The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-06-16
Privileged Glasses.

Privileged Glasses.
The tendency at Washington is TO class
legislation and to class distinctions, and it
Is wholly foreign to the spirit Of our institu-
tions. This habit does not seem to be con
fined to any particular party, for the prac-
ticcs Of one are readily adopted 10y the other
especially when personal privileges and
benefits follow in their train. The Senate
has changed from n Republican to II Demo-
cratic majority, but the extravaganza, the
ncpotism, and the indugcnccs are quite az
conspicuous now ~ they were before the 9Th
Of March last The outs have como in. and
they claim every advantage enjoyed by
their predecessors, forgetting all their pro-
fcssons or reform and all their charges
against the late incumbcnts.
Salaries in the Senate range from twenty
five to II hundred per cent. higher than
those of the House for the corresponding
service; but when the latter sends over bill
to cqualizc them, the former answers that
there IS no time to touch such matters at
this session, though nearly three months
have been expended in spcochmaking and
surrender. Come what may, no matter
whether the majority bc ON one side or the
other, the Senate stands by its order asserts
exclusive rights, and affects superiority,
which Is passivcly permitted.
The long contest over the army had at
bottom class interest which has been pow
criul enough to overcome every effort at re-
duction, and to maintain by social and other
influences It's demands, in the face Of general
distress during the last five years, and a
duction in the public expenditures. So it
may be- said of the navy, with one officer 10
every three or four sailors. and pay roll
exceeding seven millions year.
The diplomatic and consular service,
which Is the laughing stock Of the civilized
world, puts on high airs, and Minister'S like
Clerical Error SrOUGHroN come home to
tell US that the efforts Of downtroddcn
people to attain the first condition of liberty
are the vaporings of miscrcants. and that
dcspoti-m in an absolute form is the choic-
est Of blessings. or course. kAssoN fresh
from Austria. and FRNEY from Holland, ard
others who are earning large salaries by
sporting their diplomatic costumes at home,
have poor opinion OF country that has
no titles. no high rank, and nothing but
bogus arstOcracy Of pretendcrs. They want
the genuine article as it IL seen at ST. Peters
burg. Vienna, the Hague, Paris, and else
where.
The signal service looms up as a special
class, with only thrce-quartcrs of a million
or moro II year to spurgc on. But Gen
MYERS, who is travelling in Europe at
his ease, like Gen. GRANT. will come back
with "a load of information as 10 how they
do things in the Old World and probably
with plans to cmbcllish the officers OF his
magnificent staff Before long he will want
n department to himself, like the mighty lie
DUO OF the agricultural shop for distrbut-
ing poor seeds and worse literature on the
manufacture Of sugar from bad corn.
Take the latest Illustration Of this class
business. II is not very large but it is sig
niiicant, and serves to point moral. a bill
! from the House passed the Senate on
/ Wednesday. which authorizes the Secretary
Of the Treasury, at the request OF u Senator,
! Representatives, or Delegate in Congress,
the head of n department or bureau, art as
sociatiun or library, TO furnish impressions
from any portrait or yiguette which Is now
or may hereafter be part OF the engraved
stock Of the Bureau Of Engraving aud Print
Ing, at such rates and under such conditions
rs he may deem necessary to protect the
| public interests.
Here is an Offensive discrimination drawn
between the servants OF the people, sup
ported by the taxes which they pay, and the
people themselves. The heads OF depart
mcuts and bureaus and members OF Con-
grcss may apply TO the Treasury and get
these impressions from the Engraving and
Printing Office for themselves, but no citi.
zen, however distinguished he may be, is
permitted to enjoy that poor privilege This
is not democratic legislation, neither is il
fair 10 the taxpayer. 1t belongs TO the
miserable class system, aud its authors anC
supporters deserve to be denounced Us un
worthy Of confidence.