South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1882-07-28
Letter from Washington.
WAsHINaroN, d. c., July "a.

present time is the contest between
merit and patronage in the civil SER
vice. The question hobs up sereLely
every now and then in some form, in
Congress and out Of Congress, and it
is bound to cause good deal of dis
cussion and make good deal of trou.
bic, to the party in power at least, for
some years TO come. But it does not
need microscope, nor even com.
mon pair of spectacles, to discover
that the present Congress will not lie
awake nights TO promote civil service
reform. A proposition to incorpor.
ate small appropriation in the sun.
dry civil bill TO defray the expenses
OF the civil service commission crea-
ted by the revised statutes was recent.
ly beaten out of sight Men of tie
George William Curtis stamp may
continue to vociferate and agitate, but
the contributions will continue to flow
IN to Mr.. Hubbell's committee Just
tie same, and we shall have exceed
ingly cold weather in August before
any very pronounced reforms are &C.
complished. Speaking Of Jay Hub
bell reminds me of the fact that he
wants TO succeed Ferry as Senator
from Michigan, and is directing his
energies TO somo extent in that direc.
ton. "A new soldiers' paper has been
established under the auspices of the
committee, indirectly, and is to be
sent gratuitously all over the West -
especially to Michigan. 1t bristles
with attacks upon Ferry of 4 rather
mild character.
A new lot of Cabinet speculations
have broken out, and the gossips in
the hotel Hobbies insist that there is
really going TO be change. This
time 1t is the Secretary of the State
that rulnOr says must 90. The Chill
Peru business has no doubt been the
subject Of talk in several Cabinet
meetings, but it is not thought that
there has been any such an amount
or character Of discussion given it as
the gossips state. According to the
story, the President has been goaded
into thinking of charge by the
comments of the Blaine journals, who
think Mr.. Frelinghuyscn's policy has
not been aggressive enough. 1t is
thought that had Blaine been at the
helm of diplomatic affairs the in
sulting letter recently sent our &c.
vernment by Martinez, the head of
one OF the little and weak South A
merican Republics, would never hove
been written, or that if it bad, lie
would have received such an answer
as would have stopped him from OF.
Tending again i'll that dlrcction.-
Those who are handing about the pro.
lected Cabinet change declare that it
is the Presidents intention to make
Gen. Grant his premier, and that his
past career is n guarantee that he will
be aggressive enough to suit even the
most warillc of the admirers of the
blaine management of foreign affairs.
One Of the recreations of Washing
ton life in the summer is strolliug Il.
bout the White House grounds on Sa.
turday afternoons during the Marine
band concerts. These concerts are
really very delightful, and the grounds
are very beautiful, the combination
suiliciDg TO attract large concourse
rearIy every Saturday. 1t is a good
place to meet people and get Whit
of the cool breeze sweeping up from
the lazy old Potomac. When the
President is ut home he usually APP
pears with n party Of friends on the
20 70 -, 4
the music at distance from the mis-.
| CellaneoCs and Democratic throng
upon the lawn. Congressman and
Senators and prominent visitors to the
city often mingIc with the lstuers
and the scene is frequently one Of
great brlliancy. On recent occas-
ION group of New York men were
chatting in the shadow of a grove,
just below the White House, when
eX-Secretary Blaine, with Mr.. Wal.
ker Blaine, sauntered leisurcly down
the lawn and toward this ground
The eX.Sccrotary was looking ex,
tremely well, and seemed to be per.
tectly at ease and comfortable i'm the
midst of the tlIrong of people. He
was known to some ofthc New York
men, and he chatted with them about
the weather. the White House sur.
roundings, and the sorrovful scenes
witnessed from the lawn year pro.
vious when tho wounded President
was brought to the rear porch and
waved his hand to one of the ladies'
who stood by to sec him carried in.
Among the prominent characters
seen about Washington for some
days past is b. Gratz Brown, OK. Uni.
ted States Senator and Ex-Governor
of Missouri, and candidate for Vice.
President on the ticket with Grcely
1872. His long, red whiskers have
been conspicuous at the Star route
! trial this week. where he IA i'm offcnd