The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1885-11-25
Washington Letter.

Editor HeraLd.
As the members of the Forty Ninth
Congress assemble in the city, it is in.
teresting to note upon the faces of Re
publicans an expression of discourage
ment. They feel that the Democrats
have come to reign for long time.
They have ceased talking about can
didates for 1SSS. Before the elections
there was so much said on the subject
here that one might have thought that
the country was on the eve of anothe,
Presidential election.
You hear nothing more now about
a war in the Senate. Republican Sen
ators are in measure subdued, while
the talk of Democratic Senators is con-
sentative and loyal.
The defeat of Malone causes the Re
publicans to regard the Senatorial con-
test in Oregon with great anxiety.
Their majority in the Senate is getting
beautifully slim. In case tie occurs
rs it did few years ago, Vice Presi-
dent Hendricks cannot be caught
sitting on the fence sometimes, as was
Uncle David Davis. Mr.. Hendricks
vote can always be counted in advance.
The forecast of the position to be
taken by members of the new Congress
on the silver question, recently pub
lished, is not regarded as likely to
prove true after Congress has met and
received the Presidents message aud
the report of Secretary Manning. The
President and the Secretary are not
likely to occupy different ground from
that taken by Mr.. Cleveland last spring.
II is thought he will appeal reasonably
to both Houses of Congress to support
his views and try them in practice.
Though you may not hear a great
deal about 1t, changes in the offices
have been constantly going on here
since the fourth of March. They go on
gradually, but anyone going into the
Departments after an absence of nine
months would find but few familiar
faces at the desks of the higher officials.
In the Treasury, for instance, both of
the assistant Secretaries are Democrats.
The Solicitor of the Treasury is a Dem
Ocrat, as is also the Commissioner of
Internal Revenue, the Treasurer, and
the Register of the Treasury. A DEM
Ocrat has succeeded the old Commits
sioner::of Customs, and, the new director
Of the mint is Democrat. The first
and second Controllers are Democrats !;
all six of the Auditors are Democrats !;
Democratic Appointment Clerk files
away applications 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 quail
ficatiOns that suited them for their
duties.
There are few meD in the service of
the Government who work harder
than the head of the Treasury. Aud as
one of his subordinate officers said,
"The worst Of it is, he expects every
body else to work" The same officer
continued Manning is great big
fellow, full of blood aud as strong as
horse. He can sit up all night at his
desk and be as fresh as daisy next
morning, but We can't stand it," Mr..
Manning has no respect for Old-time
methods, or official hours. One day he
asked for a certain report to be made
out. A chief of division told him that
he would begin the work next mOrn-
ing, as it was then three o'clock in the
afternoon. The Secretary looked at
him for moment and calmly said, ~
must have it in the morning." and he
got it. 1t is certain much more activ-
ity is displayed now than ever before
in the discharge of business at the Treas
ury. 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 snnoyances of
place hunters. He finds time, however,
to come down into the East Room at a
certain hour, three times week, and
shake hands with several hundred
callers. Some amusing and character
istic incidents occur at these public re-
ceptiOns. Guests are not all willing
to pass Mr.. Cleveland with the con-
ventiOnal "How do you do" Many of
them are intent on exchanging a few
words for memory's sake. AT his last
Handwriting young girl said to him
81 was prohibitionist, that is why
did not vote for you" "Well, 1 fol-
give you," said the President with a
smile. His last caller was an old lady
who said, at is refreshing to see and
shake the hand of Democratic Pres
ident, but" with emphasis, "you want
a wife" The President said he knew
it, and with her good advice ringing i'm
his ears, went upstairs to work.