Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1884-08-21

| lFRok Our REGULAR ooRaxsPospx.r

FROM Our REGULAR ooRaKspospKsr. =,
"AsHrsoroS. ID. c., Aug. IL, 1884.
The octopus candidate, General B. P
fSutler, has at last set at rest speculation
concerning his attitude in the Prssiden.
siaI canvass. He is neither for Blaine
Cleveland, Pomeroy. nor St. John. bu,
maintains his consistency by being gu,.
Ter nrst' last and all the time, and be
medestly expresses the hope that every-
body will vote for him " who thinks tba,
II Is the bes. thing to do" Gen. Bu,-
ier's declaration that be will stand by
the Greenbsck and Anti Monopoly nom.
ination will introduce confusing ele-
ments into the Presidential canvass.
and the question Of most importance
connected with his raoe is, (which
party will he hurt msstr' Bu, his can.
didacy is locked upon by politicians
about town as baving lost its import
ance from long delay. Speculation az
to its eject upon the Irish vote has been
rlfe among the simmer politicians of
Washington, who haunt the corners of
Pennsylvania Avenue and the Hobbies
of the hotels. Bot the general verdict
arrived az by these sages 10 that Buffers
plans are too deep for the understand.
ing OF ordinary Dortals, and Secretary
Post about expresses the general feeling
by hkening 10 70 the Irishman who, be-
ing asked by the judge bsfors whom be
was brought TO answer 10 q criminal
charge If he Was guilty or not guilty,
replied: If it's all the same TO yer
honor, prefer to hear the evidence be-
fore answering yer question"
butler's letter seems TO have been the
signal gun Of the campaign, for its
boom was no sooner heard here at the
Capital than the respective political
headquarters began To wake, and rub
their eyes, and hustle about in prepara-
tion for work. Activity now reigns, and
before long the busy folding and mail
ing of campaign documents will Re in
full blast. The Government Clerks
Committee" as the Republican Finance
Committee il called here, wheeled into
position for battle early in the GAM
paiRn. Ii Ii established in banner and
iag-bedecked rooms On New York Ave
nue., within \ stones throw of the Trea-
sury; position which insure's cenveni
ence to the Departn entail attschs, for
he can drop in on his way home TO
oinner and leave his little sabssrip-
tions.
Apropos of departments and clerks,
recall the difference between the work
inRs and condition Of the public depart
ments years ago and now. Only those
who have long residepin Washington
can realize the change. Then they were
not the swarming hives, with number
less male and female employees, that
they are nov, and, unless there was some
especial emergency, the days work was
usually completed in few hours. There
was not the bustling and jostling which
now pervades the majority of the public
offices.
An incident of the olden times 10 told
which cleveriy illustrates the state of
affairs. II 10 located in one of the bu =
reaus of the War Department-that of
the Commissary General. The chief OF
that bureau, a gallant old army officer,
was one of the most amiable and clever
gentlemen that ever had charge OF q
public office. His chief clerk was an
easy going gentleman, Of considerable
avoirdupois. On lovely summer day.
when mint juleps were refreshing, the
venerable. white headed Commissary
General was somewhat pressed for cler-
ical assistance and had drafted an i'm
portant official communication of two
pages which he desired TO send of Ia
the evening mail. and, "a IL was some
what of confidential nature, proposed
that his faithful chief clerk sheuld copy
IA ...e.s Nk.. al s..as tK.s.
with all the amiability for which he was
gently ON the shoulder and said:
Billy, here il letter which 10 quite
important and which would like mailed
this afternoon. Wish you would copy
il for me-"
IL was then about p.m. Billy, ruddy
and rotund, had his feet on his desk and
was enjoying his cigar, having returned
from his customary lunch. With much
astonishment be turned TO his respected
chief and. with the most injured air,
replied:
written Two letters today
To use a popular phrase, the old Com
missary's good nature did not 90 back
on him" He pattet his faithful chief
clerk on the back and said;
"Never mind, Billy. never mind; to
morrow will do just as well" and quietly
returned to his own roon. Oh, for the
good old times.
IL seems to have escaped general no.
tice that a prominent retired naval OF
ficer has gone down to the isthmus to
take look at the Lesseps canal. and, 10
is rumored, make report upon the con-
dition and progress Of the work. One
official of the Government, to whom
propounded the question. What took
Admiral - down to the isthmus!"
replied that he did not know. That
will not do. There il some good reason
for his going, and presume It will de-
veIop itself some time daring the com
ing autumn. IkSox.