Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1883-01-10
From our regular correspondent
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Washington, D. c., Jan. 6, 'S3.

The New Year has opened at the
National Capitol with an unusual num-
Der of good resolutions-especlally In
official circles, where we have unllm-
tied promises of reform and strict
economy in the public service. AS
already indicated in this correspond
ence. some of those now controlling
the machinery of the Government have
recently received new lights on this
subject and the zeal with which they
enter upon the work of reform is like
unto that which uniformly infects a
new convert. Sudden conversions are
likely to provoke mirth from the SCOT
fers, but who on earth can see Secor
Robson up to his ears in reform and
yelling for economy without laughing?
Or Shilly-Shally Hale and Procrasti'
nation Hoar whooping up the Senate
Mt IL o'clock in the morning? Senator
Hoar is the Mrs. Jellyby of the Senate;
he wanted to provide the Indians with
hymn books and flannel pctticoats be-
fore the cold weather came on. But
it is in the departments where we see
the greatest amount of reform. In
the Treasury Department the rules
and regulations recently adopted will
be rigidly enforced. An immediate
dismissal will follow the employee who
violates in the slightest degree any of
the commandments so conspicuoussly
displayed on large sheets of cardboard
in the various rooms and Railways.
Secretary Lincoln has also caught the
reform fever. But the Postmaster
General and the Secretary of the Inte-
rior are not yet converted, and these
departments will be run the same as
heretofore, much to the satisfaction of
the clerks. Mr.. Raum, the commits
sioner of internal revenue, who for six
months or more has spent most OF his
time away from the office and in work.
ing for the succession to Judge Davis
as Senator from Illinois, is now alb
sent. 1t would be very well if Con-
gress would add to the civil service re-
form bill now pending provision COM
polling the same attendance to duties
and the same abstinence from too &C.
tive participation in politics in the
higher class of officials as in their SUBJ
ordinates. Secretary Folger, who re-
huked one prominent officer of his de-
partment the other day for permitting
his wife to take up an hour or two of
his time, had better turn his attention
to Mr.. Baum's case.
AT last Mr.. Blaine "speaks out"
Significantly about his friend Mr.. Will
liam L. Chandler. | have often been
told Of late that these gentlemen were
as intimate and on as good terms as
formerly. But l have guessed other
wise. Mr. Chandler has become one
of the powerful financial props of the
Governments morning newspaper,
and as it remains a pretty healthy
thorn in the side of the late Secretary
of State, he is not to blame for holding
the Secretary Of the Navy to some re-
sponsibility for what appears in it.
Well, Mr.. Chandler is the strongest
individual force in the administration
of Mr.. Arthur, and if any one is 60
ing into the business of disliking this
administration he might as well make
up his mind to be little hostile to the
Secretary of the Navy. In this par
ticular case it happens that the Secre-
tary is not under any particular obi
cations to make his newspaper interest
ing to the man whose Presidential for
tunes he worked for in 1876 and 1880.
MIR. Chandler has been, on the whelc,
the most efficient political friend and
supporter that Mr.. Blaine ever had.
PHoNo.