The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-03-16
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.

officials, as well as the lay brethren
of Washington society, appear to
have just walked up to the fact that
we are stuck for the little trifie of
ST, 200, 900, in the matter of our
"down east" fisheries, unless we
elect to back out of bad bargain
through the loop-hole of technical
ity. Now that we have fairly turn
ed our attention to the little matter.
it becomes painfully evident that
Brother Jonathan" acted in the
matter without his usual caution and
clear-headed forecast; and it ia so
patent to every one taking the
trouble to Investigate that he was
over reached, that no attempt at de-
NAL is heard. 1t would be hazard
ousto predict what Congress will do
in the premises but it is entirely
safe to say that the feeling is almost
uni7ersal about the Capitol that the
utmost advantage has been taken of
ouTerror in accepting as third ref
ere, man 80 gangrened with preju-
die in favor of the British side, as to
have been utterly unable to grasp the
equities involved, even admitting
the correctness of Mr.. Fish's esti-
mate of his honesty. The considera-
tion that will appeal most forcibly
against any appropriation to pay the
award is the fact that its payment
would not be any bar to other claims,
quite as absurd as those on which
the award was founded. For the
past few days since the settlement
of reconciliation gave time to con-
slider other niatters-this business
has been uppermost in some circles,
and from all that can be gathered it
would appear prudent for our Cana
dian cousins not to count too conf
IDENTIFY on immediate payment.
An alleged case of "Civil Service
Reform" in Texas post office a few
months ago seems, according to the
Republican of this morning, to have
found a parallel in an Illinois dis
trict. Agreeably to the statement
made as to the first named, partic-
ular post Office was wanted by a
prominent Texas politician to "con-
ciliate" one of his most useful men
alarms. Nothing was known against
the character of the then incumbent.
A special agent was sent down, it was
said, with intimations that if there
was anything in his conduct of the
office that would justify his removal,
it was desirable to have it on file in
the department. The special agent
was forced to report that the admin
istration of the office had been unex-
ceptionable. Nevertheless the unfor-
tunate official had to submit his neck
to the decapitating process. Repub-
leans, without regard to the "re-
form" involved, were much incensed
as the party at whose instance the re-
moval was made, was a Democrat of
the Texas type, who had done moth
ing to entitle him to such eonsidera-
ton save to endorse the tearing down
of two legal State governments and
substituting therefor the creatures of
mob and ruffianly violence. The same
was alleged 10 be true of the new ap-
p0intee. In the Illinois case, Mrs.
Electra E., Smith, widow of a SOL
dier, was postmistress at Stirling. A
special agent sent to investigate her
administration, highly commended
it, Notwithstanding which she was
removed and one Patterson given
the place. Mrs. Smith came here,
saw the President, who declined to
interfere on the ground that the
change had, been recommended by
the member from that district and
they were usually allowed to say who
should fill the minor Offices of their
districts. The member in question
informed her that her administration
had been wholly satisfactory, but
that it was deemed necessary to have
an active political worker in the
place, and that as her sex debarred
her he had been constrained to ask
for her removal. The last case is so
specifically stated that it can be
readily disproved if false. The NOM
ination of Mr.. Smith, appointment
clerk of the Treasury, as paymaster
in the army is being very unfavora-
bly, criticised, particularly by good
many angry army officers who can't
see the justice or reform either, in
Jumping civilian over heads that
have grown white in Government
service, into one of the most desirable
positions in the army.
The Ways and Means Committee
have already matured the Buchard
savings bill, the Banking and Cur
rency Committee have the Phillips
postal savings bill about ready to re-