The Portland daily press., 1880-04-06

cOulu nOt WITHOUT INJURY 10 Lne puDllc service
be reduced. There does not seem to be the
slightest occasion for meddling with the charter
as it stands. 1t would be scarcely possible to
improve upon it. There is a much greater
probability that any change in 1t would be pro-
ductive of more injury than good. Every con-
sderation of prudence and expedency is ad-
monitory Of the necessity of leaving it undis-
turbed, and if the popular will could be made
manifest, there is little doubt that it would be
overwhelmingly pronounced against the ILL
advised measure, which is elciting so much
earnest and honest protest
The heaviest blows struck at the new char
ter were administered by George Bliss. He
entered the field booted and spurred for
lively combat. He is always in the highest
degree combative. II he can't find enemies to
attack he will fight his friends rather than not
have any fight. He is a native of Springfield,
Mass, lawyer by profession, and brother-in-
law Of George Walker, who has Just gone to
Paris as Consul General Mr.. Bliss migrated
to this city some twenty or twenty-five years
ago. His first appearance in public life was
as Private Secretary for Gov. Morgan, whose
first term began Jan. l, 1859. He held no
other Office till Gen. Grant appointed him
U. s. District Attorney in Dec, 1872. Out of
this position he realized large income. He
was sharp on the importers. The laws were
not only strictly enforced, but penalties of
every kind were exacted with merciless rigor.
Old cases of deviation from the letter of the
law were raked mp and prosecuted and innum-
cradle suits were instituted, many of them
against parties who hadn't the slightest idea
that they had evt incurred any liabilities to
the government. The Treasury profted
somewhat by these extraordinary levies as
we'll as the District Attorney. But there is
such thing as buying gold too dear. What
little money was turned into the exchequer by
such means was of no earthly account COM
pared with the odium the system Of espionage,
by which it was obtained, brought upon the
authorities at Washington. The extortions
practiced upon the mercantile community at
that time prepared the way for the total aboli-
tion of the moiety fees Heretofore bestowed
upon the revenue officers By putting on the
screws too hard they enabled the victims to
extricate themselves from the surveillance of
spies who had a direct pecuniary interest in
convicting them Of infractions of the law.
While the question was under discussion the
principal actors in the drama were under
blazing fire of criticism, and Mr.. Bliss by rea-
sou of his remarkable activity and propensity
to take the lead on all occasions, naturally
I came in for a large share of obloquy. When
his term expired the President declined to re-
new his commission. The place was given 70
Gen. Woodford. Mr.. Bliss was not at all
pleased at being superseded. In fact he was
intensely dissatisfied. He has not been in
placable humor since. He has done nothing
SO desperate as to bolt or turn reformer or set
up an opposition, but he has exercised the
freeman's privilege of finding fault without
any reservation. He hasn't liked the platform
nor the proceedings nor the nominations that
have been made since he went out of Office.
Everything has, according to his idea, been
going hopelessly wrong, and he has invariably
predicted defeat at the beginning and during
the continuance of every campaign on which
the Republicans have entered for the past four
years. The results, to be sure, steadily DEM
onstrated the inaccuracy of his prognosica-
tions, but he explained that each time by
some process of reason that satisfied himself,
however small an effect 1t produced in con-
vincing others.
But now Mr.. Bliss has found o theatre in
which he can play his part of faultfnder
with sincerity and effect. The charter is vul-
nerable at so many points, it is SO manifestly
scheme to subordinate the public welfare to
partisan advantage. that the exposure of its
objects and of its defects is q work of patriot
ism and duty. Mr.. Bliss was admirably quail.
fed to perform the operation of dissecting the
BILL The present charter was framed by him.
He is clothed with the authority of an expert.
He knows as we'll as any man can all the weak
spots in the new instrument and he points
them out with unerring precision. He speaks
like one who has been behind the scenes, and
is perfectly aware Of the motives which prompt
every movement Of the machinery. 1t may
possibly occur to some people that he wouldn't
be so averse to the enactment of the law, II he
still had place on the inside, but it is hardly
worth while to indulge in any hypothesis or
inferences. As long as he is right and is doing
hepublic good service he deserves commen-
dation and encouragement. He speaks of the
measure as one that is set down in the bills as
something that is to be "put through" And
indeed that intention is indicated by the source
whence the project emanates. But majori-
ties sometimes pause when they find storm of
opposition threatening. There is so little to be
gained and so much may be lost by forcing the
project through, that it is greatly to be hoped,
not only for the sake Of the city, but even of
the party that it may be defeated.
Governor Cornell has made an appointment
of Superintendent Of Insurance that no reason
able being can take exception to. If John ID.
Tnxx 49, II IA CO .
place he will fill every requirement Of eligibli-
ty. He is retired merchant Of independent
means and exemplary character. He was
elected to Congress in 1872 in the district now
represented by Anson G.. McCook, and was a
candidate for reelection, but the swash of 1874
drifted him out of public life. 1t seems diff
cult to understand how a well-to-do gentleman
of "a can be persuaded to undergo the trials
and perplexities Of a laborious office the small
salary Of which-S5000 year-is unimportant
to him, and the cares incessant. That, howev-
er, is his affair. If he accepts he will make
good Superintendent, and matter which has
occasioned some embarrassment to the State
administration will be happily disposed of.
Ex-Governor and ex-senator Morgan has
given 100000 to the Union Theological Semi
nary. The donor is one of the men who has
been making so much money within year or
two that he may literally be said to have more
than he knows what to do with. His only heir
is a grandson aged % who has just been mar
ried and is now making the tour of Europe
with his bride. The Governor is about 20 years
old but he looks fresh and hearty, and still re-
tains his position as head of the house Of E. d.
Morgan & Co., in which he has accumulated
a fortune Of several millions and still found
leisure to take an active part in political af-
fairs. His political as well as commercial life
has been fairly successful. He failed of re-
election as Senator in 1869, having been de-
| feated by Mr.. Fenton. He was the Republi-
can candidate for governor in 1876, and was
beaten by Lucius Robinson. Prior to that he
never met with a reverse in the field Of poll
tics. His public record has been a creditable
one, and he has enjoyed an exceptional immu-
nifty from the vituperation which is too often
cast without discrimination or reason upon the
incumbents of official stations
| YARMOuTu