Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1885-10-30
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Correspondence SOUTH KrNTuCKIAN.l

WASHINGTON, ID. G., Oct. &c, 1855.
| Changes in the Government Offices |
are of more frequent occurrence now
than 1T any time since President
Cleveland assumed the functions of
the presidential chair. The changes
are many and high in official stand
ing. II whisperiugs in the air are of
any Significance, long list OF APP
pointments may be looked for in the
tdeS of November The powers that
be have not been idle all this time.
The value OF the positions and the
men we'll suited TO fill them have
been in the minds eye of the dispen-
sers of Government favors for some
time; and, while great bodies move
slowly, it is now considered wise to
touch the electric key and put the
elect in the Offices set aside for them
before the legislative branch of the
Government sweeps down upon the
executive branch in the interests of
rival aspirants only to complicate
matters.
Every change of Administration,
especially where there is a change in
its political complexion, brings to the
surface some scum that leaves the
surface cleaner and purer when re-
moved. At times it arises in the
form of an aspirant for advancement,
who constitutes himself Il volunteer
iniormcr 10 pull down his brother
employee that he may profit by his
downfall. A case of this kind is in
mind now, because it has attracted
such general attention and received
almost universal condemnation
where known. In a certain Bureau
there is chief of division who has
| filled position of honor with credit |
to himself and the Bureau for more
than twenty years. The position
calls for the exercise of legal mind,
discriminating Judgment, tcchni-
cal knowledge Of various arts and
sciences, and executive ability 10
dispatch the business coming before
the particular division. This official
has always filled the requirements of
his position to the general satisfaction
of the large body of eminent lawyers
from all parts of the country prac-
ticing in the office, and of the numer-
GUS Chiefs who have been called to
preside over the Bureau during that
period. Even the courts have more
than once complimented this gentle
man in passing upon cases which
passed from his jurisdiction to theirs,
and in mooted questions in the Blu
reau this persons judgment has been
accepted to govern the final decision.
just now two of his official assist
ants and few other employees, evil
IDENTIFY prompted by jealousy and
other evil motives, are engaged in
circulating all sorts of stories as to
tavoriteism and gross carelessness
on the part of their superior, who on
more than one occasion has befriemd-
ed them. They reckon without their
host, however, this time, because the
new Chief of the Bureau is II man
who Sits things to the core and loves
justice, and will mete it out impair
italy to all concerned. The mills of
the gods grind slow, yet they grini
exceedingly small.
Secretary Manning has just ordered
the dismissal of several clerks be-
cause they won't pay their bills lie
is tired of being dunned on account
of other persons bills, and SAYS that
his clerks must pay up or get out. II
will be safe TO credit clerks in his
department from this time forth.
1t is now authoritiyely stated that
United States Marshal MacMicheal
has placed his resignation in the
hands OF the President, to take effect
tile LIST of November. The President
will probably appoint his successor
about that time, so that be may be-
come somewhat familiar with the
varied duties of his office before the
opening of the social season in De
ccmber All writs from the courts
here are in the name of the President
of the United States. and served NOM
inally by the United States Marshal,
but in reality by some ofhis deputies.
The Marshal gets the money while
his deputies do the work. The Mar 1
shal usually is a bosom friend of the
President, and by custom is his right
hand man OH all social and state
occasions. An exception to the Gus |
tom, however, was made when Fred
Douglass was Marshal under Hayes.
1t is supposed that the fact that
Douglass is little of color had some
thing to do with dispensing with the
custom then.
Professor Baird, Secretary of the
Smithsonian Institute and Chief of
the Fish Commission, says that there
is nothing "fishy" connected with
the management of the Commission,
and that he will demand an invesli-
CATION as soon as Congress assemblies.
The event of the day in religious
circles has been the advent of Canon
Farrer, the renowned English arch
deacon, He lectured last Friday and
Saturday evenings to crowded
houses, and on the Sabbath preached
at st. Johns, the oldest, most aristo-
cratic and smallest Episcopal Church
in the city. The doors of the church
were not opened till past eleven
O'Clock, after all the pewhoders and
their invited guests had gained adj ,
mission through side entrance and
been seated, when the doors were
opened to let the throng of people S
outside see that there was no room t
within for them. A
Delegations representing particu- ,
lar interests of various sections of
our country are already heading for
this city so as to lay their claims be-
fore the proper Departments for en-
bodiment in the reports of the Cabi-
net officials, and be prepared to push
them on the assembling of Congress.
The question of making the Com
missioner of Agriculture full
fledged Cabinet officer is being agi-
tated by progressive farmers and
agricultural scientists, and some day
they will doubtless realize their
wishes. AT their recent convention, 1
held in Richmond, the farmers Of {
Virginia passed resolutions instruct
ing their representatives in Congress
to press the matter in Congress this