Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1885-06-05
DIR WASHINGTON LETTER
WASHINGTON, D. c., June l, 1885.

DEAR REGISTER things
are yery dull here Just now, the Only
thing that is making any stir being t'la'
fraud known as Civil Service Commis-
sion. In North Carolina they have just
anpoipted as an examining board TWO
negro Republicans who can neither reau
mr. write and one white Democrat. ms
matter being called to the attention OF
Commissioner Eaton, Democrat, on
Thursday, he INDUCED in violent tir-
AIDE which swept the whole gamut O.
abuse against the person or persons VINO
thus had the temerity to criticlse or
even question the action of the Civii
Service Commission, but which scarce
ly threw light upon the peculiar con-
struction OF the Columbia board. A
great many people think the best thing
the President can do with the commits
sion is to discharge them and put In
new men.
The President attends DR.. Sunder-
lands Presbyterian Church, and since
this fact has become generally known
there has been so many curiosity seek
ers going to the church that the services
have been greatly interfered with ard
il has become a great nuisance. Last
Sunday the President did not attend
church, and in his closing prayer the
pastor said: ave pray Thee that none
NAV leave Thy sanctuary this morning
with sense of Disappointment, but that
all NAV have been comforted by some
word of sound doctrine" 1t is said that
some OF the congregation took the hint
and will not attend that church in the
future.
Appointment Clerk Higgins is max
ing many very anxious hearts In the
Treasury Department over little book
he is compiling Of the clerks who do not
attend to their duties, those who have
acted as spies OH the Democrats in that
department in the past, and others whose
only duties have been to make campaign
speeches. 1t would not be very sur
prising to hear of some discharges there
i'm the near future. TO show TO what an
extent this thing has been carried it is
stated here that the managing editor,
two reporters and the business manager
of certain daily paper in this city have
been carried on the rolls of the Treasury
Department tor months, and the only
work they ever did for the government
was 10 draw their salary twice month.
The labor organizations of the District
of Columbia are after Mr.. Clark, the
architect of the Capitol, with sharp
stick, and it looks very much us if they
would get his scalp. A commission is
now investigating the charges brought
against him, and the testimony so far
put in is very damaging.
Although President Cleveland has
given no intimation of a change of pol
icy the air is full of rumors that there
will soon be "clean sweep" in the va
rious government departments. These
rumors have put the clerks on the rag
ged edge, and their fears will not be
auieted until after the first of July, the
beginning of the next fiscal year, when
it is said there will be a large number
of changes, from the highest TO the low.
est. Those usually well Informed say
he rumor is correct, as the President
does not care to have a. row with the
Democratic party in Congress next win
ter, which is sure to take place unless
there is radical change OF policy be-
tween now and the next session in De-
cember.
Secretary Lamar has appointed Col.
Robert Hunter, of Winchester, Va, for
merly editor and proprietor of the VIM
chester Times, to be chief of the division
of accounts of the general land office,
vice Mr.. Donnelly, resigned. His APP
pOntment was made without civil SER
vice examination, Secretary Lamar not
regarding chiefs of divisions as coming
under the civil service law. His salary
is 81 800. This appointment is making
some stir, as the Republicans claim that
it is a violation of the civil service law,
but Secretary Lamar pays no attention
whatever to the clamor, and it is safe to
predict that Colonel Hunter will take
and hold his position without having to
stand an examination. "TIBE"