Year: 1878

WASHINGTON, d. c., March IL rs


Officials, as well as the lay brethren of
Washington society, appear to have Just
walked up to the fact that we are stuck
for the little trifle of 100000, in the
matter Of our down cast" fisheries.
unless we elect to back out of a bad
bargain through the loop hole of a tech
nicality. Now that We have fairly turned
our attention to the little matter, it
becomes painfully evident that Brother
Jonathan acted in the matter without
his usual caution and clear headed fore
cast; and it is so patent to every one
taking the trouble to investigate that he
was Overreached, that no ATTEMPT at
denial is heard. 1t would be hazardous
to predict what Congress will do in the
premises; but it is entirely safe to say
that the feeling is almost universal about
the Capital that the utmost advantage
has been taken of our error in accepting
as third referee, a man so gangered with
prejudice in favor of the British side, as
to have been utterly unable to grasp the
equities involved, even admitting the
correctness of Mr. Fish's estimate of his
honesty. The consideration that will
appeal most forcibly against any appro-
priation to pay tine award is the fact that
its payment would not be any bar to
other claims, quite as absurd as those on
which the award was founded For the
past few days-since the settlement of
reconciliation gave time to consider
9th II matters-this business has been
uppermost in some circles, and from all
that can be gathered it would prove pru-
dent for our Canadian cousins not to
count too confidently on immediate
payment ~


An alleged case of @Civil Service Re
form" in Texas post Office few men.5s
ago seems, according to the Republic


of this morning, to have found parall-
in an Illinois district Agreeably to the
statement made as to the firstnamed,
particular post Office was wanted by q
prominent Texas politician to @concil
late" one of his most useful men at arms.
Nothing was known against the charac
ter of the then incumbent. A special
agent was sent down, it is said, with in
timations that if there was anything in
his conduct of the Office that would JUS
tify his removal, it was desirable to have
it on file in the Department. The
special agent was forced to report that
the Administration of the Office had
been unexceptionable. Nevertheless
the unfortunate official had to submit
his neck to the decapitating process.
Republicans, without regard to the
reform" involved, were much incensed
as the party at whose instance the re-
moval was made, was Democrat of the
Texas type who had done nothing TO
entitle him to such consideration save to
endorse the tearing down of two legal
State governments and substituting
therefore The creatures of mob and ruff
fianly violence. The same was alleged
to be true of the new appointee. In the
Illinois case, Mrs Electra E Smith, widow
of a soldier, was postmistress at Stirling.
A special Agent sent to investigate her
administration, highly commended it,
Notwithstanding which she was removed
and one Patterson given the place. Mrs
Smith came here, saw the President,
who declined to interfere on the ground
that the change had been recommended
by the member from that district and
that they were usually allowed to say
who should fill the minor offices of
Of their districts. The member in ques-
ton informed her that her administra-
ton had been wholly satisfactory, but
that it was deemed necessary to have an
actiye political worker in the place, and
that as her sex debarred her he had been
constrained TO ask for her removal. The
last case is 50 specifically stated that it
can be readily disproyed if false. The
nomination of Mr. Smith, appointment
clerk Of the Treasury, as paymaster in
the army, is being very unfayorably
criticised, particularly by good many
angry army officers who can't see the
justice or reform either, in jumping a
civilian over heads that have grown
white in Government service, into one
of the most desirable positions in the
army. The Ways and Means Commit
have already matured the Burchard
savings bill, the Banking and Currency
Committee have the Phillips postal say
ings bill about ready to report, and the
Senate has just passed Wallace's bill flr
long bond for the investment of So
ings. The end sought by all three 3
about the samoa safe and CONVENE
investment in Government securities C
the small savings Of the laboring classe


The idea is Tery popular among mem
bers Of Congress and the only opposition
likely to arise will be due to rivalry. It
is believed that some such measure will
have been perfected and passed before
adjournment. Very little progress has
been made by Congress since the pas
sage of the silver bill. The fortifcation
bill has got through, but the Ship Of
State grounded some time on the prop
ositon to appoint 10 experts" to
Glovers scandal-monger Committees. 1t
seems Polk, with all his ingenuity, was
unable to provide for all the whisky-guz-
zlers, stool-pigeons and other dead beats
about town. Hence, it is charged that
10 of them are to be provided for in the
way above indicated


Eph Hollands utility man is still urg-
ing his plan for abolishing the army as
the first step in the programme to wipe
it out and then to create a new one off,
cered by Ex-Confederate braves. How
long is this conspiracy to be tolerated.
| Maxwell.