Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-01-30
FRESH FROM WASHINGTON.
Col. Ben wilson Back from the Ma.
tiOnAl Capital.
An Interesting Chat About Matters Of
Current Comment at the Seat
of Government.

Col Ben wilson dropped down on the
town yesterday from Washington City,
where be has been sojourning for four or
FIVE days past, looking at the lay OF the
land, politically and otherwise. and sizing
up the possibilities and probabilities Of the
incoming administration.
A REGISTER reporter ran across the genial
statesman from Harrison, in the rotunda of
the MeLure House, last evening, and asked
bow things were looking at the seat OF gov
eminent.
Washington seems to be unusually quiet
Just now" said he THE applicants for
place are scarcer than at any time within
nv recollection. The time Of the Republic
can administration is now so short that
members Of the party in power realize that 1t
IsS'r WORTH WHILE
to struggle for an Office which they may
have to yacate in q few weeks or mouths,
while, on the other hand. there is just
enough of uncertainty and doubt as to who
will be who under Mr.. Arthur's successor
to deter Democrats from shieing their caps
into the arena
What seems to be the opinion among
those in government employ regarding the
application of the civil service law? Viii
there be anything ike clean sweepf"
mo, / think not. Of course, heads OF
bureaus and that class of officials natural
ly expect to make way for friends and sup
porters Of the new administration sooner or
later, but there is large class of experts
and specialists who have little or no fear OF
being disturbed. Many ofthese people have
held Office for more than q generation. i
recall one-the Second Assistant Secretary
of State-Eho was appointed BY Andrew
Jackson ffty-four years ago, and another
gentleman in the Postoffice Department
who also obtained his position under old
Hickory 6fytwo years ago. Some others
were appointed under Harrison Taylor,
Pierce and Buchanan, and have been al.
lowed to remain undisturbed by the Re-
pubHcans, growing gray in the service.
Scores of others came into Office under Lin
coin and Johnson-men who have
TAKEN no ACTIVE PART
in politics, and who were only intent upon
disehargiug their duty to the government.
These, as a matter of course are secure"
What is thoughtof the coming Cabinety
"Well, there is a good deal of talk, but it
is very largely nothing but talk. There
seems to be some ground, however, for the
general belief that Senator Garland will Sc
cure q seat among the Official advisers of
Mr.. Cleveland. Senator Bayard, also, is
generally locked upon as lhe coming Sec
rotary Of State. His publicly expressed
opinion that it would be well not to embar-
rass the incoming administration by the
passage Of the Nicaragua treaty is looked
upon as being an intimation that he would
succeed Mr. Frelinghuysen."
viii the Blair bill become law2'
1T is difficult to forecast the result in
Congress. The friends Of the measure ap'
pear to be confident Much opposition to
il comes from men who approve of it in q
general way and have no doubt that IL
would be very beneficial to certain sections
of the country, but who deem it danger
Gus precedent" =.
What do you think of business revi,
Talg'
II think the clouds are breaking away.
The present situation is anomalous.
Financial trouble and embarrassment in
THE BUSINESS WORLD
are usually due TO some marked causes, ike
thoughts, or bad crops, or through the bal
ance of trade being unfavorable for long
periods, but the present season Of depres.
sion seems 10 have its origin in
something very different. We are
in the midst of plenty; our
crops of all kinds haze never been larger
the supply Of food and raiment IS greater
and cheaper than they have been for many
years, and yet our business men and manu-.
facturers complain, our workshops are idle
OF working on short time, and our srtizans,
mechanics and laborers are In want The
trouble seems to be a general want of con.
fdence, brought about, very largely, by de.
falcations, general dishonesty, stock gam
bling, speculation, and things of like na.
ture. But think there has been a marked
improvement lately, and hope the uphill
movement will continue"
Col Wilson will remain in the city for
several days