Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1882-12-25
WASHINGTON LETTER.

always be demand enough for the
pure article.
WASHINGTON LETTER.
ESPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE OF THE MoNIToR.I
Washington, Dec. IS, 1882.
Wonders will never cease. An
other Saturday has been devoted by
congress to a diligent days work.
Democrats as well as republicans
seem to be possessed of the working
mania, and SO the two parties, act
ing together, have made a great
stride with the regular business of
the session.
A caucus of the republicans was
held Saturday for the purpose of TAX
ing counsel upon the civil service
reform bill now under consideration
in the senate and it has decided to
push the bill in the body. In pursu-
ance of this decision, the senate pro-
ceeded early on Saturday to take up
this bill, and considerable discussion
followed from the senators of both
parties. Senator ingalls,, of Kansas,
expressed himself as not being a
very ardent civil service apostle, and
that he had no admiration for the
bill. He further said it was an eff
fort of each party to cheat the other,
and the end would be that both
would be cheated. Senator Voor-
hees, of Indiana, renewed his attack
upon the bill. He said he believed
that a change in the offices once in
while from top to bottom, purified
the public service; he would not
keep any trained band of officials in
office, but would muster them out by
brigades. He felt confident that the
democratic party contained plenty of
men and women competent to fill the
offices. He quoted the examples of
Presidents Jefferson and jackson,
and contended that they were per-
fectly right in turning out men from
office who would use their positions
against the policy of the administra-
| ton. The remarks of this last gen.
tveman, voices the opinions of the
mdjority of his democratic col
leagues; yet 1t seems strange to hear
such opinions from gentlemen who
were before the elections such ardent
followers of George William Curtis,
the Pioneer Civil Service Reformer.
On the republican side of the ques-
ton, the subject was tersely stated
by Senator Hawley, of Connecticut,
when he said he wanted law that
would relieve persons in government
service of the necessity of running
around every time change was
made in the head of department OF
bureau to seek influence in keeping
them in office.
The house has had under consider
alton for several days the postoffice
appropriation bill, in which the clause
relating to the reduction of postage
is developing some opposition. But
discussion on the bill will be ended
| to-day, when probably the bill viii
be passed. Last session the senate
openly blamed the house for the long
session for the reason, as it said
that the house purposely held bacl
the appropriation bills, and thu
: speeches made in the senate on this
5 subject were circulated on campaign
documets by the democrats. So, il
t view of this accusation, the hous
: has left the subjects of civil servic
1 reform and reduction of taxation 70
$ the senate to debate over, and appli
$ ed themselves to the regular appro
/ priation bills. When the senat
passes the civil service bill, (whic
e will be the early part of this week
: that subject will receive elaborat
: consideration in the house, and
C great diversity of opinions and pre-
+ JUDGES will be expressed.
n There is considerable difference G
n opinion in the two halls of congress
e relative to the holiday recess ques
II ton. 1t has been the custom to &C
II journ from the 23d to the first wee
e in January, but the senate this yes
e opposes such long recess, and man
1T senators say that congress can az
n journ over Christmas and New Year
lie day, and this will be ''enough.
,e But the members of the house an
l. especially those who were 'sleft''
he the late elections, and who are col
re sequently now "disinterested spe
I'd tators," will not consider til
at "enough," as many of them ha,
'h made preparations to visit the
al homes, and if both houses agree
e the proposition of the senate, they W
re be compelled to stay in Washingt'
We until they are released by the a
he journment of congress on the 4th
he March.
IN This city without an Investigate
90 in progress is like the omission
els Hamlet from the play. At prese
90 an investigation is being carried
in by a citizens vigilance commit
rts relative to the too close and confide
30, tial business relations of thieves a
in government detectives. A numl
ZEN of citizens who had been robbed
riy thieves and burglars, and have sill