The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1883-04-05
oUR wAsHMGroN LETTER.
From oar RegnIar correspondent.
YAsHrSeros. D. C.. April 8, 1883.

WASHINGTON, D. c., April 8, 1888.
It has been unusually quiet in Washington
for couple Of weeks past and at such times
a very little thing creates sensation. The
colorcd man Brown, who was recently kick
ed ont Of place in one Of the departments
because he refused TO become the bcdy-ser-
want of his superior officer, has had good
deal of notoriety. His chief required that in
addition to his regular duties as messenger
for the department he should attend the said
chiefs residence morning and evening to
black boots, make fires, shovel SNOW, groom
the horses, aud such little trifes. As Brown
was paid by the government this arrange
ment would save Mr.. chief the expense of
servant The messenger, to use slang
term, kicked and refused to do menial
service in the chiefs household. Then
Brown was discharged. Foolish Brownl he
should have attended to the household
duties and let the department run itself.
Brown was entirely too conscientious. He
ought to have known that his first duty was
10 his chiefs family-not to the department.
Every oficeholder in Washington entitled to
o messenger uses him (the messenger) as a
private servant. There may be exceptions,
but do not know Of any. Take the Supreme
court Every one Of the nine judges has his
body-SerTant paid for by the government.
The servant hangs around the Supreme court
a few hours every day, but he deyotes him
self to the household Of his particular judge,
and he knows better than to refuse 10 do
whatever he is directed to do. Nearly every
bureau and department has its horses and
carriages. They are used by the officials
families for shopping and social PURPOSES,
and big livery bills are thus saved. These
Of
government. Congress is by no means
exempt Every chairman Of committee has
his clerk or secretary paid by the govern
nent What does this clerk? Why, he at
tsnds to the correspondence of the member
and looks out for bis private letters; his seeds
and bis documents, and draws his salary
from the government.
The list OF names mentioned" for the
vacant PostmaSter-G -Generaiship is quite form
liable as to numbers, and reads lie an ex-
tract from mortuary record. A couplet or
two from the obituary poet of the period
would make it complete. Nearly every one
of the gentlemen included has "gone to meet"
the politicians who were happily, and let us
hope permanently, buried under the avail
anche Of votes thrown upon them last fall.
There is Filley, and Window, and Robson,
and Ferry, and about dozen ex-congress-
men in the lof-all former leaders in the stall
wart ranks, whom it is taken for granted
must he provided for by the Executive in
some way, now that the people have turned
them out. One name among those suggest
ed deserves more than passing notice, not
only because there is danger that the Presi-
dent may consider il favorably, but because
it is put forward under false pretenses. That
is the name Of Mr.. Hatton, whose friends
ask for his promotion in the name of civil
service reform. The essential principle of
that reform as regards promotion, is that it
shall be based on seniority AND merit. The
latter is indispensable, and Mr.. Hattou has
none of it. His open and impudent hostility
to reform would make his appointment an
Insult TO public intelligence if it were made
in the name of reform, and his narrowness,
greed. and lack of any sense Of propriety in
the Office he holds are conclusive evidence of
his brilliant uufitness for higher position.
Yet il is believed that his chances are about
first as matters now stand. He is boss Of the
Administration organ here.
Crowds attend the Star-route trial and the
courtroom becomes so sitting at times that
even Judge Wylie is forced to complain.
Dnring the winter many ladies attended,
among them Mrs. Dorsey and q number of
her friends. but they have rather thinEed out
VI ldlc.= INcW lEltIGSG meiS aMdSSueQ lQlS
week, however, by the additional indictments
found. The slv Kellogg is caught at last. It
was generally believed that his escape from
Indictment year ago was through certain
political Influences. as his absence from the
senate would have broken the republican
majority. There is much curiosity felt here
10 see whether Keflogg's ususl adroit
methods and brasS-mouDted assurance will
prevail to get him out Of tae present scrape.
He has been heretofore fortunes favorite in
the matter of getting out of corners, but no
man can be always in luck. The capitol is
undergoing the first Of its semi-annual clean
iDgs; the second occurs just before Congress
meets. The next house of representatives
win have to be slowed away like the proverb-
ial sardines ina box. The old desks in the
house will be retained, but q new carpet viii
be necessary. The dead-ietter Office is carry
ing novel and entertaining plan into effect
a museum is beipg arranged of all the queer
things that lie there for years unclaimed. In
that room the public viii be admitted, but
sight-Seers will not be allowed TO poke and
pry and peer and peck into every hole and
corner of the office, as they now do.
PHoNo.