Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1885-05-02
OUR WASHINGTON LE1TER.

(From Our Regular Correspondent)
The last week has been about che
first smile of spring that Washington
has enjoyed since the peculiar vernal
weather that favored President CIeve-
lands Inauguration. The parks, lawns
and shade trees have resumed their
garb Of green and the Capital city
never looked brighter and fresher
than it does now. Since many thous-
ands OF shade trees have grown to an
outrageous height. Washington has
much improved AS summer resi-
dence, and it IL we'll il has. for the in
dications are that it will be, for the
next four years at least, the enforced
summer nome OF many who have
been in the habit of spending the hot
season in the mountains or by the sea.
Heretofore Government clerks have
been given an absence of thirty days
with pay, with the privilege, FREE
quently, OF thirty days more without
pay. 1t has been their custom to leave
their desks for this long period no
matter how much their work was be-
hind. In this way the public business
has been neglected. A long summer
vacation, and perennial systematic
laziness has had the effect to place the
public service in such a laggard con-
dition that it is now necessary to work
of nights in order to catch up.
1t is said that the new administers
ton will curtail the customary sum
mer vacation, or deny it altogether to
those in offices and bureaus that are
behind with their work. The presi-
dent proposes to spend the summer
in the city. He will live in the presi-
dental cottage at Soldiers Home.
which is about three miles from the
White House, and he will drive in
every morning. His new horses have
Just been received from New York;
they are an excellent pair. and. it is
said, can trot a mile in three minutes.
/ think society is doomed to be very
much disappointed in President Gleve-
land. Society has piped to him. but
he will not dance. He politely parties
all her mealy-mouthed overtures.
Last night box was reserved for him
at an amatuer operatic performance,
in which a large number of young So
ciety people took part. The president
was expected but he did not appear.
Had he been sent for, he would have
been found in his Office in his shirt
sleeves before pile of papers. He
has been expected at Il number OF pla-
ces, but invariably disappointed those
who expected him.
In this respect he is quite different
from his predecessors. Lincoln, Grant,
Hayes and Arthur were frequently
seen at the theatre and at both private
and public entertainments. The pres
ident has made but one call, that upon
w. w. Corcoran, Esq, si&ce he has
been in Washington.
The new Administration has gone
to work in practical, thorough, COM
prehensive way to make such changes
in the management of the public bus
mess as will facilitate its transactions,
save time and money. and better ac-
commodate the immense number of
people who have dealings with the
Government. This is the beginning
of an already we'll defined and what
promises to be an exceedingly ener-
getic and successful policy. 1t is also
a matter of the first importance to
which little if any conspicuous atten-
ton has been given for several admin
istratlons past
The Republican party, like an old
tenant, had become careless of its
trust, and had allowed the property to
run down, as it were, or at least to go
unimprOved. 1t was comfortably
fixed, in full possession of the patroi,
age and power of the Government.
with what it seemed to think was an
indefinite lease in prospect.
That both the need and the room,
for reform existed, is made evident By
the number of important steps in that
direction which the new administra-
ton is already taking and others
which are contemplated. The doc
trine of 4letting we'll enough alone"
to which its predecessor adhered, is Il
loose and dangerous doctrine. 1t is
believed that by the time the various
plans of reorganization are perfected
which the heads of the departments
have in view, the offices will be filled
acceptably to the party, and the salar-
les attaching to them will be honestly
earned.
Washington, April q, 1885.