Year: 1874

Washington (Nov. l4) Dispatch to the New


York Graphic.]


l am enabled to state, on the very
highest authority, the probable pro-
gramme Of the administration during
the coming session OF Congress.


First, there is no thought whatever
on the part of the President or any of
his advisers of making change in the
personnel Of the Cabinet. The Presi.
dent is perfectly satisfied with every
member of the present administration.
They know their duties, are thoroughly
efficient, and, as the President believes,
are honest and prompt in the perform
ance Of the various functions which
pertain to their offices. The President
does not see any necessity for a. change,
even in the least important members of
the administration.


Secondly, / think l AM authorized in
contradicting entirely the notion that
there is any change in the financial po.
tion taken by the President in his mes.
sages, especially the veto message. He
does not propose to bulge one inch
from the position respecting an early
return to specie payment-as early as
the business Of the country will admit
of. He is in favor Of no rash or imme.
date change, but would like to signal
ize his administration by the rcstora-
tion Of good order and good feeling in
the South, and by the resumption of
specie payments, so that the currency
of the United States would be
identical with the currency
Of the world. He is in
clined to the belief that there can be no
return to any real prosperity until gold
and silver are again made the circulat-
ing medium Of the country. 1t is not
improbable that the Administration
may favor repeal Of the Legal-Tcn-
der act,which repeal many here believe
would restore the prosperity of the
country and start commercial and
manufacturing interests at once. But
contraction, it is believed here, would
only prolong the present dull state of
trade, and might even produce another
panic. The specification Of time,
however, whcr the grcenbacks would
cease to be legal tender for debt,
would, it is believed, stimulate business
as every one would be anxious to part
with his notes for some form of prop
erty. The stimulus once given, it
would continue up to and after the
time they ceased to be legal tender,
and when they were simply 4 depre.
ciated currency quoted at a discount.


Thirdly, have the very highest au.
thority FOR saying that it will be the
aim of the Administration to favor
works Of public Improvement on the
seaboard and lakes and on the Missis-
sippi river-everywhere, in fact, that
labor can be employed at fair rates. A
hard winter is approaching, and instead
Of charity the President believes the
people ought to have work. A liberal
disbursement Of funds by the Govern
mcnt would affect the retail trade of the
country, and would induce manufactur.
ers every where to increase production.
A judicious spending Of money during
the coming winter would be an immense
help to the final resumption of business
all over the country. OF course, nc
works will be undertaken excep,
such as are of permanent value
to the nation. There will undoubtedly
he an increase in the army and navy,
and there will be apportionments 70,
new and better ships, repairing of old
vessels, and, after the meeting Of Con
gress, dock-yards and arscnals will be
busy and noisy with the hum of indus.
try. That there will be disposition
on the part Of the coming Congress tc
take some such line of action as have
indicated in regard to appropriations
for public works is, think, highly
probable. A large number of the mem


hers will be irresponsible; they will be
in frame Of mind to spend money


The Government cannot prevent that
All it can do is to try and infucnc,
legislation, and see that the expendi


lures are for worthy objects, and tha


their effect will be the employment O


labor and the promotion of the indus


trial interests of the country.


Fourthly, the President will do al


he can to enforce the Civil-Servict
rules. The last Congress failed t.


make an appropriation for continuing


the work of the Commission. This viii


be rectified this year, and, it is though


that, if there is any danger Of tn


Democrats carrying the next Presiden


tial election, an effort will be made t,


give us = permanent Civil Service


Commissions will be everywhere ap


pointed to investigate the fitness of tn
> present ofice.holders, and, if they pas