Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1885-09-12
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
trrom our Regular Correspondents,

tF'rom Our Regular Correspondence
President Lincoln used to say that
he looked under his bed every night
for concealed Office seekers The
present Administration, perhaps takes
the same precaution. But it has also
been looking over and under the desks
and books so long held by the truly
too good Republican party and the
day that some long concealed fraud Is
not discovered is an exceptional day.
The list has now become so large that
it can not well be carried around in
ones mind. Il will be interesting TO
see it written out in full and the
amounts saved to the Government
added up. And yet, the good work
carried on under difficulties has hardly
begun. Investigations are new in
progress about which the public knows
nothing, but their results will be dis
closed in due time.
It is we'll known that the work of
discovering and reforming fraud and
abuses is hindered and frustrated by
the Republican clerks which surround
the new Administration on all hands.
How can they allow, much less assist
with enthusiasm, the work of their
overthrow, and how much more could
be accomplished il the malefactors
and their accomplices were turned
out, and sincere sympathizers put in
their places. The Republican clerks
are doing everything in their power
to impede the work of investigation
and discovery. They are fertile in
excuses, and specious explanations for
the members of their party who have
gone wrong.
| am told, ON what seems to be
pretty good authority, that the Civil
Service Commission is likely to be
recognized in the interest of reform
If the half that is said is true it GER
tainly needs it. An expense account
of Commissioner Gregory has just
been made public which shows that
this reformer, when he travels, charges
the Government for the newspaper he
reads and the tips" which-the sleeping
car porters and the waters at five
dollar-a-day hotels are given. 1t would
seem to be straining a point for re-
former to make such charges as these
under the clause of the law that pro-
vided for the payment OF necessary
travelling expenses" If Civil Ser
vice Commissioner is to have his
''tips" and newspapers paid for by the
government, where can it end? Why
should not drinks and cigars be paid
for as well. There are officials who
might consider these necessary travel
ing expenses. But for a reformer who
is getting $11.50 per day and his trav-
cling expenses to charge the govern
ment with five-cents a piece for the
newspapers he reads and the two-bit
piece with which he fees a servant
seems small indeed, and under the
law it is little short of petit larceny.
Wouldn't the Commissioner have to
black his boots and read newspaper
il he was not travelling, or does he in
dulge in those luxuries simply while
on the road
A prominent businessman and
Chairman of the Democratic Central
Committee at Cleveland, Ohio, was in
the city last week. He said that every
thing was looking particularly bright
for the Democrats in that State.
Hoadly carried the State by 1900
majority two years ago. And he
thinks he will have at least 10000 this
time. "The Democracy" he says, ais
united and harmonious. They appre-
ciate the importance of success, and
the people see, since Sherman's bad
freak at Mount Gilead, that the Repub-
cans have next to nothing to stand on
except the bloody shirt issue. This
has become tiresome and a large num-
Der of Republicans, who are disguised
with their party, but who do not ex-
actly wish to vote the Democratic
ticket, will vote for prohibition"
The return of the President to
Washington will be the signal for an
exodus from the watering places. 1t
is expected that all the members of
the Cabinet will he in the city before
the end of the week. Secretary Whit
nev is expected at the Navy Depart
ment to-day. Secretary Manning has
returned to the Treasury Department
and is at work Nobody knows where
Secretary Lamar is, or if he does
know, he will not tell. He stole away
away last week, and it supposed that
he is enjoying brief rest within easy
reach OF the Cabinet table. Postmas-
ter-General Willis has telegraphed that
he is on his way East. Attorney Gen
eral Garland has left his farm and log
cabin in Arkansas, and is on his way
to Washington. Secretary Bayard has
not been absent except on Sundays.
WASHINGTON Sent z 1898