River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1875-07-09
The New Treasurer Undertakes n Big
I0h.


There was sadness in the Treasury De.
partment to-day. In nearly every divis.
ion Of the department there was the great.
est confusion. The reorganization bill
called for nearly four hundred heads,
and the chiefs took advantage of this cut.
ting down to get rid of more even than
the law required in order to make way
for other favorites. Throughout the
Railways to-day clerks Intercepted one
another with pale faces, "Have you your
discharge YETI" and, SHOW are things up
in your roomP' were queries that were
asked of one another thousand times
by the excited clerks. AS soon as a re-
moval was ordered, there were always
some dozen or so to
CARRY THE NEWS
to the unfortunate. Some of the scenes
were ludicrous, some pathetic, and some
awakened no sympathy at all. Some of
the clerks tried to carry off their misfor-
tunes with q jaunty air, but with most Of
the deserving ones the attempt was
miserable failure. The greatest distress
was in Spinuer's former department.
Here some so people we're discharged, SO
of whom were women, including some of
SPINNER S GREATEST PETS.
There was weeping and waiing among
the stricken ones all day, bemoaning their
sad fate. Some of the brazen ones, who
gained their places by their charms, did
not murmur. They felt certain that
their occupation would not be seriously
disturbed. The changes made here were
of the peremptory sort, and are said to
have covered some of the worst cases of
hlefficiency. 1t has been notorious fact
that this department has for a long time
been the haven of
CONGRESSIONAL MTsTREssEs.
Their presence in the department has
done much to cast discredit upon the
many worthy women who have been
obliged to work here for livelihood. 1t
is understood, now, that the most of the
questionable characters are dismissed.
AS one observer said to-day, 'Spinner's
harem is considerably thnned down."
There were some really pitiable cases
among the women dismissed to-day -
cases of poor widows. with children de-
pendent upon them for support, and of
penniless, homeless girls, struggling with
the world for an honest existence. Some
of them wept silently, and
WENT AWAY DEsPAIRING,
when informed by the officials that there
was no hope for them. Dismissals from
the departments are always productive Of
very distressing scenes. The clerks in
general live up to the limit of their mea-
gre salaries, and are trained in routine
that units them for practical life.
THE GREATEST CONFUSION
was in Mr.. News department. He has
gone vigorously to work this morning,
and proposes to put the whole business in
''ship-shape" as soon as possible. He
was accosted by gentlemen this morning,
after he had begun work with, ''Well, /
see you are in the saddle" "Yes," re-
piled Mr.. New, "and | find it a very
rough horse" He has nothing of the
politician about him, and he will have
trouble.
HE STARTS OUT
with the idea that men are to be appoint.
ed and promoted according to their
merits An idea that has never pre-
vailed for any length of time here. Men
have been appointed here for years, pure
~ upon the lnnuence OF the politicians,
and have held their places
REGARDLESS OF THEIR MERIT.
Mr.. New has to-day dismissed large
number of Congressional pets, and this
alone will give him no end of trouble be.
fore the month is over, and if he is not
heavily backed, he cannot carry out any
such line Of policy. To-day a young
man in his bureau came to him with a re-
quest from several very powerful politi-
clans asking that he be promoted. Mr..
New received him very sternly, and told
the young man very sharply that if he
deserved promotion,he would get it in time,
and for no other reason, and yet the pol.
iticians back of this young man, combin.
ed, are strong enough to
SECURE NEWS REMOVAL.
He will find il very hard To conduct the