The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-05-13
WASHINGTON.
The Administration on New Tack.

The Administration on New Tack.
A GENERAL BELIEF THAT THE OFFICES
ARE AT LAST LIKELY TO BE FILLED By
DEMocRATs-How THE DEPARTMENT
CLERKS CAN WORK WHEN THEY HAVE
To-THE NEW PENSION BUILDINGS.
From our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, May 12.-It is believed
that the time has nearly arrived for some
sweeping and cleaning in the government
offices here and elsewhere. Republican
office holders who have been huggIng the
delusiye phantom of hope. now wish they
had something more substantial to an>
chor to. Things have occurred during
the week that have shaken them up con-
siderably and made them remember the
many political crimes of their depraved
partisan lives. The Chicago postmaster
was gwen his walking papers in very
temporary way. Chief Clerk Nimmo.
the statlstician of the treasury departs
ment, who during the last campaign was
so skillful in making figures lie, has been
dismissed Democrats have been an,
pointed to a large number of postoffices,
and as l remarked, it is believed that the
long prayed for reform in the personnel
of the civil service has begun, and it is
to be hoped it will not stop soon.
The smoldering democratic impatience
has broken out into fierce flames in
places. There was conference held at
Willard's hotel last night which was much
talked about today. There were present
democratic senators, representatives, and
prominent citizens from Michigan, Wis
consin, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Ken
lucky, Virginia and elsewhere, including
several members of the national demo-
cratic committee. The discussions were
lengthy and earnest. 1t was urged that
President Cleveland and nearly all his
cabinet have refused to remove republi-
can otficeholders, even on the ground of
offensive partisanship, and that through
ont all the departments there were repub
licans who had voluntarily contributed
their time and money to the republican
campaign, but yet they were not only en>
couraged to remain, but it was deemed
offensive to even suggest their removal 4.
After an interchange of views, it was
generally agreed that if the administra-
ton continued to keep republicans in of>
fee, the president should be gently in>
formed that he must look to the republi.
cans in congress for support.
The president has told us" said one
H.
servative in these matters. did not un-
derstand that we carried the last election
on possum policy. We made straight
out fight and won. Whose was the vice
tory? This thing of keeping republicans
in office because they might feel hurt If
removed, may be the sort of politics they
have in heaven. but it won't do on
earth"
The latest democratic outrage" is
found in the announcement that the
clerks in the pension office did more work
during April than in any previous month
in its history, the increase amounting to
an addition of nearly one half, with the
same force as before. There has never
been any doubt among well informed peo
pie that the average amount OF work
turned off every day by government
clerk fell far below not only what he
should accomplish, but also what the EN-,
ploye of any private establishment would
have to render on penalty of dismissal fol
inefficiency, and this change in the pen
sion office demonstrates the fact. The
trouble was, that under the spoils system
| the political striker" who forced his
patron TO give him place in one of the
departments, knew that he could keep il
so long as his nenator or representative
| backed him, even if he were. lazy anc
negligent, and so he had no incentive &c
| do his best. Now, on the other hand
the clerk is well aware that he is watched
by a critical eye. and that incompetency
will lead to bis discharge, and so he goe.
to work in the same way as a man who
wants to keep his place in private busi'
ness establishment. An incidental ele-
ment in producing this better showing i:
the operation of the civil service law
which has been the door through which ;
considerable percentage of the presen
employees in the pension Office reached
their desks. and which has thus sensbll
raised she level of ability
The new pension office building i!
nearly completed. Four rooms on the
| ground floor, southeast corner, are al
ready occupied by wagon loads of docu
ments and stationery, as the work of NOV
ing has begun. This building is 400 fee
long by 200 feet wide and four storie
high 1t has an immense area or cour
yard, large enough for several cir
cuses to exhibit on. Four great bricl
pillars, about twelve feet In diameter, rul
from near each end of the court yard to
height of nearly 100 feet, as supports +
the iron bridges which form supports t
the iron and glass roof. Balconies extern
around the inside of the edifice SO tina
clerks can pass from room to room out
side, and so that the thousands of visitor
can look down into the court yard. II
the largest brick building in the world
Thirty six millions of bricks have bee
used in its construction. Eighteen hun
dred clerks will be employed here in th
pension department alone, and each wi
have plenty of light and air. Not anothe
public building in the United States com
pares with it for comfort and solidity.
is built of brick, and iron girders an
bands, so that it is virtually knitted to
gether. The foundations are plante
more than 40 feet below the surface
More than 100 workmen are now engage
here putting the plastering and flcorin
to finish. 1t is to be ready for occt
pancy, the lower floor, this month, tn
others early in the summer.
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