The National tribune., 1885-02-05
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
The Weekly Collection About the Ma
tional Capital.
CONDITION OF DUB MERCHANT MARINE.

of Trade of the United States, which met last
week in this city. there was pTotractcd dis
cussion of the condition of the American Mer-
chant Marine and what steps should be taken
10 revive the interest. One thing came out
PROMINENTLY, as the views of the business men
p sembled in the body, which was this that
1 g main reason why our ocean carrying trade
], S declined, is simply because it is not profit
:ale compared with other lines of investment
{, zen TO capital. 1t was shown that under the
jmpetus given TO the business of ocean freight
crrriage in England by Government subsidies,
Under guise of payment for carrying the mails.
snore tonnage had been launched by the British
alone than was necessary for the accommoda-
rion of the entire international traffic OF the
world. The result has been that none of the
British lines to-day are profitable, owing TO
over-competition.
In addition TO the fact that the British ocean
carrying trade is to-day Improbable, ii was
further shown that Americans cannot compete
with them, owing to the difference in running
Expenses alone. 1t would make no difference
Hader these conditions if the frec-ship system
Or the bounty system should be adopted, or the
present protective system maintained. There
were only two things possible to be done TO
EcutraliZe the present disadvantage - first,
american seameD's wages must be reduced to
f'ie same level as in the case of the lowest for
s.gners, and their allowance of food brought
down to the same grade; Or, second, the Gov
eminent must make up the difference annually
by some form of subsidy.
1t was announced that member of the
United States Senate was about TO introduce a
hiil, and support it by an elaborate argument,
providing for a trial of the French system,
through which it was alleged the Merchant
ttarine of the latter country had thriven Won
lerfully.
The Board adopted a resolution instructing
The Executive Committee to make an investi-
cation of this subject and report the results at
ihe next meeting.
while the American foreign carrying trade had
declined. the coastwise and lake marine had
Increased to such an extent as to more than
make up the loss.
AN OLD STORY
,~ns this way:
Customer: s. 1 want to get watch chain, if
/. II please"
,IeIceler: What kind of a one do you want,
-"
90 you really think that young man ought to
lave who carries groceries to some of the very
best families in this city,"
"Col." Lamont, the gentleman who, previous
to the election, was Private Secretary to the
Governor of New York, and was promoted by
that event TO the same function for the Prcsi-
dent-elect OF the United States, finds it difficult
10 auJuSt HIS LUCAS Vi Ills OWL importance the
surroundings of his new position. He is in
great trouble for fear he will not have every
thing just as young man ought to have them
who is Private Secretary of the first Democratic
President elected in "a years. He selected
house here such as he thought such young
man ought to have, but the owner asked 50, 200
rent. As the salary of the Presidents Private
Secretary is $3.50 there would only be $50 left
for the gentleman 20 maintain the style con-
sstent with the house and the young man who
has had such greatness thrust upon him. Now
he wonders If an indulgent Congress-which
ought to know enough to appreciate really
talented and valuable young man when il sees
him-will not make the salary what it ought
TO be for one who is SO necessary to the success
of the incoming Administration.
MOST PROBABLY
it will DO nothing of the kind. "Col" Lamont
did not endear himself to the Democratic lead
ers during his visit here. They say that he
put on quite too many frills even for Private
Secretary of the Master of the Universe. He
held regular levee, at which Senators and
Representatives had to send in their cards from
an ante-room.
Tell him I'll give him three minutes he
would say when Senator This,s card was
brought in, and to the bearer of Representa-
tive That's pastebOard:
q" j can let him have two minutes" Now,
Senators and Representatives are very much in
the habit of thinking that they own the party,
and resent the idea that it is in any way Air.
Cleveland's private property, let alone the per-
guiSite of his Private Secretary.
Did you ever know understrapper
to put On so many - airs?" said an "oId
wheel-horse" of the Democracy, as he came
down from P. SIS rooms by -, the first
thing we've got to do is to teach him his place,
the - upStart."
So the outlook for "Col." Lamont cannot be
said to be as bright as May sunrise.
WOMEN UNDER THE CIVIL SERVICE LAWS
A great deal of dissatisfaction with the
operation of the Civil Service law is being de-
yeloped among the female applicants for ap-
pointment. resting upon the claim that the
operation of the law discriminates against
them.
Under the Civil Service rules any person
may go into the examination. and if the appli-
cant passes the name goes down on the list TO
await vacancy. In case of vacancy in one
of the Departments the Chief of the Division
notifies the head of the Department that he
needs so many clerks of a specified grade
and he may also ask for male or female clerks.
The complaint is that under this practice the
Chief of Division invariably specifies male
clerks. The head of the Department simply
transmits the request for clerks TO the Civil
Service Commission as he receives it, and if
there are only male clerks asked for only the
baineo VI ulS;i are CtIllHeu 10 Inc department
IS having passed for the various grades Twice
as many names are certified by the Commission
as the number of clerks needed, from which
selection is made.
On the other hand, the ladies complain that
when their names are sent to Department
where the sex has not been designated, the
men are cuiled out of the list and given places,
even though the latter have not received so
high mark at the examination Having been
left out they are again sent I'D at the next
call and again left out. After having been
thus sent up four times without being selected.
under the rules of the Board they have no
further chance unless they again go into ex-
animation and begin over once more at the
foot of the ladder
THE MORROW CoURT-MARTIAL
Lieut.-Col. Albert p. Morrow. of the 9th
Cav, is to be put on trial this week before the
same military court which has been hearing
the case of Judge Advocate Gen. Swain for the
past month. Col. Morrow is accused by local
banker of hypothecating duplicate pay ac-
counts IN 1888 a matter which was fully venti-
lated in the press at the time. The balance of
public opinion at the time was that Col Nor
row had fallen into the hands of sharpers who
had first aeeced him and then forced him to
raise money 10 meet obligations thus incurred
by pawning his pay accounts, which is a tech
nical ofiense against the regulations of the War
Department. 1t was generally believed, how
ever, that he had been guiltless OF any inten-
donal wrong and was innocent of dishonest
practices. 1t is understood that such in sub
stance will be his pleading before the court
martial.
Col. Morrow has enjoyed distinguished
,&,{.<. II,