New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1885-06-17
WASHINGTON LETTER.

lu!S clIy Win OOZen or TWO school
commandments which have taken
place. and with the tearing to tatters
of the Civil Service rules by the new
Administration through its official
changes, there has been no lack of in
terest in the city during the past week.
The Charity Convention is one of the
most notable that has been held here.
There are several hundred delegates,
nearly every one Of whom holds an i'm
portant place in the charitable or re-
form work of the state from which he
or she comes. Nearly every state in
the Union and some of the Territories
are represented by men and women
who have rendered distinguished SER
vice in the management of prisons, asy-
lums, industrial schools, reformatories,
almhouses, insane hospitals, and other
public institutions. Most of them have
given their lives to the work in which
they are enlisted. The object of the
Conference is to discuss topics connect
ed with aid to the helpless and fallen,
to secure the abandonment of abuses
and the adoption Of better methods.
This is the twelfth annual session of
the organization. The meetings are
largely attended, and many prominent
people OF the city take active interest
in them. The President attended their
meeting for the discussion of Prison Re.
form on Sunday evening.
The residents OF States know but lit
tie about the system of government in
the District of Columbia was shown by
delegates to the Charity Convention
while they were inspecting the public
institutions of Washington. In point
ing out defects and suggesting rene
dies, many of them wanted to know
why the District Commissioners did not
take the money and do this and that.
When told that the Commissioners have
no money except what Congress gives
them, they expressed surprise at such
utter dependence upon Congress. The
fact that the smallest items of District
expenditure must be considered by the
House and Senate seemed TO them
quite singular.
The most notable appointment OF the
past week, perhaps, was that of Gen.
Rosecrans to be register of the Treasury,
vice ex-senator Bruce, Of Mississippi.
In this case an aristocratic Democrat
accepts the Office and desk of colored
man, which gives evidence of the eager
ness of the Democrats for office.
Rumors have been current for the
past few days regarding Secretary La
mars official transactions, and there is
much complaint that he is violating the
civil service law in making appoint
ments. His recent action in refusing
to give out for publication the
changes made in the clerical force un-
der him, has had the effect of Importing
considerable mystery to his Depart
ment.
The clerks in the various Depart
ments never felt greater apprehension
regarding their positions than they do
now. Until a few weeks ago some
few of the thousands of clerks who are
protected by the civil service law were
disposed to rely 10 some extent upon
the law and even upon Democratic
pledges not to remove them except for
cause. Now their confidence is entire
~ shaken. They have seen the law
violated, and no official, however
great his deserts, feels safe for a day.
II those who have perfectly inoffensive
records could be made to feel that thew
would not be disturbed, the business of
the Government would be much bene-
flied.
Saturday has been adopted as :. day
of seclusion for the whole Administers
ton. The Cabinet officers having de-
cided to follow the example of the
President in denying themselves to
visitors hereafter on that day. The
new rule went into operation last Satur-
day, when the Departments happened
to be unusually thronged with office
seekers. The latter thought it an in
terminable time to wait from Friday
evening until Monday morning for q
glimpse Of those for whom they longed.
The first open air concert of the sea-
son was held by the Marine Band IN
the White House grounds last Saturday
afternoon. These entertainments are
popular and are attended by thousands
of people, who come and go at will.
They assemble on the lawn south of
the Mansion and stand. promenade, or
sit, when so unfortunate as TO pre-empt
a settee, while the. band discourses
.