Chariton courier. (Keytesville, Chariton County, Mo.) 1878-current, 1885-07-24
wAsHINGToS LETTER.
tFrom our regular correspondent
WASHINGTON, July 20, 1885.

| sN-S@~--s0AO AOAt1 cAAy 49, AO0t'e
The president, Secretaries Man
ming, Lamar and P.-M.-G. Villas
spent Sunday at the club house OF
the Woodmont Rod and Gun Club.
The distinguished party spent the
Sabbath very quietly in wild sylvan
retreat of 5000 acres owned by the
club, and returned much refreshed
on Monday.
/ The president has been working
too many hours. He has been sit
ting up too late at night in order to
dispose Of the vast number Of sppli-
cations for Office that awaithis atten-
ton. He is not exhausted but he is
very tired. Last week he saw visi-
tors only on three days, Monday,
Wednesday and Friday, and exper-
fenced considerable relief from the
pressure that had been put upon him.
The appointment of Mr.. Steven
son, of Illinois, First Assistant Post
master-G General IS one of the most
fortunate selections that the present
administration has made. He has
attacked the large arrears Of busi-
ness with such energy that in the
short space of q week over two
thousand new appointments have
been made To dispatch such bulk
of details with such general approx
al, and absence OF ground for cavil,
indicates executive ability of high
order. His position has become,
owing to the immence growth Of the
service, one of the most important
under the government, and it is q
pleasure to know that it is not filed
by a Hatton or Tyner, but in a
way to reflect credit on the country,
and the Democratic party.
Postmaster General Villas met Mr..
Stevenson at the Chicago convention.
Each was strongly impressed in ia
vor of the other, and they have been
warm friends ever since. Mr..
Stevenson represented his district in
the Forty-fourth and Forth-sixth
congresses. He has since been
practicing law in Bloomington, Ill.
He is forty-eight year of age, vigor-
Gus and able. Many public men have
been made his friends by his genial
and attractic disposition as well as
by his solid worth.
The ex-First Assistant Postmaster
General Malcolm Hay has gone to
Colorado in hope that his feeble form
may be strengthened by the climate.
1t is well known that after he was
appointed, four months ago, he went
South for the benefit of his health.
When he returned here to undertake
his official duties the disbursing
clerk handed him his salary for two
months. Mr.. Hay declined to re-
ceive the money, saying he had not
earned it, and by his direction the
amount of his salary for these two
months of absence from his desk was
covered into the treasury.
Secretary Whitney's idea of reform
is to reform. He does not rest con-
tent with one good deed well done.
He recently brought from New York
and expert accountant who has de-
viseti new methcd Of bookkeeping
for the bureau of the navy depart
ment. Hereafter each item Of the
naval appropriation will have its
separate account and by this means
the balance remaining to each spe-
cidc appropriation can be seen at a
glance. The displaced system is no
system at all, but an unwieIdy ac-
cnmulation of different methods to
which each change of regime has adj
ded its quota OF confusion.
Secretary Whitney ls giving the
enemies of good government great
deal Of annoyance. He refused to
accept without question the worth
less ship contracts of his Republican
predecessors. When he wishes to
go to sea on the raging Potomac he
hires his boat, and does not use a
government ship. He has abrogated
the rule forblddlng officers to allow
their wives to follow them to distant
ports. His reason for abrogating
this rule was, IN substance, that the
officers were not able to prevent
their wives doing pretty much as
they pleased.
It is expected that Democratic of.
ficers for the district government
will soon be appointed, butit is not
probable that the new appointecs
will be residents of the District Of
Columbia.
A gentleman recently ventured TO
give the president some advice as to
the kind Of man be should appoint
to certain district office. Mr..
Cleveland said: Il think know
what is needed. My own experi-
ence will be guide 70 me. As the
chief executive of a city government
gained the approval of men of both
political parties. and acquired a
knowledge of what qualifications are
most needed in municipal govern
ments. ! win give every appoint
ment careful consideration.
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The Georgia legislature, at its