Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1882-05-17
From Our Regular Correspondent
Washington Letter,

WASHINGTON, ID. C., May Is, 81.
There has been considerable gossip
during the week relative to a very i'm
portaut change in the cabinet. Il is said
that the president wished to have Mr..
Conkling at the head Of his cabinet, and
that the present secretary of state, Mr..
Frclinghuyscn, is to be sent to England as
successor to Mr.. Lowell, and that Mr..
Conkling is to take his place. If this
change is intended it will have to be made
soon, because both appointments must be
confirmed by tue Senate, which will not
remain long in session.
Tho Senate is well up with its work,
and, if the House were equally forward,
there would be 10 reason for continuing
the session longer than until the middle OF
June. The families of some senator's and
members have already departed for their
homes or for summer resorts. though, as
yet, we have had very little Of the etheri-
al mildncss" that poets attribute TO this
season of the year.
A bill making the agricultural depart
ment one Of the executive departments of
the government passed the House on
Wednesday ~ 4 very large majority, and,
if this bill passes the Senate. as it is
thought it will do, the commissioner of
agriculture will become member of the
cabinet, with the title OF secretary of
agriculture. Who will be promoted to
the new cabinet Office, in case this bill
becomes law, has not yet been the sub
ject of much speculation. The present
head of the bureau is very popular, but
there will no doubt be other applicants for
the place with its enhanced dignity.
The cabinet of the president now con-
sists Of seven members. having charge,
respectively, Of the war, navy, state,
treasury, interior, justice and postollice
departments. Some other civilized coun-
tries have twelve executive departments,
comprising, besides the above named
divisions, agriculture, education, COM
MERGE. manufactures and public works.
There is bill before congress appro-
priating sl0,000,000 for purposes of educa-
ton, te be distributed to the several states
and territories in proportion to their
illitcracy as shown by the late census
If this bill shall be passed, it will be a step
toward tho assumption by the federal
government Of the educational function
that is now divided by the public school
systems Of the various states, and, at no
distant day, we may have another cabinet
officer, 10 be known rs the secretary of
public instruction. There could be much
said for and against such measure. The
old question Of state rights would be
revived. The demon of Capitalization
would be paradcd by the press. and on the
stump; but, if the big leviathan Jumbo
establishment, known as the government
printing office, could only be used to print
cheap arthmetics AMI spoilers, instead of
the millions Of useless documents now
thrown out, ! think the country would
profit by 1t.
AT least one advantage would be gained
by the consolidation Of our hydra-headed
educational system. A uniform set Of text
books would he introduced throughout this
broad land, and homogeneous method of
instruction and expression inculcatcd in
youth would tend TO the destruction of
local prejudice and promote the sentiment
of national cohesion. Another advantage
would DO hat all school book agents would
die OF starvation.