usual items OF such estl-
mates vary materially in amount from the appro-
priations ordinarily asked for the object named
he shall accompany the estimates by minute
and full explanations of all such variations and
new items, showing the reasons and grounds upon
which the amounts are required and the different
items added"
This fable teaches that Mr.. SchuTz and his clique
of Reformers having for years thundcred in 0uT
ears that the /" felt want" of the nation is that
+be business of the Government should be done Oh
business principles, sooner get firm foothOld Ill
one of the most important Departments OF the
Government than they casually reveal to gazing
world n system of "business principles" not q
whit less piquant and feminine, not whit more
methodical and comprehensive, than would natur'
ally find lodgment beneath the pretty curls Of
dainty Little Dora!
However the House of Representatives granted
Secretary Schurz's request without cavH or crltl'
cism though i learn IRON an HreNeieh' hioinpoI VI
that body. who l fear is himself not wholly guilt
less of this style of attack" on Mr.. schurz, that
the extraordinary form of his estimate created some
sharp comment and not a little reprehensible merr
ment IN private conversation. Nevertheless, the
House recognized the need of Mr. SchuTs having
access TO the newspapers and rather than he should
follow the example Of his chief and apply at the
various offices for free copies, ii passed the bill
When the Deficiency Bill containing this item
reached the Senate, that body was willing to enact
the David Copperfeld to Mr. Schurzs Dora, and, be-
fore attending to its proceeded first to transact
his unfinished business, by properly dividing and