Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-11-05
CAPITAL JOTTlNGS.
ARTHUR BIDING HIS TIME.

Stalwarts TO the FrOnt-A Smoking
Up of Ehe Dry Bones Promised
FOIger and the SpOils-SIIVer CIR
Observation-Disclosures as TO the
Coming Elections Boost for
Williamson or Land Ohfee Fame.
WASHINGTON, November 3-Congressman
Barr, of Pennsylvania, is q Cameron man
Cameron's lieutenant, Barr carries with it the
definition that he Is Of the kind Of stalwarts
who will the more closely surround President
Arthur. Er. Barr was asked by the NEWS man
to-day what President Arthur's programme
would be. He refused to say anything as to
the particularly of the Presidents pro-
gramme. saying that he did not know any ything
about it himself and thought that such know
ledge was only in the hands Of the President
and three or four others. called his atten-
ton to the general belief that President Ar
thur has heretofore been practically admins
tering upon the estate OF the dead President,
and would at no distant day commence to
manage the political estate of the living Presi-
dent with ready and strong stalwart hand.
Mr.. Barr laughingly said that he had never
heard it put that way, but that the matter
seemed to be in about that shape. There
will he nothing done now," he continued, Ito
shape events. When Congress meets there
will be nominated members of the Cabinet
These will be stalwart Republicans Who
they are do not know. Beyond these nomina-
tions the President will not do anything to-
wards whipping into shape the style and char
acter OF his administration. He will do no.
thing in that way until after the holiday re-
cess, which will run into about the middle OF
January When Congress reasSembles from that
recess all l have to say is stand from under.
There is going to be a rattling Of dry bones
then, and no mi take" Congressman Barr Ger
tsin'y knows something as he is in close reIa-
tions with the President. His testimony is
corroborative Of what we hear on II sides.
in the whole Federal service, and there are
many men in public Office whose relations to-
wards President Arthur and his WaTmest
friends have been Of such character as GER
tainly warrants them needing Barr's warning
to "stand from under"
Apropos OF the subject OF the reformation
or the civil service and the Treasury Depart
ment is the worst Of all in need Of the sweep
ing broom-Mr. e. o. Graves, who was chief
examiner for the Treasury Department when
the civil service commission was in vogue,
some years ego, tells of an incident while he
was in New York in his official capacity max
ing an examination of candidates for appoint
ments and promotions among the numerous
Federal positions in that city. Judge Folger
just confirmed as Secretary Of the Tressury,
came into the room where the papers of the
candidates were being examined and expressed
himself as greatly pleas d with the manner of
marking the examiD alton papers and the ad
herence to the standard fixed by which the
general merits OF all examined were easily ar
rived at Judge Folger. Mr. Graves said
ked a good deal on the subject and while he
expressed himself as entirely pleased with the
manner in which the examination was con-
Quoted, he also spoke in a manner which left
no doubt that he thought very liJtle of exami-
nations as a factor in regulating the civil SER
vice In other words, it was plain that he, like
all other Republicans OF prominence, stood on
the bro I'D ground of ''spoiS" in doling out the
Office, without much regard to qualifications
1t is not known, and cerEainly there is yet no
evidence: that the present Secretary has
changed his ideas in regard to the civil service
since this incident occurred.
SILVER CERTIFICATES.
Compared with the same time last year. there
are by large figures fewer silver dollars In cir
culation The same statemtn mt applies to gold
coin. It is the exception now rather than the
rule year ago that coin was the currency
most met with in the North and West in the
channels Of buying and selling. The cause for
the great disappeararce Of coin. which Is so
noticeable, is due to the silver certificate. Peo-
ple preferred the certifcat~-slthough South
Carolina is so far behind the times that her
people will not ske them-and when they got
the silver, demanded in exchange therefor the
silver certificate. The Treasury Department
also allowed people to exchange their gold for
silver certificates. and the opportunity of
doing so was very largely taken advsn-
tage OF. The result has been that
there is very large quantity
of silver certificates outstanding, over $66. .000,
600. and thew are rapidly becoming as common
as the other paper issues Of the government The
Secretary of the Treasury, to counteract this,
has suspended the Interchange Of gold and sill
yer certificates at the Treasury and sub-treasu-
ries. The exchange of silver certificates for
the standard dollars cannot be stopped, the law
giving the holders OF the dollars the privilege
OF exchanging them for certificates And in a
slightly roundabout way the holders of gold
can get silver certificates for them bV first ex-
changing the gold for silver dollars The action
OF the Treasury will not, therefore, to any great
extent counteract the increasing circulation OF
silver certificates. It is perfectly certain that
the people OF this country greatly prefer paper
money when its redemption is assured to gold
and silver.
THE NOVEMBER ELECTIONS
The November elections this year create but
little interest among the politicians They
talk aud predict about what Arthur is going
to do, but say not a word about the elections
which are near at hand in several Of the States
To be sure this is what is called an off year in
politics. but this time it seems to be more of -
than ever. 1t is very seldom in of years that
the department clerk is called upon to respond
to levy for Republican political expenses, but
II he is entitled to vote in any State he is gen
orally expected to 20 home and deposit his
ballot. Usually the best rates home and back
are half rates. But this year voters from sew
eral OF the States are offered passes both ways
IL bHCy VIII kO 1uey 40 QOb seem Co be
anxious to go, however, even under
these Inducements II II were not
that they arc given from ten
to fifteen days leave of absence in addition TO
the regular leave of thirty days of which
most have already availed themselves TO 90
home and vote, it is extremely doubtful IL
more than handful would deposit their ballots
during the impending elections.
ANOTHER sTALwART.
Some well informed people believe the re-
port that A. Williamson, ex- Commissioner
OF the Land Once, will be made ecretary of
the Interior. Williamson is certainly a verv
stalwart man. His appointment in the Cabinet
would be blow at the men who few
months ago had been removed from the Land
Ofce. These were the friends OF President
Garfield. They were men who wa ted to re-
form to a certain extent. Secr-tary Schurz ar
Mr. Hayes trit to make General Williamson
resign, but he would not. and they did pot
want TO go so far as to remove him because he
was Grant man and worked Ia the harne a
for the 'sld man." But Presi ent Garfield
told General Williamson that his resignation
would be accepted and he resigned It would
be quite a 'vindication" for him to go back into
the Interior Department, not 10 the subordinate
position Of Commissioner of the Land Office.
but as boss of the whole business
PoToMAo