The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1883-01-13
wAsHINGTON LETTER.
IN. our Regular Correspondent.l
WARRINGTON. January 8. 1888;

w AbhlHoAoINt O"Aa~Ay W. Aoocs
The passage of the civil service bill by
III House was an agreeable surprise to !
~ millions OF people, and a bitter dis
snnointmpnt to a few scores OF congrs S.
msn npr who had prepared speeches on the
.rbiact. and who now mourn over theil
nrrecited eloquence. The bill is not wha,
/. should be; it ID not thorough it does
not ID to the root OF the evil. but it at
I .scks its little branches and twigs,and lei
e ba thankful for small favors until we
ara ablo to demand reform in more i'm.
nerious way. Real reform under an eco
pomical Democratic administration will
mean the reduction by half of the force
ma expense Of the civil service estab-
shmeit, and business, instead of q po-
Iitical administration Of the purely bust
ness affairs Of the United States. Until
this ideal isreached doctrinaires and SEN
timentalists will continue to write, and
aptate, and vote, until the Conklings and
Gamerons and Mahones are further elm
mated, and no matter how grand may be
tbe contempt OF the so-called practical
politicians for the doctrinaires and senti-
,nentalists, a reading between the lines OF
history will show that the latter have
had their way in the long run. President
Arthur will no doubt sign the civil SER
vice bill, and it will become law.
Among the most brilliant sneerers at civil
service reform is Mr.. Frank Hatton, edi-
Tor Of the National Republican, and as
sstant Postmaster 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, divis-
ion and silence will be the chief recon-
mendation for place, rather than the
qualifications of competency and homes
ty, Now since Mr.. Arthur has recon-
mended the passage of = civil service re-
form bill, and since its measures will to a
great extent depend upon the high office
which Mr.. Hatton holds for their faith
iul application, the President should re-
move Mr.. Hatton and give his place to
some one more in accord with his policy,
with congress and with public sentiment.
BY 20 doing the President would be no
more than consistent with his recent ac-
ton in removing officials in this city for
their sympathy with the Star Route
thieves.
The civil service bill has been the gen.
oral topic Of conversation among the
clerks whom 1t may affect throughout the
several departments. By some it is
claimed that the provisions OF the bill
Silnot be strictly enforced, even ii it
should become law. Others say that
the trainers Of the bill are disappointed
st Its success. There are q certain class
oiemployes, however, who have been in
the public service 80 long that they have
ecome utterly untitled for any other bus
insss. The latter are greatly excited at
the prospect Of being thrown out in the
old world and having their places filed
college students. Many of them say
they would prefer to contribute yearly to
: campaign fund than be compelled to
submit to competitive examination. A
communication from the Secretary ofthe
Navy was yesterday laid before the SEN
ate containing recommendations for, the
construction of steel cruiser, of about
600 tons displacement, to cost, il is es-
timated, $l,516,S54; three steel cruisers
ofabout $500 tons displacement, to cost
each, estimated, $l,03l, ,225 one iron dis
patch boat, or fast clipper, ~ about / 200
IONS displacement, to cost, estimated,
$a6O,0OO, and one cruising torpedo boat,
to cost 5000 The first touch Of Sec
lonalism that has disturbed the present
session Of Congress obtruded itself in the
SENATE debate yesterday upon the Fitz
John Porter bill. It was of short dura-
tlon, however, and did not provoke the
savage taunts, jesrs and rejoinders which
we're wont to mark congressional discus
slons when the feeling engendered by the
were stirred again into activity.
~ TACT. the introduction of sectionalism
Yesterday only served to show how ab-
solutely dead is that spirit which once
sw.,yed the opposing sides OF Congress
snd caused whirlwind of excitement
whenever introduced appealedto.