Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1874-05-19
Washington Correspondence.
WASHINGTON, April 81. 1874

one meets is from MAINE am some.
times asked how it happens that SO many
"Mainen men hold Office here, and |
usually reply because they are "snlartcr"
than the men from any other State
Sometimes when ask the question, the
reply is that given by the boy who had
"gone West" who in writing back to the
old folks TO follow him, added, "Come.
father, for some almighty mean men get
office out here" There may be now and
then one of that sort from Maine in
Office here, but haven't yet seen many.
Let us travel around q little, and take a
look at them. First we find His Honor
Judge Smell, who dispenses justice al The
Police Court. lie was appointed from
Winthrop, in Kennebec Coun,y.-has
held his Office about three years to the
great satisfaction OF law abiding citizens
and the terror of evil doers.-and il JUS
tice appears 10 be sometimes summarily
dispatched, he always holdsthe scales on
an even balance; rich and poor, high and
low, all fare alike--so far rs justice is
concerned. | am told that in the last Two
years he has tried more than 1900 cases,
and from bis decisions bu: about go APP
peals have been taken. This speaks well
for the Judge and the law rs dispensed
by him. i, ,e.l a---.
Next we visit the End Auditors Office,
and there we. find that officer TO be the
Hon. L. b.. French, of Nobleboro, in Lin.
colu County, fgOing into Office in 1861
lie has held on till now, which fact OF
itself is strong presumptive evidence that
he has faithfully performed its duties. but
believing as | do in ''rotation" in Office. /
would il | could. "rolate" him out, and
in his place would put in some other good
man from Maine"
Next we find Hon. John F. Hartley.
formerly of Saco. now Assistant Secre-
tary of the Treasury. lie is n faithful
officer. aud courteous and accomplished
gentleman of the old school. May his
shadow never be less"
Next we call on Hon. F. A. Sawyer,
an adopted son, that is TO say Maine has
about one fourth interest in him. Massa.
chusetts about half, aud South Carolina
the balance. lie formerly taught school
in Maine, and is now Assistant Secretary
of the Treasury. OF late some scandal
mongers have tiled 10 attach TO him cor
ruption in Office in connection with the
"Sanborn Contracts" but the facts as
disclosed during the recent Investigation,
show that he had no knowledge of Mr..
Sanborn or his contracts, excepting
knowledge obtained officially, and sub
sequont to the passage oil the law author
izing theu. The contracts given Sanborn.
were all executed by the Secretary Of
the Treasury" and of him DC ieyo the
general opinion is that however worthily
he filled tho Office Of Judge oil Probate
in Massachusetts,, he is not success" rs
Secretary.
The clerks in tho Departments from
Maine are so numerous. that VIC cannot
call upon them all therefore for fear OF
offending some that might be overlooked
we mention but few. Generally speak
ing, they are all good fellows. 5. T..
Plumncr, formerly OF Dexter, which
town he represented in the Legislature
in 1869. but recently from Bangor. has
Just received an appointment rs Private
Secretary of the Hon. G. Delano, Scc'y
OF the Interior. He is every inch . gen
ileman. lpredict for him n prosperous
future. Then there is Babson, j. W.,
Chicfo Finance Division. Pension Office,
from Brooksvillo, Hancock County. He
is as smart as "chain lightning" and
twice rs agreeable. Aud then comes
Filz, Henry, OF Minot, now OF the Sccro-
tary Senato's office. Do you know him /?
There lie comes, driving his colt down
the Avenue. BY the way, "llcnry" is
some on hoSS--ho swcars by "Shcrr0d
aud sticks TO it that the old fellow had q
pedigree. and l guess he is right. Hen
is tip top fellow, though he don't pan
out' much on Evangelical christianity"
But here comes Bridges, Charles, OF
Stockton. the "wag" of the Maine men
on the Senate side of the capitol. lie is
the very prince Of good lellows-don'I
take any stock in rebels, cx or otherwise,
nor much in Democracy,-oi the modern
type. lie swears by Maine in general,
and CaStine in particular. Now happens
along the Duke of Monmouth" A. IS.
Richmond. Esq, just the same Ram
Rod" rs of old, aud a Republican all over (;
but am sorry to say that his former
ideas of the final Salrution Of all men are
getting a shade shakey. lilo now says
that if there is no "hcI" hereafter, there
ought 10 be. lust TO "chuck" in some Of
the newspaper correspondents, alias
Journalists who I'll their papers with
SANDER and unirulhs against some of our
best men. think him about o h. and l
take in his doctrine of "uniycrsal saliva.
tom as modiGed-otherwise roland by
the way, writing OF Monmouth" brings
to mind that Cochran JIM" late Deputy
Secretary OF State, and his brother, for.
merly Secretary and once acting Cover.
nor of Idaho, both are here the iormer
in the Office Of the Supervising Architect