The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1885-04-17
The Egis & Intelligencer
Bel Air, Md, April IL, 1885.
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
Government Clerks Earning their Sal
artes-NO Appointments to small Ofn-
ces Until After July list.

ces Until After July list.
From our Regular Correspondent.
WAsHINGToS, April 10, 1885.
do not think 1t exaggeratiOn TO say that many
OF the Government Offices in Washington have
accomplished more work in the last month than
was accomplished in any two mon ms of the pre-
cedng year. say many of the offices, for some of
them have not done much for the reason that
there Is not much for them to do A large nun Der
of the Offices, owing to the negligence, idleness
and incompetence of the clerks, far behind
with their work. This Is especially the case with
the Patent, Pension, and Land offices. but within
the last month wonderful progress has been made,
and it is probable that the vexatious and uunec-
patents and pensions to despair will be suffered
NJ longer.
From the President down to his last appoint
ment the personnel of the administration Is capa-
be of bard work, and 1t has evidently this object
IN view, more than pleasure, emolument, or fame.
The cabinet of the President are not men
with itching palms. They are all men of sufficient
wealth, or men to whom their wealth is sufficient.
80 II is with the recent bureau appointees A
gentleman whose fortune is not less than $3.50 900
was last week appointed to an office in one of the
departments, the salary Of which Is only 81, 600.
ne did not need the office, but the office needed
him.
Heretofore the staples of recommendation for
needs the Office. he has large family. and he was
good soldier. No question as to fitness was con-
sidered, and the civil service has been made an
elegant and lucrative asylum for incompetent dis
a6led soldiers, and dishonest Republican politi-
clans.
II is needless to say this is a perverson of the
object of government offices, which have for their
end the transaction of the postal, military. naval
and financial business OF the entire country. The
United States pension and bounty laws have paid
with lagishness unparalleled in history for the
services which every man owes to his country,
and II is time this false phianth ropy and senti-
mental craftsmanship of appointing men TO offices
they do not need and are not competent to fill,
should end
There are great many Office seekers In the city
at present. The old crowd that came here on or
about the 4th Of March is pretty well thnned out
some OF them lingering because they cannot bor-
row money to get home. But new crowd has
come IN the last two weeks. Their disappoint- |
ment and chagrin on learning the situation OF
affairs Is picturesque. All applicants are handed
copy of the civil service law, and blank appli-
cation for examination. The President does not |
consider any appointments for small offices, and |
none will be made until after the first of July
The new administration seems more anxious Just |
now to empty than to fill offices, and each week
results in the discharge of number of those who |
have been kept on the government pay rolls |
vice. IL the discharge Of this cass shall be made |
thorough and exhaustive, literal millions will be |
saved annually. and the morale of the service will
be greatly improved.
The daily routine at tho White House involves
an immense amount Of work. And although |
President Cleveland Is relieved of much work by
his Secretary, Col. Lamont yet great quality
has to receive his personal attention. The Pre-
sident is ready to work at eight O'Clock in the
morning, and is usually busy until midnight -
About III O'Clock he begins the perusal OF such
letters as require his special attention. The great
bulk of tho letters sent to the President are mark
cd personal" and CONFIDENTIAL" but is never
seen by him. They are from all sorts of people
and on all sorts OF subjects. Many of them are of
10 place in lunatic asylum 1t is not uncom-
mon for these writer's to send ten and twenty
page letters, and some of them enclose their
photographs. These letters are carefully culled
and placed on the eccentric file and not more
than or 10 letters per day receive the special
attention of the President