The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1884-10-03
WASHINGTON LETTER.

DSGRACEFUL OFFICIAL DEIlNQUENCIEs AT
WASHINGTON. - PENSION COMMISSIONER
DUDLEY AS A REFORMER.-A SHAMELESS
ADMINISTRATION .-BLAINEs CIRCUS, ETC.
Special Corresp ondence to Tho Bulletin,
WASHINGTON, Sept. 90, 1884.
There may be belief that the public
service 1t Was hngton is beng carried on
with some degree iaIthfuness. The Of
fcials in control Of the various depart
ments are assumed by the public to be at
their posts, discharging the obligations
which rest upon them and for which they
are well psid But the dGlinquencies which
really exist in this respect is something un
paralleled in the history of the civil service
Of this country.
In the first place the President is..absent,
aud has been for weeks Finding himself
left out in the cold he throws aside all re-
sponsibiity aud practically abandons all
administration Of affairs. His Cabinet also
seem to be struck with the idea that this
is the time for disappearing. The willy
Chandler, the crafty Frclinghuyseu, the
gorgeous Brewster, and the silent because
he don't know what to say-Lincoln, have
been gone so long that they are almost for
gotten. TO name the absentecs of lesser
rank would be a heavy daaln on the official
blue book. Those who are here are the
exception; those absent the rule. Most of
them are in the field elecuoneering for the
Knight of the White Feather, and not a
few are drawing pay from the government
and at the same time are being paid for
their speeches by the REPUBLICAN campaign
club. Notably is this the case with Gen.
eral Dudley, Commissioner of Pensions,
whose resignation does not take effect for
month, and who is drawing a salary, of
$4,000 per annum, making speeches at $50
a day. This for the gentlemen who poses
as the great friend of the soldier, is elar-
ing example of official delinquency Not
so fortunate is Mr.. French, fhc first Assis-
tant Secretary Of the Treasury. He disap-
peared in April, and passed the warm
months travelling in Europe, paying his ex-
penses, it is needless to say, out of an un.
earned salary. But while he was gone he
was forgotten, and when he returned to find
Seci etary Folgcr lying dead, he also found
that be had been suppanted in official IA
vor by Others and though Immediately in
line of promotion himself, his name was
not even mentioned for the Secre!aryshir.
Not to grow wearisome on the subject of
the unbluShing delinquencies of the offic-
ials in the departments, challenge COM
parison with any other period for the utter
disregard of honesty, deccncy aud RESPONSE
bility which now prevails in Washington.
The bank president and cashier delinquen-
cies OF the times are only more noticeable
because affecting private interests, but as
far as criminality is concerned, are no
grosser.
The Republicans have about abandoned
all hope of doing anything in the south.
They did intend 10 make an effort to cap
ture North Carolina and Florida, but the
reports from those states give them no en-
enlargement. 1t is now clear that they
must carry New York state to be victorious
To do this they must overcome united
Democratic party with an alliance of liber-
ais; combination which elected Grover
Cleveland governor, by over 100000 ma
jority. To overcome this lead is impossible
The Democrats will elect their ticket
The Blaine menagaric is on the road
and Barnum's greatest show on earth pales
into insignlicance. But will it pay Blan,
to start out with circus at this seasons
There are many Republicans here who
groanlng over the spectacle. Ia their view
tits The .awdtiest clap trap, and does no
change a vote, except from him. But i
was recognized by the party managers ,ha
something must be done. New York i
| quietly but solidly FOR Cleveland. Tn
Democratic composure must be broken !
possible. The Germans of Ohio are goin,
Democratic. Blaine will try to magnatz
them. Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin an
. Illinois are about give up. Blaine mus
show himself in those states to save them