The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1884-12-02
WASHINGTON LETTER.
THE. COMING CHANGE THE TOPIC.
All Washington More or Less Affected by
it-Federal Officials of the City,
Their Salaries, Social Status
and Future Hopes.

WASHINGTON, Nov. H.-[Special cor
respondenoe.l THE political character
nf this city, the excessive, intense, al
most exclusive political atmosphere in
which the Washingtonian lives, moves
and has his being, was never more ap-
parent than now. The possible changes
predicated upon Democratic admins
iration, after rule of twenty-five years
a Y Republicanism, changes which could
sad may amount to great civil revolu-
ION, have struck CONSERVATION by their
very contemplation into some classes
and quarters, created longings in others
and scattered doubts among all.
"Whst is Cleveland going to do?' is
The one question OF the hour. II
IS heard as you pas tho various
knots and classes of people in the
streets. 1t is heard in the
places of trade. 1t is tho all absorbing
lopic in the departments and the con
slant theme in all social and political
'ircles.
And it is pertinent question, inyolv-
ing many social and other changes in
his great political Babel. Thousands of
this large clerical army that has grown
mp under tho shadow Of the capitol, have
been here for years, have sundered old
nome ties and associations, years
ago, have acquired homes and
ormed associations here, in the
confident expectation of dying in the
government harness. They have for
gotten ali other kinds Of business, and if
now turned from office, there il no dis.
putting the fact, that the lot Of many OF
ihem will be hard and pitiabn one.
The ar and other papers here have
heen daily discussing The situation, pub
ishlng IN erviews with prominent Dem
icrats touching the possible course OF
Cleveland. and attempting in every way
10 reassme these now
THOAOuGHaY FRlGHTENHp pIOPLF.
An OK mutation OF thG official registers
chow that there arc l2,77 civilian am-
1loyes OF general government here, at.
ache 10 tho various executive depart
,nents, To the government printing office
and several com missions or bureaus not
directly responsible to amy one depart
mont or this number $50 are
clerks, drawing salaries ranging
from 1850 10 Sl,SO0 who are
lnc udcd within the classified service,
appointments To which can bo made
only from those who pass the civil ser
vice examinations. The ~emaindcr in
N'"NN' 'iiN'iN dDN'lHltl ny llt IlItAl
lent, chlei clerks and others whose sal.
aries exceed l,S0O per annum; persons
receiving salaries ranging from 5000 to
fl,SUO, but VIII employment is of a
special character, excepted from eXam-
nationj cupyiSts, messengers, labOfers
ana Others whose salaries ARE below
100, and employees who do not receive
lnnual salaries, but are paid hy the
our, day or month. This estimate
does not include, Of course, the
trlny and navy officers sta
lOned here, the employees of The
istrlct government, whose comnnnsa
ION comes in part from the general gov
ernmrnt, the employees OF the navy ward,
The ely post-ollicc, and other local OH
ies, enpllYas OF congress ald Of the
various courts. 10 excludes the larte
Jody OF wOrkmen engaged upon pubic
works whose employment is Of 4 tenn.
porary character.
IL will be seen from this that Mr.
Cleveland could turn out of the depart
'nenis alone over 5000 flee holder,
without violating The civil sevice law
in the least. The treasury department
has the largest hummer of employees
3,59Ui the interior next with3,i 49,, and IN,
VAR department third with over 1890. II
ne country at largo the great army q
Federal Office holders reaches nearll
10000 men.
10 take over 100000 men at a 'swoep'
ana replace them with another 100 900 o
new men is truly aherculcan task. rh,
cleansing OF the dugean stables was a,
notling to IL.
Wlil Cleveland undertake it,? Ant
does he believe that To the ~ ictur be
longs the sp0ils?'
IL seemS to bu agreed here by the hes
informed circles thaL the uoV prpSidpu
VIII act very 30 serruivaly in the -em
ise,, nnd will only change those official
who stand closest ~ the administrnIn,
and whD must ho relied UPON 10 carr
ont the policies of the ad
ministralion. The merely humaI
machine at the desk, 10 whom no discrt
ZION Is given, he will not likely bottle
himself about further than filling vacul
Giles In that line with Democrats. Tn
great bulk ol the federal uniria
Throughout the states will o. course /
changed.
) lar rs can discover the situatio
mere now irOm the public prints, iutr
views and the prevailing sentiment, II
as ,ove indicated-uot u "sweep.H b,
substantial revolution 10y tho .ei2uI
OF all political officers by the Demo
racy, acautlous ANT yet u complete COZ
troll of the government.
AZ DIE THREAT.
When the triumph IT the Democrat
srst dawned upon the Republicans ast
established fact aud they took In its FIJI
Significance, II was openly affirmed th
should Cleveland attempt t. inierf,l
with the Offices, the Republic.
senate would not permit him To IN Ike
single change further than the select,
oil new cabinet, and that the scum
would place Itself I'm his pathway u,
that of the house at every step, IN
uew has been considerably Inodih
now. The leaders la the senate anne
% have publicly "set down m" IN
policy Ms ~ very questionable one
BEST Still IL may bo safely assert,
q hat the senate will ohstrnct 4
new ana hostile mmiuistrati,
whenever IL can with any she
Of d"cenry do SO. The well eStablish
conservatism or Tho senate, however.
relied upon tn prevent any uulrrel h
tween that body and the president. =,
oral wears apn, when the senate "
Democratic, there was "A little fricti
between II and tho executive, a. The
mas been since. In iart, the most bin
quarrel OF the past few years, was |
tween Republican senate and /
publican president.
ThE ALLIED AND THE CHOSEN,
Whatever the new president may d
the Democracy of the Union ura u
going 10 allow prucrastinaiinn Al
nodesty tn stand i'm tn
way In the matter o. obtaining pub
Office. lnaSmuch as a rush tor oil
Wa anticipated IN the event OF Den
cratic success, the fact Is hey ond all /
agining. II hps already brrnmc re-,
lar "Scranhle." II T. sn'e TO say n
tor every one of the 100000 fedora OH,
throughout the Union, Jd ging rom
nhmners of applications OF all kir
D lng urged nov upon congressman a
senators here, there will be an aver,
Of ten applicants, or l.OOO,0lO men sci
ing office. Add tn these the lOO,OO or
who Viii want partner aud other
siiions Ia Washington, aud we have
grand total 81 nearly l,2N,OU0 Demorr
wildly hunting pu lie teatl O,
i0NllNh. I'm TIM l.G.