The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-10-21
FROM tho Detroit Free Press.
Democratic RefOrm.

We have heard ii remarked by gentlemen who were
much Washington during Mr.. Fmore's administration,
summer, that there is very papable difference, nocea-
bic by the most casual Observer the which
the business Of the several departments was and s per-
formed. Then there absence of order of regu-
arity. OF discipline among the employees which was
productive Of inef6ciency, and cases, OF woIee
conseasencss i rules were prescribed e. 70 hours Of
to their Ctsn busress that of other people, than
to the duties Of their Office Dissipation prevailed to
The force employed in Of the departments TO
have been unnecessarily large And, aog ether, such
state OF affairs existed might justly be supposed would
exist where OF the chief officers of State
gagged in punaenns the public treasury.
The change since the 4th OF Match has been radical.
The number OF employees in the departments has been
reduced Order. and regularity, and discipline have been
insltu,ed. Fixed hours OF employment have been
abshed II required that clerks shall be competent,
industrious and sober The machinery OF the public Of
fees with all the steadiness OF clock work.
Reform, in short, has been complete and thorough
Where water s pure al the fountain the stream also is
pure Tins in all the rami6saons of the public service
throughout the country the same improvement has occur.
red in the executive departments at Washington Si
have been Acknowledgement reports and strict
accountability required al the hands OF public officers.
and full and faithful performance OF duty enoined In
the short space OF six months all these changes have
been made They are the legitimate fruits OF democratic
rule
Our attention has been more particularly directed to
this subject by the publication OF the subjoned
cnar issued by the Secretary OF the Treasury addressed
to the heads of bureaus IN his department. Similar in
skuctions have been issued by all the heads OF depart
ments:
TREASURY DEPARTMENT, October l.
S The hours of business be observed in the various
branches OF the Treasury Department from and after this
date, and until the lst OF April from O'Clock,
an, O'Clock, This regulation reduces the period
OF labor heretofore observed in ol the ocor,
hour and sin hours work In the day does not
be reasonable the OF the
in for the support affords, expected that these
hours will be faithfully observed and applied by all, with
abatement msappropration the studies OF thei
respective duries
Ab.ence from Office daring business hours 1,
be pemitted, except from sickness, which notice
gwen head OF the office neither will indul-
ardent spirits daring these be tolerated
The offence o kind will in every be visited
by removal IRON Office.
The Secretary happy to perceive the sautay change
which taken place the business habits OF the officer
OF department, and the improvement in the
don OF the business which 10 its appropriate fruit he
placing aud keeping the business throughout in such
cond all times 10 be promptly despatched. nj
the sa-ty of the United Sale the credit OF the
department. and tho satsfscton and convenience Of ndi
viduals.
The heads OF the bureaus earney requested pro-
habits o order and decorum the Of the clerks In
will their with each other. On the other
hand, they will reprrss may be their power
aiding OF newspapers during ottce hours and the
waste OF time by unnecessary OF nsooos conversation OF
Otherwise,
Every employee in the department 10 representative Of
the IN esPect TO the particular business in
the interests Of the United States commed his charge
he shou treat with rankness courtesy, and kindness al
business transact with him and thus
by diguy Of department and accommodating spirit
confdonce aud respect Of the people TOR the govern
and Institutions Of their eoan,fy. 81
am, very respectfully,
Secretary OF the Treasury.