Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1881-01-29
| WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular Correspondent.

Lent there is always grand round of
social entertainments both in private
and official circles, and this season
equals in that respect any that has
gone before. Inthings political, too,
there is great activity. Interesting
proceedings in Congress comes along
with every day, aud over some moot
ed legislation there is not little ex-
citement, while the days of the ses-
sion are rapidly passing away. Prep
arations for the electoral count have
brought nearly every member here
for the first time since the session
began. All pairs have been broken
and every effort made by both par
ties to muster all their strength for
the contest in hand. Then comes
the Inauguration of a new President,
for which the preparations already
engross much attention. The city is
full of strangers, and Vennor's disa-
greeable weather has passed away,
leaving them to enjoy the gayeties
with which they are surrounded.
There is "let up' in the wild
hunt for office that is very marked.
The Departments are not overrun
by office.seekers as is usual, nor do
they refrigerate their heels in the
Presidents ante-room as they did a
few months ago. 1t Is not for a mo-
ment supposed that there are not las
many people wanting Office now as
ever, but they are holding back to
tackle the new administration, being
evidently of the opinion that their
tenure Of office, if successful, will be
longer and more solid. There is
thus reserve force in waiting for
President Garfield and his Cabinet.
The Navy Department is the only
one where the place-hunter shows
anything like his wonted activity
Most of those who hang around it's
waiting-rooms and corridors are from
West Virginia. They want to gath
er in the crop before the weather is
bad. Secretary Golf has not respond
ed very readily though. He has
made about three or four appoint
ments in his Department since he
took charge of it,
1t is no disgrace to want an office,
and in these days the man who gets
one has got to seek it pretty lively.
They don't go round hunting for
somebody to fill them to any alarm
ing extent. All those Senators and
Congressman and heads of Depart
ments who complain so much about
applications for positions, and turn
up their noses at the applicants, were
not long since otlice-seekers them
selves. Yet it is a mistake for am
billions young men to come here
Washington is filled with young men
who are living on salaries, and
who, if these salaries were taken
away, in many cases would have left
no means of support. Most of them
live, not on the interest, but on the
principal of such estate. And yet
they live up to it as if such salary
were the natural increase of some
safe investment. If Hancock had
been elected, much distress to such
would have ensued, and instantly
Such young men as | allude to have
been taken away from the average
pursuits of men; they have neither
trades, nor professions, nor business
associations. All their hope lies,
therefore, in such economy as may
accumulate enough to fall back on
in the wet days; for, notwithstand-
ing all that is said about civil-service
reform, it is doubtful if our civil
service will ever be put on the same
footing as exists in the Army and
Navy. Bobbie Burns sings.
"To catch Dame Fortunes golden smile,
Assiduous wait upon her;
And gather gear by every vile
That's justified by houor
Not for to hide it in hedge,
Not for a train attendant;
But for the glorious privilege
, OF being independent.
Quite an animated scene transpir-
ed in the Redemption Division OF
the Treasury Department the other
day when the safes and boxes from
the cars consumed in the late rail-
way disaster near Almira, N. Y,
were received. After the accident
the officials found large sums OF
, damaged money in the express safes
and among the burned express mat.
ter, which was gathered together
and sent for redemption by the Treas.
ury. In all there were three iron
safes and four boxes received. On
being opened they were found to con.