The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-07-08
"HAvE YOU YOUR DISCHARGED

HAVE YOU YOUR DISCHARGED
THIS Is THE DISTRESSING QUESTION AT THE
DEPARTMENT IN wAsHINGToN-THE NEW
TREASURER REDUCING EXPENSES.
The Washington special to the Chicago
Times OF yesterday says: There was sadness
In the treasury department to-day. In
nearly every division of the department
there was the greatest possible confusion.
The reorganization bill called for nearly
400 heads, and the chiefs took advantage
of this cutting down to get rid of more
even than the law required in order to make
way for other fayorites. Throughout the
h'llways to day clerks Intercepted one an
other with pale faces, "Have you YOUR dis
charge YETI" and SHOW are things up in
your room?" were the queries that were
asked of one another a thousand times by
the excited clerks. AS soon as a removal
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 swak-
ened no sympathy at all. Some
fortunes with jaunty air, but with most of
the deserving ones the attempt was a mis-
cradle failure. The greatest distress was in
Spinner's former department. Here some
so people were discharged, 80 of whom were
women, including some of Spinners great
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 seri-
ously disturbed. The changes made
here were of the preemptory sort,
and said to have covered some of the worst
cases of ineficiency. 1t has been notori-
Gus fact that this department has for long
time been the haven of congressional mis-
al in he 49,.
has done much TO cast discredit upon the
many worthy women WHO have been obliged
to work here for livelihood. II is under
stood, now, that the most of the questiOna-
BILE characters are dismissed. As one obser-
yer said to-day,
'SPINNER's HAREM Is CONSIDERABLY
Trimmed DOWN."
There were some really pitiahle cases among
the women dismissed to-dsy-cases of poor
widows, with children dependent on them
for support, and of penRiless, homeless
girls, struggling with the world for an hon.
est existence. Some of them went silently
and went away despairing when informed
by the officials that there was no hope for
them. Dismiss3ls from the departments are
always productiveof very distressing scenes
The clerks, in general, live up TO the
limit OF their neagre salaries, and are
trained in routine that units them for
practical life. The greatest confusion was
in Mr.. NEWS department. He has gone
to work this morning, and pro-
poses to put the whole business in ''ship-
shape" as soon as possible. He was accosted
begun work, with, "Well. see you are in
the saddle" Eyes" replied Mr.. New, "and
| find 1t 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
10
their merits-an idea that has never pre-
vailed for any length of time here. Men
have been, appointed here for years purely
upon the influence of the politicians, and
have held their places regardless of their
merits. Mr.. New has to-day dismissed 6
large namber of congressional pets, and
this alone will give him no end of trouble
before the month is over, and if
he IS not heavily backed he
can rot carry out any such line Of
policy. To day young man in his bureau
very powerful politicians asking that be be
promoted. Mr.. New received him very
steraly, and told the young man very
sharply that if he deserved promotion, he
woald get it in time. and for no other rea-
man combined are strong enough to secure
News removal. he will find it very hard
to conduct the Office upon the prin-
ciples of his private banking house in Indian
apolis, though it is to be hoped that he may
succeed.
Mr.. Daniel Morgan White has presented
to the state library a door-key which he
found in 1867 among the ruins of Blenner-
hsssett's house, on Blennerhassett's Island,
In the Ohio river, three miles below Par
kersburg, w. Va. The Blednerhassett
house was burned down about sixty years
ago, and the key is marked with every evil
dence of having been subjected to ar in
tense heat. The Blennerhassett mansion
was much like feudal stronghold, and in
its time was the wonder of the Western
1t was here that the Blennerhas-
sett's and Aaron Burr, dwelt in almost
princely magnificence, and INDUCED those
dreams of empire in connection with Mex
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