The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1885-10-29
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Reqular Correspondent.

WASHINGTON, D. c., Oct. 26, 1885.
Changes in the Government Offices are
of more frequent occurrence now than at
any time since President Cleveland
assumed the functions of the Presidential
chair. The changes are many and high
in official standing. If whisperings in
the air are of any significance, long
list of appointments may be looked for
in the ides 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 dispensers of Govern
ment favors for some time; and while
great bodies move slowly, it is now con.
sidered 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 on the execu,,
tive branch in the interests of rival
aspirants only to complicate matters.
Every change of Administration,
especially where there is change in its
political complexion, brings to the
surface some scum that leaves the surface
cleaner and purer when removed. At
times it arises in the form of an aspirant
for advancement, who constitutes himself
q volunteer informer to 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 certain Bureau there is q 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 MUD, discriminating judgment,
q technical knowledge of various arts
and sciences, and executive ability to
dispatch the business coming before the
particular division. This official has
always filled the requirements of his po'
sition to the general satisfaction of the
large body of eminent lawyers from all
parts of the country practicing the office,
and of the numerous Chiefs who have
been called to preside over the Bureau
during that period. Even the courts
have more than once complimented this
gentleman in passing upon cases which
passed from his jurisdiction to theirs,
and in mooted questions in the Bureau
this persons judgment has been accep.
ted to govern the final decision. Just
now two Of this officials assistants and 9
few other employees, evidently prompted
By jealousy and other evil motives, are
engaged in circulating all sorts of stories
as to favoritism and gross carelessness on
the part of their superior, who on more
than one occasion has befriended them.
They reckon without their host, however,
this time, because the new Chief of the
Bureau is man who Sits things to the
core and loves justice, and will mete it
out impartially to all concerned. The
mills of the gods grind slow, yet they
grind exceeding small.
Secretary Manning has just ordered
the dismissal of several clerks because
they won't pay their bills. he is tired
of being dunned on account of other
persons bills, and says that his clerks
must pay up or get out. 1t will be safe
to credit clerks in his department from
this time forth.
It is now authoritatively stated that
United States Marshal MacMichael has
placed his resignation in the hands of
the President, to take effect the lst of
November. The President will probably
appoint his successor about that time, so
that he may become somewhat familiar
with the varied duties of his Office before
the opening of the social season in De.
cember. All writs from the courts here
are in the name Of the President of the
United States, and served nominally by
the United States Marshal, but in reality
by some of his deputies. The Marshal
gets the money while his deputies do the
work: The Marshal usually is a bosom
friend of the President, and by custom is
his right hand man on all social and
State occasions. An exception to the
custom, however, was made when Fred
Douglass was Marshal under Hays. 1t
is supposed that the fact that Douglas is
little off color had something TO do
with dispensing with the custom then.
The question of making the Commis.
sioner of Agriculture full fedged Cab
met officer is being agitated by progress
i've farmers and agricultural scientists,
and some day they will doubtless realize
their wishes. At their recent conven-
tion, held in Richmond, the farmers of
Virginia passed resolutions instructing
their representatives in Congress to press
the matter in Congress this coming
Winter. This is as it should be, and if
the grapgers of the whole country would
only follow up the move of Virginia we
would soon have another member among
the Presidents advisers.