Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1885-01-23
OUR WASHINGTON COR
RESPONDENCE.

TALK ABOUT THE oFFICEs-sENAToR BAYARD-
THE MASSEY WISE CASE, &C., &C
Especial Correspondence of Staunton indicator
WASHINGTON, Jan. 21.-A subdued feeling
, of patient resignation seems to pervade the
various departments of the Government. The
word ''resignation' is not used in the sense of
voluntary retirement from official position, for
time has fully established the truth of the old
adage concerning Federal office holders, that
STEW die and none resign" But the lorn,
unprotected" ones who have been, ever since
the Presidential election, subject to constant
alterations of hope and. fear, have settled down
into grim determination to stoically meet
their fate, whatever it may be. If any of them
are graciously permitted to remain, these will
devoutly give thanks. If they are fated to
''go," they realize the fact that they can't help
it, and are prepared to evacuate the works
with colors flying and march to the rear in
good order.
These observations apply principally to
chiefs of divisions and other subordinate Off
Gals in the Departments, of whom there are
| several hundred. They are above the desig-
mated civil service grades, the highest limit of
| which is $1,000 per year. The salaries of
those alluded to run from SO, 900 to $2,500
Many of them have been promoted, by reason
of peculiar fitness or long experience, from
| the lower grades, and are thus placed outside
| the pale OF the law behind which the clerks
proper are entrenched. These positions are
considered as very desirable, and it is not
strange that there are many that marched in
the long defeated, but now victorious army,
| who, in the words of the old Methodist hymn,
| stand s'on Jordan's stormy banks, and least
wistful eye'' towards them. 1t is human
| nature. They feel precisely as the Republi-
| cans would feel if the conditions were re-
| versed
The fountain of political regeneration seems
to be in the city of New York, where the Civil
Service Reform Association lives and moves
| and has its being. This Association is man.
aged by George William Curtis, Everett P
| Wheeler and other evangelists, who claim to
be very near to the President-elect. They are
exciting themselves to the utmost to get ring
| will To what extent, if any, they will be
successful, cannot be known until it is devel-
| oped by the course of the new administration
| These New York Performers" have written
| comforting epistles to some of the subordinate
| officials here, assuring them that if they have
not made themselves obnoxious in the past by
| inordinate political activity and continue to
| behave themselves in the future, they need
have no fear of being molested. I saw one of
these letters received by Treasury official
day or two ago. These people-who seem to
| have accepted the name "Mugwumps' by
which the Republicans christened them in the
late campaign-evidently assume a good deal
more than they have any right to do. They
have said to Mr.. Cleveland: 'This is the way,
walk We in it /" and have taken it for granted
that he will meekly and humbly follow in their
footsteps.
Democrats are waiting with some anxiety to
know just what the policy of the incoming
President will be. Many here express the ut
most faith in his good sense, and believe he
will do what is fair and just. Some have the
feeling expressed the other day by an Alabama
Congressman, who was being importuned to
write to Mr.. Cleveland in behalf of an appli-
cant for certain position, said he: ''There's
no use in hurry1ng this thing, we have got to
wait and see whether Mr.. Cleveland is going
to be Democrat or Republican. When we
are certain on that point we will know better
what to do and how to do it,! An Indiana
Democratic member said in my hearing yes
terday: eff Mr.. Cleveland intends to pursue
the course which the straight-laced reformers
have marked out for him; I think he will make
mistake. But he is Democrat, elected by
Democrats as q Democratic President, and I
have confidence enough to believe he will be
Democrat after he is inaugurated."
MASSEY vs. WISE
The contest of John E. Massey for tho seat
in congress occupied by John S. Wise which
it is expected will be decided within a day or
two, has awakened much interest. The prin-
cipal point at issue is the eligibility of Wise,
he having been Federal Office holder at the
time of his election to congress. The parties
were candidates sat large" two years ago.
The tabulated returns gave Wise, Readjuster,
1892 votes and Massey, Democrat, 94,184;
Dawson, straightout Republican, receiving
4,342. The printed testimony and arguments
in the case are among the most voluminous
ever filed in congress They cover mere than
$500 large, closely printed pages. The report
of the committee on elections sustains the
averment of ineligibility as to Wise, but de-
clares the seat vacant, the ajority not feeling
justified in seating Massey. The minority
report signed by the Republican members of
the committee, is, of course, in favor of Wise.
The latter, who has been absent nearly the en-
tire session. is here now to look after his case.
In any event Wise, having been the de tacto
member for very nearly the entire term of two
years, receives almost 0,000 for his alleged
services.
BAYARD AND HIS FAMILY.
In one of the picture galleries on Pennsyl-
vania avenue is a charming domestic group,
consisting of Senator Bayard and his ten chit
dren-six daughters all unmarried, and four
sons Mr. Bayard is as proud of his family
old fashioned as to number-as he is of his
Democracy, and that is saying q good deal
The young ladies appear neatly, but not ex-
travagantly dressed, and present most attrac
tive picture. Senator Bayard lives in unosten-
tatious STYLE on Massachusetts avenue. His
house is, of necessity, large, and the same may
be said of his bills for spring bonnets and
other feminine etceteras. All these he pays
with promptitude and without murmur. In