Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1885-07-11
QUE WASHINGTON LETTER.


tt'rom Our Regular Correspondent)
Evidences accumulate daily thaf d
new and better governmental era has
dawned upon the country, and that
the hope for n surar and more bnsi-
ness like administration which ex-
pressed itself in the election of Cleve-
hand will not be disappointed.
1t 10 safe TO say that it has been
long time since the laws were so thor
oughly studied and so honestly enforced
as they now are, while the present gen
Grafton sees for the first time sincere
endeayor to check extravagance and
the williul waste of the peoples money.
The Government receipts and ex-
penditures for the month OF June 1884,
and 1885, are significant as showing
how far administrative reform affects
the balances. For the month of June
1885, the receipts were 81 ,l57 ,ei5-55;
June 1884. $26, 1872 OSS30; expenses for
June 1885, $l5,255,65S11; June 1884,
sI6,116l1390 The increase of re-
ceipts can largely be placed to the in
creased vigilance of the customs ser
vice, under the spur of the new ad-
ministration, in preventing frauds in
differentiation. The reduction in
expenditures OF over eight hundred
thousand dollars is the immediate re-
suit of the initial passage of the Jack
sonian broom OF retrenchment and re-
form through the Federal service.
The claim made by the Democrats
in recent canvasses that 1t was high
time to have look at the books has
been abundantly sustained. In every
department., and in almost every bu-
reau OF the Government irregularities
are coming to light. Secretary Man
ming is overhauling the Internal Reve-
nue. Bureau, recognizing the Bureau
of Engraving and Printing and re-
ducing this charity hospital to bust
ness principles, and he IS breaking up
the ring which has iilched the fifty
millions or so from the Treasury de-
partment by undertaking their inn
portations. The Agricultural depart
ment has been overhauled with results
disastrous to the regulations of mealy
mouthed Loring, and his subordinates.
The land grabbers have been checked,
and on every hand evidences OF reck-
lessness, and extravaganza are coming
to light The last bureau to be heard
from is Coast Survey, the accounts OF
which are under suspicion and inves-
tigation by the Auditor. The whole
some feeling now is that all these in
vestigations will be honest ones, that
the innocent will be indicated, while
the guilty will not be whitewashed.
For such is Democratic reform.
Since the reorganization of the Blu
reau of Engraving and Printing over
two hundred persons have been dis
charged without their loss being felt
either in the quality or quantity of the
work done, and at saving of over
100000, per annum. How can this
be? The explanation is easy. Con-
gress places in the hands of the chief
of the bureau nearly million OF dol
lars annually, with absolutely no re-
strictions. The bureau was filled
with clerks many of whom are as
sisting the others to do nothing. Fif-
ty or more were discharged, and s70,-
00O, WAS saved at one swoop. One
matron and nine assistants were en-
ployed to protect from theft the clothes
in the dressing room of the female as
sistants to the printers. These ten
people read and gossiped all day, and |
drew their salaries on the first of the
month. Now two women pass oc-
casionally through the dressing room
and the same result is attained. Eight |
lazy colored men sat on bench in
the corridor. Now only one is left to
tell the tale. The Treasury Depart
ment corridors also were thrOnged
with idle messengers, so much SON.
fact, that it became subject OF COM
plaint to the Secretary. Now the eff
fieiency of few is increased by the
discharge of many.
The new administration is a little
raw as yet, has not got its hand in, but
in the initial work of four months
there is promise for the forty and four
to follow
July 9TH, 1885.