The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1883-01-26
wAsnIsGTeS IErrEn.
IFrOm our Regular corrsspondeaes.I
NAanlnnnnn Ian q 1875

from our Regular corrSspondsnesI
WAsnIN0ToN, Jan. @, 1883.
The passage OF the Civil Service bill
by the House WAS an agreeable surprise
to few millions Of people, and bitter
disappointment TO few scores Of Con-
gressmen who had prepared speeches on
the subject, and who now mourn over
their unrecited sloqusnce. The bill ID
not what II should be IL IL not thor
ough, Il does not 60 10 the root Of the
evil, but II attacks is little branches
and twigs, and let us be thankful for
small favors until We are able TO demand
reform IN q more imperious way.
Real reform under an economical Dem.
ocratic administration viii mean there
duction by haIf Of the force and sx-
pense Of civil service establiahment,
and business, instead Of political
administration Of tho purely business
affairs Of the United States. Until this
ideal is reached doctrinaires and senti.
mentalists will continue to write, and
asitate, and vote, until the Conklins's
and Cameron's and MAhsne'n are fur.
ther eliminated, and, no matter how
grand may be tho contempt Of the 70
called practical politicians for the doc
trinSires and Sentimentalists, . reading
between tho lines Of history will show
that the latter haze had their way In
the long run.
President Arthur viii no doubt sign
the civil service bill. and Il will become
q law.
Among the most brilliant aneerera
at civil service reform is Mr.. Frank
Hatton, editor Of the National RepnJ-
keaa, and assistant Poatmastsr General
Of the United States. His paper makes
the prediction that the commissioners
TO be appointed under the bill will "sell |
and mart the Offices for gold. and that
addition, division, aud silence viii b.
the chief recommendation for place,
rather than the qualifications Of ceni-
petsncy and honesty. Nov since Mr.. |
Arthur has recommended the passage |
Of civil service reform hiil, aud since |
its measures will to great extent de-
pend upon the high oiKse which Dir. |
HattOn holds, for their faithful applica-
tion, the President should remove Mr.. |
Hatton and give bis place 10 some one |
moro in accord with bis policy, with
Congress, and With public sentiment.
By 80 doing tho President would be- no
mors than consistent with his reesnt
action in removing officials ia this city
for their sympathy with the S,ar Route
thieves.
The Civil Service bill has been the
general topic Of conversation among the
clerks whom It may affect throughout
the several departments. BY somo It
is claimed that the provisions Of the
bill viii not be strictly enforced, even IL
IL should become q Law. Others say
that the trainers Of the bill are disap-
pointed at its success. There aie
certain class Of employees, however, who
have been Ia the public service 30 long
that they have become utterly untitled
for any other business. The latter are
greatly excited at the prospect Of being
thrown out in the cold world and having
their places filed by college students.
Many Of them say they would porfsr to
contribute yearly to campaign fund
than be compelled to submit to CON-
petitive examination.
A communication from the Seere-
tary Of the Navy was yesterday laid be-
fore the Senate, containing reeommen-
dations for the construction Of a steel
cruiser, Of about 1000 tons displacs-
ment, 10 cost, IL IL sstimatod, sl,5l6,-
S54 three steel cruisers Of about $500
tons displacement, 20 cost each, estimat-
ed, 81 ,0sl ,225 one iron dispatch boat,
or fast clipper, of about 1000 tons dis
placement, to cost, estimated, s460, 900,
aud one cruising torpedo boat. to cost
$4,000.
The first touch OF seetionalism taat
has disturbed the present session Of
Congress obtruded itself in the Senate
debate yesterday upon the Fitz Jehn
Porter bill. 1t was short duration,
however. and did not provoke the saw
ago taunts, jsers, and rejoinders which
were won't to mark Congressional dis
cussions when the feeling engendered
by the rebellion were stirred again into
activity. In fact, the introduction Of
sectionalism yesterday only served to
show how absolutely dead is that spirit
which once swaycd the opposing sides Of