The Press., 1885-03-26
WASHINGTON LETTER.

WASHlNGEUN LElI
 Washington, D. C., March 20, 1885.
 The new broom does not sweep rapidly enough for the throng of office seeking patriots who raided Washington about three weeks ago. Disappointed spolls- men shake the dust of the city from their weary feet, and sadly turn their dejected noses towards their homes. The discom- fiture of the place hunters gives some re- lief to the cabinet officers who have been under hot siege since the fourth of March. Even the postmaster general has had perceptible respite from callers during the past few days. The applications for post masterships, however, do not fall off. They rather increase. In the office of the clerk to the first assistant postmaster gen. eral with an extra detail of assistants, it is difficult to keep up with the work of brief ing and filing applications.
 President Cleveland evidently prefers for office the quiet men who have kept con- paratively Ill the background. Those who have advertised their merits with delega- gatious have been left out every time The last list of nominations sent to the senate created more surprise and more disap- continent than any appointments yet made. The names which had figured on l the slates were all absent from the list. This fact has operated very discouraging- ] ly upon those who have been devoting ev- ! cry day and hour to their claims.
 Among the most important nominations were Mr. Hay of Pittsburg, to be first as- sistant postmaster general, MT. Montgom- cry of Michigan, to be commissioner of pa- tents, and EX- Representative Durham of Kentucky for first comptroller of the cur rency. The defeat of Phil Thompson for commissioner of internal revenue, by Mr. l Miller of w. Va, was surprise to many, and real shock to his friends, who had srenuously urged him for the place. They say they will not suggest his name for any other place now since his ability and claims are not appreciated by the new powers.
 The acting commissioner of patents, Mr. Dyrenforth, dId not hesitate to express surprise at the nomination of his success or, siuce he claimed that the commission ership had been offered to himself by both the president and Secretary Lamar Through the dilatoriness of the patent ex- aminers the work of the office is shamefully in arrears, and MT. Dyrenforth recently be- gan reform by requiring night work in the offices that are behind with the business of the department. This will now be kept up until the work is brought up to date, which, from the present energy displayed, will be iu about three mouths. This fact will be gratifying to inventors whose pa- tience has been severely tried by the de- lays in the issuance of their patents
 Wednesday was President Cleveland s forty eighth birthday, and he varied his daily program by taking a two hours drive with Col. Lamont, behind a pair of ex- President Arthur's horses. The retiring president kept ten horses of his own at the executive stables, all ot which he left for the use of MT. Cleveland until the latter should make other provision. Mr. Arthur has called socially on President Cleveland during the week. and attended his official reception Since his retirement from of flee he has been the guest of ex-Secretary Freylinghuysen, and a recipient of con- stant attention from society people with ont regard to party. President Cleveland will give au entertainment in his honor next Week. Secretary Whitney has begun an investigation of the accounts of the navy department, and Secretary Endicott proposes to turn things over in the wal department. He has requested the ad- jntant general of the army to furnish him with complete list of all the officers ou duty in Washington. He asks what duty . each one is performing, if such duty is au thOrizPd by law, and the exact time each has been on duty here.
 | The Higgins appointment has proved to be very embarrassing to the administra- ton. Besides the odorous scandals that accompanied his appointment, one charge
 is that he stuffed the ballot box in the mayoralty contest of 1875 another is that he imported voters into Hamard county in 1879; and another is that he is actively en. gagged as lobbyist at Annapolis A cer- talu southern senator says that Higgins owes 1t to his party to resign, but Balti- morean, who knows the Higginses remark ed that though they may die they never resign" The Baltimore Civil Service Re form Association is expected to come here to-day and petition Secretary Manning to remove Higgins. Ii he does not consent, they will probably appeal dir ctly to Pres ident Cleveland.