The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1875-07-06

SplHIleT IDS TdSSeu AWdyS dllu
the United States Treas
urer Has Become
New.
TREASURER NEW UNDERTAKES |
TO RUN HIS BUREAU ON THE
MERITS OF HIS CLEKs
ALONE,
But Powerful Political Cliques viii
Fight Him to the Last.
WASHINGTON, July There was sad
ness iE 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 ev-
en- 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 How are things up
in your room?' were queries that were
asked of one another thousand times by
the excited clerks. AS soon as a removal
was ordered there were always some doz-
en- or so to carry the news to the untortu-
nate, Some of the scenes we're ludicrous,
some pathetic, and some awakened no
sympathy at all. Some of the clerks tried
to carry off their misfortunes with jaunty
air, but with most of the deserving ones
the attempt was miserable failure, The
greatest distress was in Spinner's former
department. Here some 80 people were
discharged, so of whom were women, in
Guiding some of Spinner's greatest pets.
There was weeping and wailing 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 dis
turbed. The changes made here were of
the peremptory sort, and are said to have
covered some of the worst cases of Ineff,
cheney. 1t has been notorious fact that
this department has for long time been
the haven of congressional mistresses
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 under
stood. now, that the most of the question
able characters are dismissed. As one
observer said to-day. 'Spinner's harem
is considerably thinned down." There
were some really pitiable cases among the
women dismissed to-day-cases of poor
widows, with children dependent upon
them for support, and OF penniless, home
less 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 de-
partments are always productive OF very
distressing scenes. The clerks in general
live up to the limit of their meagre salar-
les, and are trained in routine that IN
fits them for practical life. The greatest
confusion was in Mr.. News department
He has gone vigorously to work this morn
ing, and proposes to put the whole bust
ness in ship shape" as soon as possible
He was accosted by gentleman this
morning, after he had begun work, with,
well, | see you are in the saddle. -
Yes, replied Mr.. New, land ind il 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 appointed and promoted
according to their merits-an idea that
has never prevailed for any length of time
here. Men have been appointed here for
years, purely upon the influence of the pol
iticians, and have held their places re-
CARELESS 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 young man
in his bureau came to him with request
from several very powerful politicians
asking that he be promoted. Mr.. New
received him very sternly, and told the
young man very sharply that if he de
served promotion, he would get it in time,