Mexico weekly ledger., 1884-10-09
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Disgraceful OfIicial Delinquencies
at Observation-Disclosures Cemmis.
siOner Dudley as Ref0rmer-
A Shameless Administra-
tion-Blaine's Circus,
etc.
Correspondence OF the Ledger.

etc.
OF the Ledger.
WASHINGTON, September 20, '84.-1
There may be belief that the pub
lie service at Washington is being
carried on with some degree of faith
fulness. The officials in control of
the various departments are assumed
by the public to be at their posts,
discharging the obligations which
rest upon them, and for which they
are well paid. But the delinquency
which really exists in this respect is
something unparalleled in the history
of the civil service of this country. ;
In the first place, the President is.
absent, and has been for weeks.
Finding himself left out in the cold,
he throws aside all sense of respon-
sibility and practically abandons the.
administration of affairs. His cabi-
net also seem to be struck with the
idea that this is the time for disap-
pearing. The willy Chandler, the
crafty Frelinghuysen, the gorgeous
Brewster, and the silent, because he
don't know what to say, Lincoln, has
been gone so long that they are al
most forgotten. To name the abb
sentees of lesser rank would be a
heavy drain on the official blue book.
Those who are here, are the excep-
ton; those absent, the rule. Most
Of them are in the field electioneering
for the knight Of the White Feather,
and not few are drawing pay from
the government and at the same time
are being paid for their speeches, by
the Republican Campaign Club. No.
tably is this the case with General
Dudley, Commissioner of Pensions,
whose resignation does not take eff.
feet for a month, and who is drawing
a salary of $4,000 per annum, and
making speeches at $50 day. This,
for the gentleman who poses as the
great friend of the soldier, is glar.
ing example of official delinquency
Not so fortunate is Mr.. French, the
first assistant Secretary Of the treas
Jury. He "disappeared" IN April
and passed the warm months travel
ing in Europe, paying his expenses
it is needless to say, out of an un
earned salary. But while he wa
gone he was forgotten, and when HI
returned to find Secretary Folgcr ly
ing dead, he also found that he ha,
been supplanted in official favor b.
others, and though Immediately il
the line Of promotion himself, hi
name was not even mentioned for th
Secretaryship. Not to grow weari
some on the subject of the unblush
ling delinquencies of the officials il
the departments, 1 challenge compar
ison with any other period, for tn
utter disregard of honesty, decency
and responsibility which now prevail
in Washington. The bank presider
and cashier delinquencies of the tim
are only more noticeable, because al
fecting private interests, but as ia
as criminality is concerned are n
grosser.
The Republicans have about abar
doned all hope of doing anything j
the South. They did intend to max
an effort to capture North Carolin
? and Florida, but the reports frol
those states give them no encourage
ment. 1t is now clear that they mu'
carry New York State to be victor
l. Gus. To do this they must overcon
L a united democratic party with an q
lance Of liberals; combinatie
which elected Grover Cleveland Go
= ernor, by over 100000 majority. !
overcome this lead is impossible
The democrats will elect their ticke
The Blaine menagerie is on tt
road, and Barnum's greatest show {
earth pales into insignifcance. b
will it pay Blaine to start out vii
q circus at this season. There al
many republicans here who are groa
ing over the spectacle. In the
view, it is the tawdriest clap ira
and does not change vote, exec
from him. But it was recognized
the party managers that somethil
must be done. New York is quiet
but solidly for Cleveland. The del
ocratic composure must be brok
\ if possible. The Germans of OF
are going democratic. Blaine "
try to magnetic them. Indiar
Michigan, Wisconsin and Illinois {
about given up. Blaine must sh'
himself in those states, to save the
In q word Blaine was ordered to ts
u bis whole stock Of magnetic infuel
with him, and start on the road
order to save the republican .pa