The Washington critic., 1885-08-10
THE OFFICIAL MIDSUMMER.

THE OFFICIAL MIDSUMMER.
Because midsummer is not an active
and bustlng season in large cities, be-
cause the President and n portion of his
Cabinet are absent, and because part OF
the host of olllce.seekers is departing.
there seems to be a disposition to infer
that the remainder of August and the
first two weeks of September are to be
weeks OF phenomenal dullness and in
activity in Washington. The logic that
leads to such conclusion is not sound.
Cities in this latitude are not likely to
be very gay at this season, and WASH
ington has never been so in the past;
but there does not appear to be single
reason for anticipating less activity
than usual at this time Of year, and
there are many reasons for expecting
more than the ordinary amount of life
and hustle.
OF late years every effort in the De-
partments, during May and June and
early in July, has been made to wind
up pressing business and prepare for
the midsummer holiday. With the ad-
vent OF August, public business was
brought as nearly to a standstill as
practicable, and general exodus began
ia which officials OF every grade took
part.
This year there is great difference.
Everything else las been subordinated
to tho disposition of offices, the recep-
tion OF callers and instruction in new
duties. The work, instead OF being
closed up for the summer, is more
pressing in its demands than before. All
the notifications of methods, and
harmonizing Of details, consequent
upon change of management, remain
to be put into effect.
1t is scarcely.an exaggeration to say
that the business activity of the Depart
ments has increased with the departure
Of the President and his advisers. With
Fridays departures the possibility Of
appointments to most branches OF the
service was temporarily taken away
and the fear OF removal was to some ex-
tent relieved. The result is to leave an
opportunity for closer application to
the really important work of the De-
partments. In some instances the
heads Of Departments will be in their
places at short intervals, in others they
leave their duties to the care of subor-
dinates fully as competent and better
drilled than themselves.
The Treasury Department, for ex.
ample, is as fully equipped for the
transaction OF important business when
Assistant Secretary Fairchild is ener-
getically presiding and keeping others
up to his own high standard of in.
dustry and activity as when Secretary
Manning, beseged by callers, is ac-
complishing little himself, and delaying
the action of others.
In all Of the Departments there is I'M
portant and long neglected work to be
disposed OF. In each of them the force
during the summer will be twice as
great as usual at this season. Never
before has the number of leaves OF
absence been SO small. At the Post
office Department the mill will grind
with its accustomed rapidity. At the
Navy Department thorough and search
ing investigation will be burrowing
into every bureau and office.
Instead of being the dulest, the next
month may be one Of the most active in
all matters Of departmental work, eX-
cept the demoralizing industry Of place.
making and place-filling. Outside OF
the Departments there IL much to keep
and to attract people here. The city
has never been without many attrac,
tions as a place OF summer residence OF
visit, and these have all developed and
strengthened with its growth and OK,
panding beauties.