The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-11-20
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
The Weekly Collection About the Ma
tional Capital.
TIE srsAroR rRoM NEW YoRk.


eucceed Mr. Iapham. whose term expires next
March. is a subject OF much earnest discussion
here The Republicans have a majority of
seven in the Upper and of 10 in the Lower
Chamber OF the New York Legislature. and
will therefore, If there Is no coalition, return
whom they please. 1t is pretty we'll settled
that they will not return Mr.. Lapham Indeed,
he is not spoken of. lie has not given sali5iac-
ton, to say the least. TO any faction or party.
The most talk revOlyeS around Pres. Arthur
and ex-senator CUGkiing. The employment of
the latter by the Democrats 10 aId in their
election contest has given rise 10 the assertion
that a coalition between the Staiwarts and the
Democrats to elect him Senator had been
formed Those who know Roscoe ConklIng
best are quite positive tBat he will never con-
sent to re-cnter public life. The reason is SIM
pie: he IS now making what he always needed,
and Of late years has wanted erueiy-mOney.
Whatever Roscoe CoHklngs faults have been,
dishonesty has never been one OF them. His
worst enemies never found any soil on his Off
cial integrity. He had that intense pride. if
nothing else, which prevented him from max
ing money out of his official position. But
when he slept down aud out OF public life he
realized the need OF money 10 put h!m socially
abreast Of the men who were his equals or in
ferors. He Is now making this rs rapidly, at
least. as any lawyer in the country 1t is not
because he is q great lawyer, for he Is not; he
suits lie is not even a good advocate. for he
talks too much, and IS so fond OF his own fine
phrases that he will indulge in them 10 the
detriment OF his case. 4 better trained lawyer
only says Just what is necessary for his argu-
ment. But IN court he is quick sparrer and
a hard-hitter. This, and his national reputa-
ton, make him eagerly sought for in every
case, and the fees are fat He feels that now is
the time TO reap the golden harvest, and GER
tainly he is right in refusing to hang up his
sickle 10 accept an Office which he laid down
in disgust few years ago. Pres. Arthurs
chances for the place. if he desires it, and 1t is
believed he does. are regarded as very good.
The people of New York very well disposed
toward him, as was shown by the strength his
candidacy for the Presidential nomination
had in his own State. 1t would be fitting
and graceful retirement from hIs present posi-
ton, aud solve fer him that most solemn of
questions for a President whose term is clos
ing: What on earth can l do for the rest of
my life2"
MEASURING THE CLERKS.
Mercy has been taken on the trembling De-
partment clerks and plentiful assurances are
given that the mass OF them will be allowed TO
remain as undisturbed as they would have been
if Pres. Arthur's term had been extended for
another four wears Few of the SI,253, 81 400,
$1,000 and SI.S00 clerks, it is promised, viii be
molested. Only the heads of Departments
will have TO go, the political strikers and the
seperserYiceab!e set in each Department who
are in the habit of 'denouncing to the heads
of Departments as disloyal those whose po-
litical views did not coincide with their own"
1t is also asserted that the ladies viii surely be
retained, as Pres.-elect Cleveland has always
been in favor of giving women such places rs
they could appropriately fill. A conversation
is reported, IN the course Of which Mr. Cieve-
land said: If there is any one matter to which
] have given nay fullest attention it is to reform
and efficiency in the civil service. When 1
came TO Albany as Governor | found nearly all
the departments full of clerks whose political
predictions were Republican. The State
officials who came into Office with me called
upon me shortly after nay accession and asked
what were my views in relation to removals
from public service for political reasons. One
gentleman, whose department is, perhaps the
most important at the Capital, said: My office
is full of extreme Republicans appointed by
Gov. Cornell. Now what am / to do i re-
piled, said Gov. Cleveland, You are response
bic to the people for the good administration
OF your Office. Your confidential su50rdinateS
should he selected with great care, aud those
you doubtless will appoint from your personal
friends There can be no objection to your
making inquiry respecting the qualifications,
zeal and ability of your official force. If a
clerk is faithful and competent, he should be
retained no matter what his political predilec-
charged 10 employees from the Executive De-
partment for political reasons and many OF
Gov. Cornelfs personal following are still in
the service of the State If am elected Presi-
dent. said Gov. Cleveland with emphasis, the
clerks in the great Departments at Washing
ton who are fit for their positions will remain
In Office. Ability and zeal in the service will
be the measures of usefulness. The rules of
the Civil Service Commission will govern all
minor appointments
THE WASHINGTON MONUMENT.
There is now little doubt that the Washing
ton Monument viii be completed in time for
its dedication on the 22d Of February next. as
1t is estimated that % working days is all the
time necessary for lis completion. This week
it reached the hight OF go feet and 10 inches
5 feet and 10 inches higher than the spre Of
the famous Cathedral at Cologne. The cues
ton of how the cap-stone is to be placed in po-
sitOn has been matter of much conjecture
but in reality the work will b. done in very
simple manner When only nine more stones
are required 10 reach the summit small plat
form viii be built around the roof, which will
BE supported by timber5 resting on the large
platform which is erected at that point where
the apex commences. The stones required TO
complete the work viii then be h0isted up by
the machinery now employed for that purpose
and placed on the pla form, after which the
hosting apparatus will be removed and a
pat up III us place, WHICH, WIN
block and tackle, will host the stone into posi-
tion. When the last stone is laid the platform
viii be removed. the WOrkmen descending to
the large platform by ladder. The timbers
of this platform viii be taken in through the
windows, the last man entering by a window
on the east side. The iron supports will be
then drawn iH; the holes they went through
will be plugged with marble blocks, and the
monument Will be finished.
GARNET - I,rN-C.
The Cabinet-mskers have been very hard at
work fixing up list of Constitutional advisers
for the new President. OF course these are as
various the shades of political bias of the
Cabinet makers and their degrees of knowl-
edge Of what they are talking about. The
variable quantity in ali these calculations
is the extent TO which Mr Cleveland may deem
il prudent to 20 on recognizing the Solid South,
which gave him lob OF the 2l9 votes which he
received, and in recognizing the Independent
Republicans. without whom he coud not have
carried New York. The following, which was
constructed 10y the Louisville Coaricr-JOUaqi,
is a fair type of the straight-out Democratic
ideas, which give no place 10 the independents:
Secretary Of Sidte-Thurmau. of Ohio.
Secretary Of Treasury Dorshcimer. of n. Y.
Secretary Of HGr-McClellan. of n. J.
Secretary Of NqtyRandall OF Pa.
Secretary II HBferiOr-J0mas. Of la.
Postmaster Gei cTat-Hunton, Of Va.
attorney Geaer0l- Of Ind.
If an independent Republican is put in the
Cabinet opinion inciines its being Carl Sehurz,