The Ottawa free trader., 1884-12-06
Washington Letter.

WASHINGTON, Dec. l, lSS4.-lne House
and Senate convened to-day in the usual
way. The galleries were crowded with
interested spectators who looked down on
the legislative bodies below, and comment
ed upon the appearance of we'll known
public men, or tried to read In their faces
the history of the battles they had fought
since the adjournment five months ago
fancied the Democrats looked less elated
than the Republicans looked depressed
The defeat of Blaine was terrible and un.
expected blow, and to those Republicans
who live by politics, II means ruin It is
the opinion of shrewd politicians with
whom | have talked that the Republican
party will never again make an effective
rally. 1t has lost its money chest-the
United States Treasury; it has lost the
prestige of victory Since Appomattox
the party has had no mission, no raison
d'etre. 1t has no means of livelihood and
nothing to live for. Why should it live at
all:
Democratic members of congress natur.
ally make the incoming administration
their chief topic of conversation They all
think the president elect will hasten SLOW
ly. A great scramble for place will, of
course, occur, and many changes will be
made in the federal offices, but the
changes will not be made until after delib.
Grafton and until sufficient time has been
taken to select the right man. The good
of the service requires numerous changes.
The post offices of the south are filled with
men who are politicians and partisan wor-
kers firs;, last and all the time. The care
of the post offices is turned over to the
clerks, while the post master devotes him.
self to politics, such as persuading the col.
ored people that Democratic success M cans
negro slavery.
These and other political workers will
go sans cereponie. The barnacles that
have accumulated on the ship of state dur.
ing her long cruise of twenty -four years
will be scraped of.
In the several departments here the pre-
vailing idea is that at first only the heads
of departments, bureaus and divisions
those whose authorities and responsibilities
are of character that will render it i'm.
portant for them to be ia political accord
with the executive, will be removed. Then
1t is thought that such changes will grad
ually follow as the newly appointed chiefs
will recommend as necessary to the efficient
Of their various offices.
One prominent democrat, whose relations
with his party management during the re-
cent campaign give him facilities for know
ing 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 win not accomplish
anything He has advised his friends that
Gov. Cleveland is determined not to give
his attention to matters presidential until
Governor.
There is wide spread miscOnception in
the minds Of department people upon the
caring of the civil service and rules upon
the subject of removals. 1t is believed by
many that in some way classified clerks
are protected" from removal, except "for
cause" by the act and rules made to carry
II into effect The truth Is that there Is
not word in the act bearing upon remov-
ais. The whole machinery is constructed
to regulate admissions. 1t was not design
ed to treat of removals Under our consti.
tuition, 1t is very difficult matter to limit
the power of removal So far it has not
even been attempted.
Congressman are besieged with ques-
lions as to the coming cabinet While
none express any positive convictions, all
agree that those who may he chosen by
ness, capability and honesty, and nothing
else.
Mr. Randall and his committeeman in.
end to keep the House busy with appro-
Driation bills during the early part of the
session. and to dispose of them as rapidly
Is possible. But little Is proposed in the
way of new Legislation to those bills, and
IN effort will be made to postpone all i'm
,ortant changes in the laws relative to the
organization of the Government until next
rear, when the President and House of
may be expected to be in
harmony
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