St. Landry democrat., 1884-12-13
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From Our Regular Correspondent
Dec. 1st, 1884.


The House and Senate convened to-
day in the usual way. The galleries
were crowded with interested spectators
who looked down upon the legislative
bodies below, and commented upon the
appearance of well known public men,
or tried to read in their faces the histO-
ry of the battles they had fought since
the adjournment five months ago. |
ed than the Republicans looked depress-
ed. The defeat of Blaine was a terri
BILE and unexpected blow, and to those
Republicans who live by politics, it
politicians with whom / have talked
that the Republican party will never
again make an effective rally. 1t has
5 lost its money chest-the United States
Treasury; it has lost the prestige of
victory. Since Appomatox the party
las had no mission, no raison d'etre. It
has no means OF livelihood, and nothing
to live for. Why should it live at all
Democratic members of Congress
naturally make the incoming admins
tration their chief topic Of conversation.
They all think the president-elect will
hasten slowly. A great scramble for
place, will, of course, occur, and many
changes wiz e made in the federal Of
fees, but the changes will not be made
until after deliberation and until suffi-
cient time has been taken to select the
right man. The good of the service re-
.Guires numerous changes. The Post
Offices of the South are filled with men
who's are politicians and partisan work.
yers first last and all the time. The core
of the Post Offices is turned over to
clerks, while the Post Master devotes
himself to politics, such as persuading
the eolored people that Democratic sue
cess means negro slavery.
These and other political workers will
go sans ceremonie. The harnacles that
have accumulated on the ship of State
in her long cruise of twenty -four years
will be scraped off.
In the several departments here the
prevailing idea is that at first only the
heads of departments, bureaus, and di-
visions-those whose authorities and re-
sponsibilities are of character that
will render it important for them to be
in political accord with the Executive
will be removed. Then it is thought
that such changes will gradually follow
as the newly appointed chiefs will re-
commend as necessary to the efficient
administration of their various offices.
One prominent democrat, whose rela-
Gions with his party management during
the recent campaign give him facilities
for knowing what the plans of the
President elect are, has written to
friends and constituents who have
sought his aid in obtaining Office, that
hurry on their part will not accomplish
anything. He has advised his friends
that Gov. Cleveland is determined not
to give his attention to matters presi-
Dental until he is freed from the Office
and duties of Governor.
There is a wide spread misconception
ia the minds of department people upon
the bearing of the civil service and rules
npon the subject of removals. 1t is be-
lfeved by many that in some way classi-
fled clerks are "protectedn from remov-
al except for cause" by the act and
rules made to carry it into effect. The
truth is that there is not word in the
act bearing upon removals. The whole
machinery is constructed to regulate ad-
missions. 1t was not designed to treat
of removals. Under our constitution,
tits very difficult matter to limit the
power of removal. So far it has not
even been attempted.
Congressman are besieged with ques-
tions as to the coming cabinet. While
none express any positive convictions,
all agree that those who may be chosen
by Mr.. Cleveland, will be chosen for
their fitness, capacity, and honesty, and
nothing else
Mr.. Randall and his committeeman
intend to keep the House busy with ap-.
propriation bills during the early part
of the session, and to dispose of them as
rapidly as possible. But little is propos-
ed in the way of new legislation to those
bills, and an effort win be made to post
Done all important changes in the laws