The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1885-11-19
Washington Letter.

WASHINGTON, Nov. Is, 'S5.--As the
mem ers of the forty-ninth congress
assemble in the city, it is interesting
to note upon the faces of the republic
cans an expression of encouragement.
They feel that the democrats have come
to reign for a long time. They have
ceased talking about candidates in 'SS.
Lately there was so much said on the
subject here that one might have
thought that the country was on the
eve of another presidential election.
You hear nothing more now about
war in the senate. Repu blican sena-
tors are in meas ure subdued, while
the talk of democratic senators is con-
hone causes the republicans to regard
the senatorial contest in Oregon with
great anxiety. Their majority in the
senate is getting beautifully slim. In
case a tie occurs as it did a few years
ago, Vice-President Hendricks cannot
be caught sitting on the fence some
times as was Uncle David Davis. Mr..
Hendricks vote can always be counted
in advance.
The forecast of the position to be ia
ken by members OF the new congress
on the silver question, recently pub
lisheG, is not regarded as likely to
prove true after congress has met and
received the presidents message and
the report of Secretary Manning. The
president and the secretary are not
likely to occupy diff erent ground from
that taken by MI. Cleveland last spring.
1t is thought he will appeal reasonably
to both houses of congress to support
mis- views and try them in practice,
Thought you hear not great deal
aboGt it, changes in the offices have
been constantly going on here since the
fourth of March. They go on gradual
ly, but any one going into the depart
ments after an absence of nine months
would find but few familiar faces at
the desks of the higher officials. Ia the
treasury, for instance, both of the as
sistant secretaries are democrats. The
solicitor of the treasury Is a democrat
as is also the commissioner of internal
revenue, the treasurer and the register
of the treasury. a democrat has sue.
ceeded the old commissioner of custom;
and the new director of the mint is q
democrat. The first and second con-
| trOllers are democrats; all six OF the
auditors are democrats; democratic
appointment clerk files away applica-
tions;- democrat signs the report
| of the bureau of statistics, and there
are many changes lower down the line
The new appointees have been good
men, possessing qualifications thai
suited them for their duties.
Few men sin the service of the
government who work harder than the
head of the treasury. And as one of his
subordinate officers said, "The worst OIL
it is, he expects every body else tC
work." The same officer continued
"Manning is great big fellow, full o.
blood and as strong as a horse. He
can sit up all night at his desk and bt
as fresh as daisy next morning, bu
we can't stand it," Mr.. Manning has
no respect for old-time methods, or Off
cial hours. One day he asked for a GER
tain report to be made out. A chief o.
division told him that he would begin
the work next morning, as it was then
| three o'clock in the afternoon. The
! secretary looked at him for a moment
and calmly said 'I must have that re-
port in the morning" and he got it. II
is certain much more activity is dis
played now than ever before in the
discharge of business at the treasury
The secretary's energetic touch is felt
in every branch of it.
! The president is working at his first
message to congress, securely shielded
from the distracting annoyances OF
place-hunters. He finds time, however
to come Down into the east room at q
certain hour three times a week and
shake hands with several hundred call
ers. Some amusing and characteristic
incidents occur at these public recep-
tons. Guests are not all willing to
pass Mr.. Cleveland with the convention
al "HOw do you do" Many of them
are intent on exchanging a few words
for memoTy's sake. At his last hand
shaking young girl said to him 81
was prohibitionist, that is why l did
not vote for you" lowell, Il forgive you,''
said the president with a smile. His
last caller was an old lady who said, cit
| is refreshing to see and shake the hand
of democratic president, but" with
emphasis, "yOu want wife," The
president said'h knew it and with her
good advice still ringing in his ears,
went upstairs to work.