The Bozeman weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1889, 1885-11-11
Washington Letter.
Edit0y Chronicle.
lAs.HrvaroN. Oct. 81, 1886.

1tdf0y lItf 0Itacte.
WAAH1NGroN, Oct. 81, 1886.
Only few weeks now remain before
! theassembIing of congress. Not only th'
United States, but the whole civilized
world awaits with interest the first mes
sage rom democratic President sine,
1850. Nj. Cleveland has not yet put pen
/ to paper in preparation of this message
to Coneress, nor have any suggestions OF
| memoranda been submitted to MIN. He
I will c6n1mence his work early in Novem-
ber and will devote some hours to it.
daily until Congress meets.
In view of the seclusion needed for
this work came the Presidents edict on
"Wednesday, closing the White House to
the office seeker and his influence from
the first of November for an indefinite
time. Colonel Lamont thinks the rule
way lie relaxed little when Congress
meets so as to admit Senator'S and Repre-
sentatlves, but the desire of the Pres
identi Is to withdraw from the annoyance
pernSnentlY.
UrAef the new arrangir ent aspirants
for positions will have to reach the Pre-
sident through the heads of Departments
bat he will still feel under obligation to
seek information as to their fitness for
Office from such sources as he may pre-.
fer and in such ways as he may see fit
to adopt.
No one at a distance fromthe Capital
indeed no one whose avocation does not
bring the matter directly TO his notice
can realize the enormous demands that
have been made upon the Presidents
time, since his Inauguration, by petty
placed hunters. Those who appreciate
the duties of his Office, and who know
how Mr. Cleveland's performance ofthem
has been impeded Dy these exactlng
importunates will commend thenew rule
In order to prepare himself for the ques-
ton Of the winter, the line had to be
drawn al last not in spiri' of exclusive
ness, as the unthinking may claim, but
in defense of the public interests.
The growth of the country and the
modren systems of rapid transit may yet
make necessary some limitation to the
freedom with which the Executive is ap-
proIched. This being Republic. ofcou-
rse the President belongs to everybody.
He is perennial circus that must be
seen and shook. He Is by far the most
easily approached ruler in the world.
Any citizen can walk into his private
office unannounced, introduce himself,
and be accorded a personal interview
Men cali upon him because they voted
for Buchanan; bridal couples call upon
as a spectacular party Of the honeymoon
and politicians from all parts of the
Union insist upon making his personal
The President % experiencing difficulty
in re-Organizing the Civil Service Com
mission. He regards reform in the
Civil Service one Of the most important
features of his Administration, and he
tying to secure men for the place VIII g
names will guarantee practical carrying
out of the duties of the Off q. 1t is hard
to ind such men as possess the necessary
and who are willing to
make the sacrifc. The salary is only
So 800 a year. Three gentlemen have
already declined appointment. Congress
will probly be asked during the winter
to increase the coz pensation.
There are quite number of house
hunting Congressman in the city who
are depIoring the scarcity Of suitablr
residences. The transient winter poDula-
ton of Washington is so large that the
supply of desirable furnished houses foe
rent was exhausted some weeks ago, and
many of the late comers will be cempell-
ed to put up at hotels. This mode of
living IS not fashionable here, however,
1t is the custom for public men to keep
house. Congressman Fisher, of Michigan
and Bayne; of Pennsylvania, failing to get
the kind of houses they want, made ar
rangements yesterday to board their
families during the session of Congress.
The latter, though Republican, remark
ed that the Cleveland administration
was good one, and suited the people
of the country.