The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1884-11-22
Correspondence baltimore County Union.
LETTER FROM WASHINGTON.
How Government Employees View the
Situation for a Change.

WASHINGTON, D. c., November 10Th, 1884.
Messrs Editors :-'God reigns and the Govern
ment at Washington still lives" were the memoir
able words of the late James A.. Garfield at criti-
cal period in the history Of the Government, and
the same is still trueto day. There was, Of course
great deal of trepidation among the Government
clerks when they found that the election for the
Presidency so close, but the excitement caused
thereby has comparatively died out, and these
same employees have since como to look the stu
alton coolly and calmly in the face The most Of
them have been taking glance at their resources,
which they have garnered up during the years
they have been in Office, for "rainy day" should
the worst come to worst and they would have to
vacate their places in the Government employ
While others who have no resources ut all console
themselves with the thought that their "debts at
any rate will be paid" Many of the employees
who have been here for number of years have
lived frugally and economically and have inves-
ted their means in small homes which they have
fully or partially paid for, and while comparative
ly we'll fixed while they remain here, are greatly
perplexed what they shall do with their houses or
how get their money out them if they should be
compelled to leave the city. They have begun to
reconcile themselves to the seeming inevitable and
amuse themselves with all sorts of jokes and what
their several plans will be to mako living when
they 60 out of Office. All these latter speculations,
however serious they may be at the beginning,
usually end in something ridiculous that causes o
laugh among them all.
But seriously they are very much exercised what
they really will do when they lose their official
places, for many of them have been out of the
channels of all sorts of business for so many years
that they have not an idea which way they shall
turn to make living. However, with the excep-
ton of some of the older ones who have spent the
most of their lives in Government employ, or
crippled soldiers and women, they all seem to think
that there will be some channels of business omen
for them and they shall get something to do.
One of the points most speculated upon is when
they will be compelled to 60 out Of office, some
thinking as soon as the Democrats get the ma
ohinery in running order, to fill their places
which possibly would be from the first of April to
the first of July next, while many others try to
console themselves with the thought that Cleve-
land is to degree at least committed to Civil
Service Reform or that the Civil Service law might
in some way intervene SO that thoy would be
spared in their positions if worthy.
On this latter point of Civil Service Reform
many persons think that there will be great con-
fict in the Democratic party, which will give Mr..
Cleveland good deal of trouble in the early part
of his administration, fo- undoubtedly he will have
owed his election to the Civil Service Reformers
and Independent Republicans of New York, while
the "spoilsmen," who are determined to take the
offices at all hazzards, are already marshaling
their forces under Mr.. Hendricks as shown by his
own anu uoVernor-eiect Trays speeches. In In
dianapolis day or two ago.
Many persons are speculating on the effect that
a change in the administration will have on the
business interests of this city. A majority of
them think that it cannot have very depressing
one, yet there is question but there several
sources from which business will suffer. The first
of these will be from the economizing tendency of
the present employees of the Government in order
to save something to 60 out of Office on another
by the large amount of medium-size real estate
thrown upon the market by the discharged en-
ployees at sacrifice so as to leave the city, and
third, from the inability of many employees to pay
the debts they have already contracted and which
will have to 60 unpaid. ANON.