Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1885-03-27
Washington Letter.
From our Regular Correspondent.

w bAuAOh iOpp.
Public attention is now NATURAL
centered on President Cleveland an,
his newly chosen advisers, an,
everything in regard to their move
ments and intentions is eagerl,
heard. The tone of impartial com
ment is favorable to the new regime
and it is commanding respect an,
popularity from the start by the dig
nifty and discretion shown in every
act. There are great expectations al
to what will be accomplished in tn,
next four years.
During this transition period il
its history upon which the country i,
now entering, Washington will bt
the exposure of the nations eyes
Instead of interest ending with the
expiration If he Forty cigh,h Con.
gress, it Father b "'n.. + Congress
did li::ls ard sic t:.N ...nl Admin
istraiion must 10 a 2I,L, deal. The
change i'll the Offices, which began
at noon on the 4'h of March by the
transfer of executive power from Mr
Arthur to Mr.. Cleveland, goes on
from point to point. The changes
in men as we'll as in principles will
be very great. Nothing dramatic
may occur, but the political situa.
ton will be interesting. There will
be a new political atmosphere. and
with changes some novelties in hab-
its and principles of Government
may be expected.
President Cleveland has already
introduced some innovations ut the
White House. The household is
required to be ready for an 8 o'clock
breakfast, something unheard Of be-
fore at the Executive Mansion, and
the library which has heretofore
been controlled by the sweepers and
house cleaners until noon, is now
ready for business callers at an early
hour.
Smoking is prohibited in the Of
fees of the White House, and the
methods of doing work there have
been simplifed by the discharge OF
one-half Of the clerical force. Fewer
employees and plenty of work for
those who remain, is the motto Of
the President and his private secre-
tary. They propose to earn their
own salaries, aud will require their
subordi mates to do the same.
The work Of retrenchment, begun
at the White House, will not end
there. 1t was u hint to other De-
with superfous force, and
has sent chill OF terror through
of Government clerks who
nave for years been drawing bounti.
jul salaries Of the taxpayers money
md doing no work. II the princi-
pie is applied throughout the SER
'ice, not less than twenty thousand
men will be stricken from the Fed
'ral pay rolls, without impairing tho
of business. Officers Of
he Treasury Department, for in
tance, have testified that the cleri.
al force there could DO reduced one
bird without de.riment to the ser.
ice.
Inasmuch as President Cleveland
8 worker, it has been rumored
hat the social interests Of the White
House will suffer under his Admins.
ration. He will no. give so many
rand and expensive entertainments
o the favored few in official life, but
10 will devote more time to RECEIVE
ug the people. There will no. 10
o much formality and court-lrks Ell.
uette observed at the White House.
ut guests will enjoy themselves M
auch if not more. My prediction is
ounded partly on clause in Mr..
;leveland's inaugural address. The
urport OF it was that the social aud
Domestic lives of public officials
hould be calculated to incuicate
a5its of economy, to avoid restless !
xtravasance and to restore simpli.
ity, more in harmoLy with the spirit
f republican institutions. This sen
,ent had caused a good deal OF Cos
ip in Washington social circles. |
ociety people do not doubt that tho
resident means what he says, aud
hat his entertainments will be for
he public to greater extent and |
Dr. state dinners and exclusive re-
options to smaller extent than la.
cen the rule for the last twenty
ears.
Lavish expenditure upon enter
at the White House and |
! the Cabinet households compels |
in other official circles
here it is oppressive. Secretary
ayard has neither the means nor
10 disposition to initiate the con-
tant festivities. receptions aud Ger.
monies Of his predecessor. The
rilliant entertainments of the Frel-
lghuysens will be missed by a GER
Tin element of Washington society,
ut the extrayapant metboda hmm.