New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1885-03-25
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Washington. March 81, 1885,

w ooAlASSOHs AdICu Il, 1000
The new administration with its new
broom has been set up for seventeen
days and as yet nobody knows what it
means. The most radical and revolu-
tionary order yet issued is that break
fast shall be served promptly at eight
o'clock, and that the new president will
expect every man about him to eat his
hash at that hour.
Notwithstanding the presence of the
new broom, the White House has very
unclean appearance; indeed, it looks
more like the Augean stable than it has
ever looked before. No wonder. Dur
ing the last week it has been over run
by such herd as was never before seen
in Washington. All the departments
and the hotels have the same unclean
appearance. If cleanliness is next to
Goodness, then indeed must the Demo-
cratic party be in league with the D-l.
[ have heard that Cleveland has been
throwing cold water on the office seek
ers. 1t must have surprised their
bodies very much, and if soap had been
added, it would have done them real
good.
We have been waiting and watching
for a manifestation of the much adver-
tised reform, but besides the discharge
of four clerks by President Lamont, I
mean Mr.. Cleveland, there has been
nothing to stir or ripple the monotony
of Washington life. The White House
and the Departments are daily thronged
with applicants for office. Senators,
ex-senators, representatives and ex-
representatives and hundreds of bank
rupt Democrats, from the north and
west are besieging the departments for
clerkships for themselves or friends.
Many of them came to the Inauguration
on limited tickets and have consequent
ly had to leave, but large proportion
have arrived since the fourth of March,
and will stay till they starve or until
they can beg their way home.
The policy of the new administration
is to feel its way very carefully in the
matter of appointments lest it should
cast its foot against stone. The Re-
publican senate sits in menace of folly,
and to see thai nothing is done to the
detriment of the republic. Mr.. Cleve.
land and his cabinet doubtless realize
that any unfit nominations, or those
made in defiance of the tenure of Office
act will fall short of confirmation. Il
is this that makes them cautious and
slow.
But the rush for the places has moi
slackened in the least. Applicants plead
UNFORTUNATELY, and the entire admins.
tration is engaged much of its time in
hearing the patriots. The latter are
willing to sacrifice themselves on the
altar of their country in all the various
capacities, from a cross roads postoffice
to the Berlin mission. Many of the
Office seekers collect daily in the Senate
galleries to await Presidential nomina.
tions. They take no interest," in the
proceedings of the body, but sit and
look anxious and hungry.
Inventors will be glad to learn that
the acting Commissioner of Patents has
inaugurated reform in his department,
favorable to their interest. It is noto-
rious that work in the Patent Office is
greatly in arrears. and that applicants
for patents are often compelled to wait
eight or ten months before their cases
are touched by the government exami-
ners. Now the employees are prohib-
tied from reading newspapers during
office hours, they are permitted only
half an hour for lunch, and are requir-
ed to work of nights in the Office when
business is behind.
Mr.. Blaine's visit to President Cleve-
land the other evening was not an un-
expected one. He had asked for an
appointment to suit the Presidents con-
venience, and had been invited to come
at five o'clock. the hour when Mr..
Cleveland would be least likely to be
interrupted. The two men met then
for the first time and shook hands cor
daily, as if they had not been opposing
candidates in the late severe conflict.
Mr.. Blaine congratulated Mr.. Cleve-
land, explained his absence from the
city on Inauguration day caused by the
death of his sister, talked brilliantly
about men and things, and when he re-
tired the President asked him to come
again. remarking that they were near
neighbors. Mr.. Blaine has not been to
the White House since the winter of
1883. At Miss Cleveland's Saturday
afternoon reception, Mrs. Blaine and