The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1880-08-28
Our NKhahIhr,on Letter.
FROM OUR nEouLAR eonREsPoNpnNr.

WASHINGTON, D. c., Aug. 81, 1880.
The principal event that has agitated po-
litical circles during the past week has been
the Republican ratification meeting which
took place on Thursday evening last, and
attracted large attendance aside from the
numerous clubs which formed the process
sion. The principal speakers were Secre-
tary Sherman and A. M. Clapp, the editor
Of the National Republican of this city. The
tenor of the speeches were of about the
usual order of such efforts at political gath
erngs. The only new and peculiar idea
that was in any way striking was contained
in single sentence of Mr.. Sherman. lie
stated 'the Democratic party seeks to de-
grade." This view Of the case will undoubt-
edly be strongly combatted by the party in
question and it will in all likelihood be n
useful theme for discussion in political meet
ings during the coming campaign,
On Thursday of next week there will be
Democratic ratification meeting when
there will be big demonstration and efforts
of high order of elocution will be put for
ward TO show that the Secretary is very
much mistaken in his view of the case, and
the boot will be put upon the other leg.
In view Of the Presidents departure for
California next week and his prolonged alb
sence from here, the various public officials
are trying as far as they can to anticipate
work necessitating his signature. 1t is prob
able that the Attorney General will submit
largo number Of pardon cases for his de-
cision before he leaves the city. There are
quite number of cases where persons have
been detected in defrauding the government
out of internal revenue duties, and then
gone into court and pleaded guilty, in ex-
pectation that they would be pardoned. In
many of these cases the courts have not inn
posed sentence, but suspended it and joined
in recommendation that q pardon be
granted. Unless the President acts Oh these
cases within the nextsix or eight weeks sem
tence will have to be pronounced and the
guilty persons sent to prison. The Attorney
General has not yet recommended any action
in these cases, but when he does it will be
to grant the pardons as recommended.
Postmaster General Key is in the city
awaiting the arrival of his successor, the
Hon. Horace Maynard, Ex-Minlster to Tur-
key, who is daily expected. Mr.. Maynard
will find the vast machinery of the post
Office department moving with perfect pre-
csion and smoothness, which is due in a
great measure to the competency Of the
managers of the several departments with
the exception however of the special agents
division, who are thoroughly posted in the
most minute details of a service which
comes nearer the homes of the people than
any other branch of the government.
Commissioner Bentley, of the pension bu-
reau, will in a short time have completed
the system Of classification and indexing Of
pension claims, upon which he has been en-
gagedfor fifteen months. The present class
ification is by serial number and name only
and to discover whether any duplicate claim
has been made by certain person il is nee
essary to examine the records of all person.
having the same name. The new system
classifes the claims by State, regiment and
company, so that when any claim is made
for services rendered in any company il
will be very easy to discover whether tb,
claim is an original one. The new system
will save the government the services o
some thirty clerks and at least forty thous
and dollars year. The old books will b,
preserved as additional security, but will
not be of any practical use after the compile
ton of the new system. AUGUST.