Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1882-12-06
Prem our regular correspondent
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Washington, d, g., Dec, 9, 49,

Washington, ID, e., Dee, 2, 49,
The Office holders have not yet re-
covered from their CONSERVATION eauFed
by President Arlhur's recent bomb'
shell, supposed to be aimed at tho
Star.route camp, II was undoubtedly
u sudden aud unexpected stroke, the
meaning Of which lies much deeper
than tho indication Of simple purpose
10 "purily tho atmosphere surrounding
the prosecution Of these eases" The
prime cause, 10 Tar ~ Mr., Attorney
Bliss Is concerned, was the desire to
punish officials who have not paid that
profound respect to himself which no
thinks l. due TO the intimate friend Of
the President, Il was upon the report
Of this smart prosecnioy, who draws
500 per day, aud whose bills for the
laft year TO tho amount Of s3i 900
have been approved by the Attorney
General, that the action of the presi.
dent was taken, Yet Bliss Is u very
insignificant person, nothing Of u law.
yer, aud not 50 much above suspicion
himself rs 10 be u proper person for
employment in such capacity, II was
due TO his manipulOtionS IN the jury
room that the late grand jury refused
to indict Kellogg, late United States
Senator. But on the part Of the Pres
ident the late bold s,and-a complete
change OF irout-was the result Of the
recent elections. Mr.. Arthur heard
something drop Nov, 7th, and he is
making desperate efforts to recover
himself, There are circumstances al.
most without number To sustain the
view that up to the present time Mr.,
Arthur has had no desire to secure
convictions in these Star.routc eases.
And now in tlc face of this sudden
Spasm of virtue the fact remains that
the net in which he conspirators were
TO be caught was so woven or so cast
as 10 hold the little fishes and let the
big fishes slip through, and il is too
late for the public prosecutors to dis
avow any responsibility for the failure
Of justice in the case. The dismissal
of these five officials is a good thing in
itself. Whether it is II good thing or
not for the interests of justice in the
Star-rouic cases will appear hereafter.
When Brady and Dorsey are actually
in prison, and not until then, people
will be prepared TO score point for
the Administration.
The orders issued in some Govern
ment departments recently, requiring
the clerks to do six and half hours
work every working day and to desist
from receiving visitors during office
hours are the direct result of the late
elections. Pension Commissioner Dud-
leyis given to posing as reformcr.
Some Of his "ordcrs" are famous for
their bombastic style, and excite a
good deal Of merrmcnt about town.
The Commissioner of the Land Office,
however, is not open to any such
charge, but probably it occurred to
him that this is a very good time to
turn over couple of new leaves. 1t
is a move by no means slperhuous.
The way In which time is squandered
III the Government offices is wonderful.
The halt-hour's intermIssion for lunch
is generally spent on the street and the
lunch time taken out of the Govern
ments time. 1t is against this abuse
that the Land Office circular is direct
ed, as we'll as the practice of virtually
stopping work half an hour before the
office is closed. The result of the late
elections has been to cause a sudden
spasm of virtue among the officials
and an immediate cutting off of cakes
and ales, but it won't last. Now that
the devil is sick he wants to be saint,
but his illness will not continue longer
than a month or two. A darby off.
cial is one of the most amusing sights
in the world-the airs he gives him
self, his immense Importance, the
grandiloquent manner in which he
spreads himself in his office chair and
surveys his office desk are delicious to
the lover of a joke. PHoNo.
~ hot A. n.,lN ncA