Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-08-20
LETTER ron WASHING TOY.
WAs,INGToN, d. c., August lStt


To the Editor At the EenHtbcc Jourhdi
The g-day weather Of this climate having put
a quetus on almost everything in this vicinity
your correspondent has allowed his pen to rust be-
side the inkstand and only uses a new one for
the purpose OF reminding yourselves and your
readers that he has not forgotten his svocation.
As soon As the ides of October put in an appear
ance, coupled with the meeting of Congress and
the assembling together of the lobby, there Will
be more poss Utilities of using the correspondent
tial pen more sdgantageously; but just now the
dearth of news renders the correspondents col
umn almost waste place in the paper if it is de-
voted to Washington news. Seaside, lakeside and
mountain scenery are now written up with more
interest--at least to the average correspondent.
The capital is half deserted of It's denizens.
Officials somewhat more inclined to remain on
duty here than during Grants administration,
owing to the somewhat siricter civil service rules,
but, after ALL most OF them manage to enjoy their
accustomed summer vacations and recreations.
This is not really loss to the government AS the
constant monotony of OH ,ial duty-especially IN
the lower grades, wearles the physical system
greatly, and month or two OF absence wonder
fully nvigorates and renders the mind capable of
continuing these lsbors carefully and properly
during the remainder of the year. The heat is
often excess i've and extremely enersating, yet the
everlasting machinery OF government growing
more ponderous our nation progresses must
grind on and on, and its workings must be strict
ly offended to spite of heat sickness or almost
any element or trouble. Could the people gener
ally witnes. the patient daily toiling Of the aver
age government official or employee, they would
entertain better opinions than, I fear they now
do.
Scarcely anything in the political line is talked
about just now. The various State conventions
lately held are the subject of considerable remark,
especially so the Maine convention. Republican
politicians here (and they few just at present.
are we'll pleased over the admirable manner in
which the differences in that convention were har-
monized Democrats prophesied, and republicans
feared that there would be split which might not
only be fatal to the party interests in Maine, but
elswhere, but the concilistory spirit of Mr. Blaine,
followed by the majority of the convention has
had happy effect all along the line. am GER
tain from what little can gather in the execu
tive quarter, that the President himself is satisfied
that the republicans of Maine did the best til ing
under the circumst stances. The advance
of time will soon prove whether the stand taken
by him on the various questions which have agi-
ated the country are such as can stand the scru-
tiny and test of the moral ard political forces of
the nation.
Affairs in the departments are now working
quite smoothly except in Secretary Schurzs de-
partment. lie seems to be stirring up the various
branches of the Interior, especially the indian,
land and patent offices; so that Investigations and
the summer heat together make it hot for the
derlngs. Whether he will discover any mares
nests remains to be seen. There are some frauds
committed there there always will be in gov
eminent bureaus and under any administration
but think Secretary Chandler rooted out nearly
all of those in the Interior Department ere he
left. Sherman in the Treasury has also purged
his department Of most of these evils. As for the
other departments there is not much chance to or
ganize heavy rings or perpetrate large frauds. In
fact believe the business Of the government was
never conducted better or with more regard to
safety and economy than at the present.
There is still talk of organizing the next House
under non-p partisan leader, chiefly by pandering
to the southern ideas of outlay in Pacific railroad
schemes and internal Improvements; but sucn
talk | believe to be useless. The democratic party
means to hold all the advantages it has, and work
theoretically for more. :
The republican party has only one chance of
winning in the nevl battle, and that chance is by
keeping steady front and holding on to their old
principles of justice and right, trusting the great
North and West to sustain them. L. J.B