The Evening critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1881-1885, 1881-09-14

APRoPos OF MIR. James recent statement
that but few removals and appointments
have been made in the p. o. D.y since he
took charge Of it, the Washington corrc-
spondent of the Cincinnati Enquirer says
The register shows that the majority OF
Postmaster-General James appointments
are relatives of the Postmaster General.
Besides having relatives in the postal SER
vice, he has humorous others employed
In the Custom-housc at New York and else
where.
The correspondent Of the Enquirer is be
hind the times. The common notorcty of
the facts which he states concerning James
is such as to divcst them of tho slightest
resemblance toncws. lie might have added,
that besides the numerous relatives that
James has in the postal service, both here
and in New York, and in the Custom house,
he last spring endcavored to have the hus-
band Of his wife's cousin made postmaster
at Fayetteville, Ark, but was foiled by SEN
ator Walker, who informed the Senate Post
Office Committee that the aforesaid wife's
cousins husband was worthless vagabond,
utterly unworthy of any trust or confidence
whatsoever.
This episode seems to have taught James
that his safest way of pensoning his rcla-
tives and his wifc's relatives and his
wifc.s relatives relatives by mar
riagc, upon the Government is to snug
gle them into clerkships not requiring the
advice and consent of the Senate.
---e-----
THAT IMPERIAL AssEMBLAoE of greedy
knaves known as the Washington Gas
Company announces now that the lamps
will be lit at certain hour and quenched at
certain other hour. This is done on the
provincial principle of accommodating the
moon, not interfering with her in the proper
discharge of her duties. 1t happens, how
ever, that the moon is about as human as
the rest Of us, and frequently breaks her
engagements. When she does, no arrange.
ments have been made for substitute and
hence no accommodations whatever greet
the late wayfarer on his way home. The
casual observer will be able to detect in
all this little game of heads l win
tails you lose. The handle of the
| jug Is all on one side. Suppose
the moon should become permanently
disabled and have to lay up for repairs
Until the disability was removed, we would
have no acting moon and the gas company
would keep on pockcting the moons salary
without rendering the slightest equivalent
1t is a question just how long the people
of Washington will endure this bleeding
arrangement, and how long our Legislative
masters will be partners in the fraud. Last
Congress this thing wassprung in the shape
of bill compelling the gas company t.
light the streets on q basis of actual fact
and not on the fictitious presentment O
facts to be found in the almanac. 1t wa
never passed. Why? Because this greed,
monopoly, by judicious use of its hard
earned coin, prevailed on Congress to b,
lenient and to mercifully grant them til,
privilege of relying on their own honor il
this affair-not to push them to tho wal
and they would perform the duty from
date. Congress no sooner adourns, th,
tension is no sooner relieved, than thcs,
vultures throw honor and principle to tn,
wind and return to their thieving tricks
As it seems about time, for capital city o
nearly 100000 inhabitants to have out
grown the swaddling clothes of frontie
settlement, our citizens will simply have t,
combine and revive that bill and force it t,
a passage. The longer this parasite stick
the deeper it will burrow into the flesh.