The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1881-10-27
Washington Letter.
From our Regular Correspondent.
WASHINGTON, D. c.,

Washington, composed of veterans of
the late war, which is making prepa-
rations to stir up some of the nests in
the Government Departments with
very sharp stick. A committee Of
this organization has been at work for
some months gathering the data upon
which to base their action, and when
the developments come there will be
scattering all along the line. Dur,
ing the Presidency of Grant We heard
great deal on the subject of nepo
tisu. The provision which the Ad-
uinistration made for its own and its
wife's relations was the subject of
much discussion in the newspapers
and undoubtedly had its effect. If
that was the origin in this country Of
what Webster calls AN undue fond.
ness for nepbews and other relations
among those in authority, certainly
the disease has spread with exceeding
rapidity. There is so much oft in
every Department of the Government
at this time that it has cone to be
crying evil. And that is what these
veterans are going for.
1t has been understood that ex
soldiers, qualifications and other things
being equal, were to have the prefe-
renee in appointment to minor posi-
tions under the Government, bat they
do not get it. Such large proper
tion Of places are filed by the rela-
tives of Department officials, favorites
Of Senators and mist7esses of Con-
gressmen, that the soldier gets pretty
unanimously left. This is not mere
idle talk it is solid fact, based upon
actual investigation. l have seen the
lists now in course of completion af-
ter careful and thorough canvass of
every Department and feel constrained
to say that there will be some music
when Congress assemblies this winter.
There are over seven hundred cases
where from two to fourteen members
of favorite families are on the Govern.
ment pay-rolls, drawing salaries rang
ing from 5000 to $4,000 per year.
Assistant Secretary French of the
Treasury has ten members Of his fam
lily spug!y slowed away, seven of
them, consisting of sons, nephewS and
nieces, are attached to the Treasury
and its various bureaus. Chief Brooks,
of the Secret Service division of the
Treasury Department, is happily pro,
vided with salaries agregating sope-
thing over $1,000 in his immediate
family. These are merely samples.
To 60 on through the list would re.
quire too much space, though it
might be what Horace Greeley used
to term mighty interestiu' reading
Sometimes Secretary or bureau
chief after providing fer a goodly
number Of his relations in his OVID
department to save appearances, uses
his influence to get the rest of them
in somewhere else. Secretary Hunt
Of the Navy Department is the latest
example of official tenderness for off,
spring and the ties Of consauguinity.
He has snugly located all his four
sons where they can do the most good
for theuselves-the Navy positions
as in the Army being for life, or dur
ing good behavior. Other relations
have also been provided for. Ap-
pros of HuDt there is strong effort
being made to keep him in the Cabi-
net but / am certain it is wholly with.
out effect. Had General Garfield
continued in his administration both
Hunt and Kirkwood would most
probably be in retirement. Both
have proven failures. am not now
speaking my private opinion bnt Civ
ing the facts which must 60 to
make up history. Mr.. Hunt was
given position in the Cabinet as a
Southern man, but with the distinct
understanding that it was an expert
ueut so far as he was concerned and
that if at any time change was de-
sired his place was at the disposal of
the President. 1t was also under
stood that as he gave up life Judge
ship to enter the Cabinet he would
be properly cared for iu case he left it.
This arrangement President Arthur
will 90 doubt bear in mind.
| saw Judge Davis this morning
and could but notice that the smiles
which wreathed his countenance the
day he was elected President of the
Senate had all disappeared. In fact
the old geOtlemsn is little worried.
That this is true is evidenced in his
anxiety for some days to find out what
people thought Of his election. Be-
sides be knows that the Republicans
will likely elect some one else to the
position one of these days. The
Judge now perhaps, realizes that he
made mistake 10 accepting the posi-,
tion. But it was the first and only
chance he has ever had to make one
step toward the Presidency. He has
had the Presidential bee in his bon
net for years. Your correspondent
attended the Cincinnati convention
iu 1872 and saw car loads of delegates
come in from Illinois whose expenses
had been paid out of Davis plethoric
purse. But for the obstinate and ex-
peoslve fight made for him in that
convention his State would have voted !
for Trumbull, instead of dividing its