The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-01-06
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular Correspondence

disappointment to some OF Its oppo-
nents, but it still has to run the CANT
let of the House, and its final fate is |
quite as much enshrouded in doubt as |
ever. Should the bill pass the House
it will only be after prolonged de-
lay and with such load of amend
ments that another debate must ensue
in the Senate. In the judgment of
long. headed members of both houses
the measure does not stand very
good chance to become law during
this Congress. And there is some
doubt as to its value or practical effect
even if it did. Not little amuse-
ment has been created by discussion
of some of our former civil service
examinations. When the rules and
form of examination of candidates
for office as recommended by the COM
mission appointed during the Presi-
dency of General Grant were under
discussion in the Senate some years
since, the late Senator Carpenter, one
of the most brilliant and erudite
members of that body, admitted that
he would be unable to pass such an
examination as prescribed by the
commission. 1t was perhaps for the
reason that the members of the COM
mission were more theoretical than
practical that its labors were ridiculed
and came to naught. The bill which
has just passed provides that the COM
petitive examinations shall be practi-
cal in their character, but to secure
this, it will be necessary for the Pres
ident to appoint as members of the
commission practical business men
and not enthusiasts or utopians. Dur
ing the last hours of the present dis
cussion, while Senators were weary
and worn Senator Beck made a little
passage too good to be lost. Senator
German, of Maryland was in the
chair, and at the time the venerable
Capt. Bassett, assistant sergant-at-
arms of the Senate, and who for
score of years was captain-general of
the Senate pages was leaning over to
receive some instructions from him
as presiding officer. Senator Beck
was hungry and thirsty, and wanted
Senator VOORHEES, to go down to the
restaurant with him for refreshments.
The Indiana Senator was little tardy
in responding, when Mr.. Peck said,
sob, come on, Voorhees,; never mind
this civil service reform talk, 1t is all
humbug; what do we want of it =?
We have good enough civil service
now. Look at German sitting in that
chair. presiding over the Senate, and
he used to be page running around
this floor. And look at old Bassett,
bowling and scraping to him, when
he used to lead him around by
the ear. Amt that civil service re-
form enough? Come on, now" Mr..
DUN . al was COl anu
VOORHEES, yielded without word.
Attorney General Brewster added
new lustre to his laurels by his recent
speech before the Supreme Court in
reply to ex-senator Conkling. Both
were mastery efforts, but Mr.. Brew
ster had the best of the legal argu-
ment and acquitted himself like an
old-time jurist and orator. There is
no doubt that Mr.. Brewster is one of
the ablest lawyers in the country and
his personal idiosyncrasies do not de-
tract from his influence at the bar.
In society" he has always been
talked about and always will be. In
fact L might as we'll say that he in
tends to be. 1t is part of his theory
of human conduct that man who is
conspicuous for his abilities should
also be conspicuous in his dress, de-
meanor, and personal belongings. He
thinks that there should meyer be a
mistake as to the identity of Benja-
min Harris Brewster. am bound
to say that he has been tolerably sue
cessful thus far in his efforts to keep
himself distinct from other men. No
young man ever accosts him on the
street as Mr.. Jones, from Jonesville,
and inquiries after his health and the
health of the little Jones' at home.
Nor does anybody mix up his big
yellow coach with the carriage in
which his neighbors is driven over
the smooth pavements of the Capital.
In speaking of Mr.. Brewster. am re-
minded of his beautiful Office in the
Department of Justice and the criti-
cisms that have been made on it.
Well, Mr.. Brewster has velvet cur.
tains and Turkish rugs, and mirrors
and an ebony table and candlestick
and beautiful furniture and a charm
ing piece of bronze satuary--Henry
of Nayarre when boy-the prettiest
thing in the world. The genial at.
torney general is known at home
among other good things, for his
luxurious surroundings, At home