The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1885-09-11
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular Correspondent.

WASHINGTON. Sept. nth, 1885.
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
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. 1t will be inter-
esting to see it written out IN full and the
amounts saved to the government added up
And yet, the good work, carried on under great
difficulties, has hardly begun. Investigations
knows nothing, but their results will be disclosed
in due time.
Its well known that the work of discovering
and reforming fraud and abuses is hindered and
frustrated by the Republican clerks who sur
round 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 If the malefactors
and their accom- plces were turned out, and sin
cere sympathiZers put in their places. The
Republican clerks are doing everything in their
power to impede the work of investigation and
specous 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 re-organized in the interest of reform
If the half that is said is true it certainly needs
it, An expense account of Commissioner Gre
CORY 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 seeping-car porters and the
walters at Ave ollars-a- y-hotels given. 1t
would seem to be straining point for reformer
to make such charges as these under the clause
of the law that provided for the payment of
necessary travelling expenses" If a Civil Ser
vice Commissioner is to have his tips and news
papers paid for by the government, where can it
end? Why should not drinks and cigars be paid
for as well? There officials who might con-
slider these necessary travelling expenses But
fora reformer who is getting Sll.50 per day and
his travelling expenses to charge the Govern
ment with tive-cents piece for the newspapers
he reads and the two-bit piece with which he fees
servant, seems small indeed, and under the law
1t is a little short of petit larceny. Would Com
missioner have to black his boots and read II
newspaper if he was not travelling, or does he
indulge in those luxuries simply while the
road?
prominent business man and Chairman of
the Democratic Central Committee at Cleveland,
Ohio, was in the city last week. He said that
everything was looking particularly bright for
the Democrats in that State. Hoadly carried the
State by l20OO majority two years ago, and he
thinks he will have at least 10000 this time. 1.-THE
Democracy" he says. us united and harmonious
They appreciate the Importance of success, and
Mount Gilead, that the Republicans have next
TO nothing to stand on except the bloody shirt
issue. This has become tiresome and a large num-
her of Republicans, who are disguised with their
party, but who do not exactly 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 be in the city before the end of
the week. Secretary Whitney is expected at the
Navy Department to-day. Secretary Manning
at work; Nobody knows where Secretary Lamar
is, or if he does know, he will not tell. He stole
away last week and it is supposed that he is en-
joying brief rest within easy reach of the Cabi-
net table. Post master General Villas has tele-
graphed that he is on his way East. Attorney
General 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.