St. Landry democrat., 1885-04-18
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From Our Regular correspondent
April 9Th, 1885.

The Senate has adjourned, but man
Senators with their families linger i
Washington and enjoy the beautifu
spring weather which came promptl
on the first day Of April. The crocuse
are IN bloom in the parks. The shad
trees are putting forth their leaves, ant
the detestable English sparrows are Al
numerous and as nasty as ever, in spite
OF the systematic and desultory efforts
That haves been made to exterminate
them. Fashionable Washington is on
wheels, or in the saddle, and unfashion-
able Washington too Old fashioned
pedestrianism is in danger of becoming
lost art. The miles of concrete pave
! mentfurnish such skating rink as no
other city can afford, and children of all
ages, shades, colors and conditions live
on roller skates from early morning to
late at night. Then there are cycles.
bicycles, tricycles, and quadracycles, to
say nothing Of the old fashioned vehi-
cles that have horses for motive pow
er. This is indeed peculiar city, and
every succeeding year seems to draw
more sharply the contrast between the
pleasure loving, easy going Capital, and
the great commercial and manufacture
ing marts Of the New World.
1t is expected that Washington, not |
WlthsJanding the absence of Congress,
will continue to be the center of politic-
al interest during the summer. The
president and his cabinet do not expect
to go on trip to the Yellowstone, or to
Long Branch, nor will they cruise along
the Atlantic coast in government yes
sci. They will remain in the District Of
Columbia, giving close and personal at
tention to their several departments.
and setting an example to the thousands
OF cleBks who have been in the habit of
absentlng themselves during the sum-
mer, to the great and serious detriment !
of the public business. There is a great ]
deal to be done in all the Departments
before they can be reduced to their :
original purpose of Offices for the trans /
action OF the business of the great ma 9
tlon. This work has been planned; it 9
has been undertaken, but it cannot be- :
successfully cOnsummated without the v
strictest supervision Of responsible q
heads. 4 do not think it can be done =:
without corps of subordinates in ac- 4
cord with the principles and purposes re
OF the administration. A very large p
number of the idle, useless, obstructive =,
parasites in the government offices must S,
pc, will be, cast out. Civil service re- Xxi
form will become by word and hiss q
ng unless this is done. But this alone h.
will not do. There are hundreds of
others in government employ, who ev
lave no sympathy with the new men 70 70
md new methods. They are not alto nr
sether idle or incompetent, but they are cr
reatures OF routine, and vessels of cii
malice. They would hate nothing it; ~
Eorse than to see the present admins to
ration succeed. They live in ideal ex- wa
2, Looping and praying for the return so
the republican party four years wi
ence. Can the new administration aw
ather fruit from such thorns and this. del
es as these7 q oL
That the president was wise in not POI
rpecting too much in the way of con- 10
rmation of his appointments by the rea ,.en
epublican Senate the sequal has prov ma
!. The Senate adjourned leaving q in 8
ore Of the 40 whom he had nominated pos pos
lconfrmed. The significance Of this nal
'Rlect is apparent. Republican lead age
9 have been completely nonplussed wit
dsaiarmed at the wisdom, temperance nnt m9l
d judgment with which Mr.. Cleve- spa, nts
1d has begun his administration. ina
ley have seen in one short month the pert
fatation of their auguries of demo- sseas noes
ltic blunders and crimes. They have achi
70 their political capital of stale stage ness
> go down in calm sea. They have case
llized that they we're on the point of 'o1 :
coming practical democrats by ac-
Iescence in the nominations and noli- "
Of q thoroughly patriotic administra- frier
Q. The situation was embarrassing. ed b
the throughly confounded body Of daGq, da e
politicians put their heads together bIoo,
'aucus and said We will adjourn and Legi
out of this, lest we stultify our re- grea1
q, and commit particide. Glsng :
ss--- start
60, at tn