Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1878-02-07


1t seems to be decided that
Madison Wells is a vassal and
not a peer; bnt, as he cannot be
found, the State OF Louisiana
may yet lose the value of his
services in her penitentiary.
He was supposed to be on his
way from the Custom House
and criminal dock in New Or
Ileans to the White House in
Washington, in search Of aid
from the man whom his villain
es elevated to high Office; bat
Iif he has arrived here it was in
disguise. The hotel books do
not show his name, he was not
seen at the Executive Mansion
by those who attended the late
dinners given by Mr.. Hayes
for the purpose of organizing a
new party, and Warden Crock
err of the Jail has not seen him.
lie is in flight perhaps to some
foreign country, where suffrage
is rot known and where he will
not be made catspaw for the
benefit of schemers like Sher-
man and Hayes. If he has
thus gone abroad it would be
instructive to see Mr.. Hayes,
who holds Office by reason of
the villainies for which Wells
is to be tried, and Evarts who
defended these villainies, pre-
pairing and signing the papers
necessary TO bring the culprit
back. A moments contempla-
ton Of this possibility puts the
position of Mr.. Hayes in a
clearer light than anything else
has done.
Discussion over the silver bill
is losing interest to Congress-
men and outsiders. There are
no crowds TO hear the speakers,
there is little applause from the
galleries, and it seems certain
that the reconciliation bill will
soon he perfected and voted on.
lis friends are confident Of sue
cess, and its opponents expect
to defeat it,
Those who do not know what
wrath is did not see Gen. Sher-
man when be found out that the
new army bill proposed a re-
duction in the force and in the
pay of officers, ard an increase
oi pay for non commissioned Of
fcers. He swore like our army at
Bull Bun. This reduction OF
officers pay is proper. 1t leaves
the pay greater than that in civil
employment, the latter having
greatly fallen off in the last 10
years. The increase OF non-com,
missiOned officers, pay will make a
difference OF only about $4,000,
and IS to be commented. An
intelligent and educated man
may enlist in our regular army in
bis youth. and serve until age
compels the authorities TO refuse
his further service; he may have
military ability, be sober and hon
est, and still be can never rise a.
bove the grade Of ION. commission
ed officer, and, under present laws,
cannot get more than a score or 50
of dollars per month. This fact
has kept intelligence out of the
army. If we wish for deem! MA
terial it is indispensable that pro-
motion from the ranks be provi-
ded for, or that the pay be raised
for these positions to which merit |
may aspire. While West Point
turns out twice as many officers
as we need it is not to be expec-
ted officers will be chosen from the
ranks, and the Military Commit.
tee has done the next best thing.
The anger Of Gen. Sherman should
not prevail against what common
sense so plainly declares to he nee
essary and proper.
In the Senate yesterday the
fact that nearly every invalid pen.
sion claim is delayed for oyer
year by lack Of employees in one
Bureau of the War Department.
while the Pension Office proper
has force enough to do Its part of
work promptly, was discussed. 1t
appears that if John Smith APP
plies to day for pension, the Pen
sion Office would in about a month
refer the case to the Surgeon G, n
eral for slight information, and
that such information is not fur
uished under II or Is months.
The trouble is tho lack of clerks
in the Surgeon Generals. His
Office is now making reports in
cases sent to him over a year ago.
Fifty additional clerks would soon
"ca!ch up" with the work. The
only question is whether new
clerks shall be authorized, or
those detailed for the work who
are now employed on matters Of
less Importance.
We are having tempest just
now over the subject of new
form of Government for this Dis
trict. / do not speak with any