The Pascagoula democrat-star., 1885-03-20
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular Correspondent.

1t is plain that in the Presidentia
chair, around If, or behind it, there
is mind and IL will. | will no
say that certain fiery reformers ar
happy in the realization of theil
impatient hope. And 1t must b'
said that those most in need Of re
formation, have taken new heart
and hold; but let all wait with pa
tience, and prayer, and they will,
think. see the glory of the new dis
pensatiOn revealed, with the exul
talinh of the right men, aud prin-
ciples - with the confusion oi
thieves, and mouey changers who
have so long preyed upon the sub
stance of the country,
There is an old Latin maxim,
feStiRG lente, hasten slowly, and this
seems to be the rule of the new ad-
ninlstrati6n. Reform was very
properly begun at the White
House. -Four clerks swept from
Office with one swOop of the new
broom. Five thousand dollars per
year, and much desk room saved.
The example was taken mp in the
Treasury department were Secre-
tary Manning has discharged forty
useless employees from one bureau.
Secretary Lamar has first applied
bis broom to the stables adjoining
the Interior department. For years
of Republican ascendancy car
riageS and horses have been kept
at extravagant expense in all the
departments, and have been used
not for the public service, but for
tue convenience of the families of
public officials. The fine equipage
that has been used to convey la
dies to receptions late at night, has
been ordered to be sold and the
seven persons who have been car
ried OH the pay roll as drivers will
no longer have even the Semblance
OF right 10 dra v their unearned
pay roll as drivers will no longer
even the Semblance Of right to
draw their unearned pay. OF
course this is only II beginning.
In all the Departments, and in all
the bureaus, aud subordinate Off
ces supeItiuOuS clerks are stun
bling over one auOther. Turn the
loafers out and then it will be easier
to bind the rascals. Twenty thou
sand employees can be discharged
with result OF positive improve,
mcnt, aud expedition in Govern.
ment work. Get your little pencil
aud multiply $2O,OOOby 81, 800, and
you will have an idea, but not a
full one, of the amount that will be
saved for you have not taken into
account the Office room, and lurni.
ture of this vast army.
1t is not necessary to say that
there is much uneasiness and alarm
in all the departments. The re-
duction Ot the clerical force IN an
flank movement, and il
has set thousands of clerks qnak-
ing in their luxurious siuecureS.
"Turn the lolferS ont" is new and
terrill ing sound.
There are many SiraTs indiea,
tive OF a new era. An Or'ler has
been issued TO all the employees in
the Patent office that there sbal!
be no more reading or talking dur.
ing Office hours, and those classes
and divisions which are behind |
with their work must work after
office hours until it is brought up |
to date. The Patent office has
been conducted in Il lax aud Slat-
Irrnly way. In some CLASSES of in
Vention, as textiles, harvesters,
stoves and furnaces,
household furniture, builders hard
ware, surgery, etc, the Patent OF.
ice Examiners are from three to
Twelve months behind with their
work, and applicants for patents
nave frequently to wait six months
~ II year before their cases are
aiken up. The recent order indi-
,ates that the new administration
will Introduce a new order OF things,
lOt ouly in the Patent office. but in
)ther branches of the public ser
fice.
The rush of Office seekers has
lbated, aud the new administra
ion has more time to address it,
'elf to wOTk. 1t is fact much
on hero that very few
have come from the
south, and that mauy have come
rom the Northern aud Northwest.
,rn Republican States. Since the
President has announced that he
will not hear applicants for office
Dersoually, but will refer all appli-
;atiOns to the proper Cabinet Off
'ers, be has been little troubled.
There will doubtless be important
banges made, but policy aud good
business management would re-
Iuire that they should not be made
ntll after the most careful deliber-
tion, and thorough study of the
eeds, and abuses of the service.
Any person acquainted with affairs
Iill know that the work will be all
he better done for the caution that
rOcedes its inception. b. o. r.