The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1880-09-04
IN CASE OF A CHANGE,
IT'S EFFECT UPON WASHINGTON LIFE
Speculation ms 10 What Might Become
Of the Army OF Onice-HOldeEs at
the Capital should Hancock be
Elected-Yiews of President
Hayes and Secretary
Sherman, Etc, Etc.

Eiecteu-tfews OF President
Hayes and Secretary
Shermau, Etc, Etc.
Washington Cor. OF the Philadelphia Times
A standing topic of6onversation in Wash
ington Is the possibility of change ant
what the effect would be upon things mate
rial. An army officer of my acquaintance
who served with Hancock, says, however
that there win be ne "change" even though
Hancock should be elected. II know hin
well" said he, land although don't believ,
he will be elected, yet if he is you won't Sc,
as much change as ia talked Of here IL
Washington. Things will move onaboui al
before. Hancock will not turn over III,
government to the hungry crowds from
the solid south. Should he be elected, in
three months after he is inaugurated he viii
be the most unpopular man in the Demo
cratic party in the United States. | know
him well. He will surround himself with
aids and doorkeepers, and the ordinary shall
low-pated office seeker, with his card will
have about as much chance of seeing the
president as going to heaven. The other day
he ooolly issued an order that visitors could
only see him on certain days. No Other
presidential candidate ever did that. 1t is a.
cool as an iceberg in August He is con
servative sort OF man, not much given tc
Change himself and as president he will
get more old-fashioned good round "cussin'
from ottice-seekers than any president has
ever received"
A few days ago had conversation with
Secretary Sherman upon this subject. He
thinks If Hancock is elected there will be .
sudden and sweeping change in Federal Of
hcials, in extent and far-reaching effect never
before equaled
"Could il be done without injury topublie
businessF l asked.
"public business will be apt to receive
sudden and severe shocks If Hancock Il
elected" replied the secretary, "as there will
undoubtedly be perfect avalanche of re-
movals."
"But could it not be done without injury
to business%
"Oh, certainly" replied the secretary; "by
making few removals at a time and retain
ing those who are experts in their particular
line. For instance, In the treasury depart
ment those who do merely mechanical and
clerical work could probably all be removed
10 say six months without injury to business.
But when II comes TO heads Of bureaus, chiefs
Of divisions and clerks filling responsible and
important positions and experts in their par.
ticular line and the like, removals could moi
be made wholesale without causing confusion
and injury" LIZ ots
"a CITY OF PAUPERs."
A prominent business man here, long
identified with the affairs OF the district, said
to your correspondent the other day, that "a
change" would sffect the city of Washing
ton more than all other cities combined. ut
would" said he, make Washington city
of paupers, The number of clerks and en-
ployes of the government and their families,
living in this city, make population of at
least $4,000. "A change would set this pop
ulation adrift What in the name of heav.
ems could they do? OF all the clerks, etc,
in government employ, abou. 5000 own
houses in the district. All this property
would at once 90 upon the market. This
would depress real estate with forty-horse
power
"But the new set coming in would want
TO buy houses, would they mott?
"No; the new set would be mainly from
the south, and too poor to buy houses at the
capital at once. | don't care much about ii,
one way or the other, but am we'll enough
acquainted with the population here to be-
lieve that "a change so-called, will make
Washington city of paupers. The amount
Of selling out and buying In, moving around
and shifting about, will he without q prece-
dent. 1t will be "a change for US who live
in the city in all that the torn implies"
HoTEL-KEEPER's OPINION.
"The election of Hancock" said the pro-
prietor of large hotel here, "would be $780,.
900 in my pocket. As a business proposition
could go around and subscribe literally to
the Democratic campaign fund. A change
would pack the hotels in this city from cellar
to garrett We had rush Of Gust I'M at the
time the house and the senate changed
hands, when there were only couple Of
hundred offices involved. But think of it
with hundred thousand Offices at the dis.
posal Of new administration There IS no
estimating what commotion and rush there
will be in this city, and which will continue
for at least year before matters settle down
in the old way"
In speaking of the prospect Of change to
gentleman 10 business here, he broke out
suddenly with the exclamation: "Call II q
relapse To place the capital Of this coun-
try in the hands Of the Democratic party
means relapse; 1t means reaction and retro
erosion. AS citizen OF Washington am
opposed to 1t. Twenty years ago, when there
were slave pens where the scheolhouses now
are, was in favor of change, but don't
want to change backwards. Why connot
well enough be let alone? But 1t Is useless
for US to talk; we can't vote"
Strangely enough the very people. (inhab-
itsnts of the district) who are most vitality
interested have no expression of their prefer
ences at the polls. Whether they want "a
change" or not has no effect whatever in
determining the result. Save government
clerks, who are able to buy tickets and 60
home to vote, the population of the district
have no more voice In determining national
elections than the inhabitants of South
America. They are governed at long range.
GOOD TIMES UNDER GRANT.
met merchant the other day who said
be favored a change because 1t would make
trade brisk" as he expressed 1t. "The bust
ness men of Washington" says he, "haye
bad a hard time during this administration.
Il isn't like It was under Grant Then some.
hing was going on all tho time Matters
we're brisk at the capital. Trade was lively.