The Huntington argus. [volume] (Huntington, W. Va.) 1872-1905, 1882-05-25

there have been few social gatherings
except at the informal day receptions.
After the fatigue of the tea party in
rotunda, on Saturday evening, in aid
of the Garfield Memorial Hospital,
the rest was needed. Except for
the glamour about an entertainment
in the capital, which, of course, at
tracts more people than an ordinary
hall would and, moreover, costs
nothing for rent, it must be conceded
that the rotunda is not the best place
for tea party or dance. There was
something depressing to me about
having this special one there because
of the associations of the Capital
with Garfield, his political career,
his inauguration there as President
with more pomp and display than
has ever been witnessed at that Of
any American President, has funeral
in that very rotunda. The floral
bower with Its gay decorations, an
annex to the New York table, sup
piled with flowers by his successor.
stood whore Gar6eld's )fin rested
last September and the shields of the
several States, which had decorated
the National Museum building for
the Inauguration ball, were used at
the table as decorations. The spec
tacle was very fine one, and the
States made a very creditable display
at their several tables.
Senator Pendleton, on behalf of
the committee on civil service and re-
trenchment, has presented to the
Senate a report in advocacy of the
passage of the bill "To regulate
and improve the civil service Of the
United States" which was reported
to the Senate on the Doth Of March
last. The report reviews the growth
of the government since its founda-
ton and the effect of this growth on
the civil service. Referring to what
is characterized as the "spoils system
and its effect upon the President, it
maintains that instead of devoting
his time to great questions of states
manship he must spend most of it in
weighing in the balance the political
considerations "that shall determine
the claim Of this friend or that polit
zeal supporter to the possession Of
some office of profit or honor under
him" The abuses under this system,
the committee assert, have grown
out of a system comparatively new
in our government. Appointments
because Of special fitness and reno
walls for cause were the rule in its ear
ly history. The report after quoting
from views heretofore expressed by
Presidents Grant, Hayes, Garfield
and Arthur in favor Of regulating
the civil service by law, closes by
urging the passage of the bill.
The committee investigating the
stationery Office of the Treasury De
partment has come across French
Clock, found in the Elk Custodian
Pitney'8hands, which was paid out Of
public funds. The man Pitney has
found it very convenient way Of
furnishing his own house with vari-
Gus luxuries for which the payment
was made in q similar manner. lie
made regular acquisitions upon the
proper authorities claiming and sta
ting that these things were for the
use Of the Treasury Department,
while in fact, and after they were
delivered to the Department he APP
propriated these things for his own
private use or for the use Of the
Sherman campaign committee Thus
through one mans dishonest the honor
andiutegrity of many well known gen
tleman connected with the Treasury
Department have suffered to a very
great extent. 1t is a great misfor-
time to Senator Sherman that those