The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-05-14
THE NATIONS CAPITAL.
Some Ideas OF Civil Service Reform by
Bon: Perley P0ore, the Veteran
Reporter and Writer.
The Edmunds Law in Regard to
the Mormons TO be Impartially
Enforced-Appointm


Special to the Sentinel.
WAsHINeToN, May 13.-An evidently de-
serving widow lady came highly indorsed by
Virginia friends to the Office of Joseph Mil
Ter, the Internal Revenue Collector, to-day.
The officer carefully read her testimonials
and sadly announced that he could give her
no place for the reason that all the people in
his department were protected by the civil
service.
civil service? che asked, with surprise
snd unfeigned melancholy; what is that?"
~ am myself so ignorant of it that to save
your life, madam, could not tell"
Now, that explains the trouble between
Mr.. Cleveland and the office-hunters. There
is but one living American who thoroughly
understands the lsbyrinths of the law
George II. Pendleton-and he can't, it seems,
give the secret away. He is now at foreign
court improving the shining heurs, it lie sup
posed, in studying the civil pension list of
Emperor Wilhelm's Government.
The appointed and the disappointed take
widely different views of the political out.
look. The appointed persists in seeing a
silver lining. "Confidspcs in Mr.. Cleye.
land" he writes, lis growing every day, and
l feel assured that his administration Will
prove the brightest in American history"
The disappointed writes his member OF Con-
gress. Democratic hope is dead" etc.
/ met Ben: Perley Poore, the king of re-
porters. To-Day for the first time. lie has
been the historian of every administration
since Jackson's, and no living man knows
more of the American publiclsts. Il an
we'll known he said, ''for the reason that
l have written nothing to which my name
was not signed and l think that If every
writer was required to sign his articles 1T
would have good influence on the press.
journalism has temporarily drifted away
from that idea, but it will return event
| Dslly. There ought to be-there must be-
some personal responsibility for statements.
This habit OF teiegraphiDg guess work-and
offensive guess work at tbat-from Washing
ton TO the press Of other cities Will certainly
subside as soon ss some Journalist of an
original turn of mind MAKES the discovery
that the reading public prefers something
moro real and substantial. The conscious.
ness of personal responsibility that ones
signature to an srticle insures would con-
| dIce to Iespectability."
Speaking of civil service reform, Mr..
PooTe said, in substance. that it was the
fraud OF frauds; that more stupendous de-
ception was never spawned in legislation.
The head Oh every department is at the
mercy of bis force. Skilled in every sort of
service, they will easily win him. They
will put him under personal obligations.
At signal they can block any character Of
work. The land of the free and
the home OF the brave is only
such in name. This Government to day, as
see it, is but little more than a dynasty
OF department clerks, They can change
their coats as rapidly as Henry Watterson
was cured OF sore eyes. Every one that
have met has led me out behind lamp. d ost
and whispered that he couldn't 20 Blaine
They were all the original friends OF the maa
OF destiny. The Plumed Knight has no sup.
porter in this town but Sieve Elkins."
, The news OF Morrison's defeat was being
discussed in Mr.. Voorhees, room the even.
ing after the illinois election; the tsll syos.
more was not cheerful, and said with EN-.
phasis: Such Democratic management ad-
mits of no explanation"
reported this to day to q gentleman IS dis
tipguished as Mr.. Voorhees,, who replied:
Morrison wasan acceptable man. In truth,
be was decidedly popular. The only secret
! IS Democratic dissatisfaction; they absen:ed
themselves from the polls, and we might
Just as we'll be prepared for a great deal of
Of this sort OF thing"
And you are from Ohio" said Senator
voorhees, TO gentleman, who had routed
him ont at an early hour and urged him far
1nihe direction OF one OF the departments. "Sir,
IN view OF the fact tbst q number Of my per
sonal friends are here demanding everv mo-
ment or my time, / must pronouncs this
| on your part the height If irs1 1lence Go to
some representative from your own State.
0ooo oay. jar TURPEN.