The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1885-04-30
Washington Letter.

WASHINGTON, April "a, 1SS5.-The
president has at last given public re-
ception. If it was.notsa ''swell thing" it
was at least sweltering, for the Their
mometer had taken a sudden leap to-
ward the nineties and ladies caught in
their winter wraps found little rivulets
of perspiration coursing along their ex-
quisitely kalsomined cheeks. The re-
ception was a thoroughly democratic
one, and was attended by many old res
idents who had not set their foot In the
White House since the last bachelor
president left it twenty-five years ago.
If Queen Victoria or Sheba had been
the expected guest, the White House
could not have been more beautifully
prepared and decorated than it was for
the reception. The government con-
servatOries had been stripped of their
floral wealth to decorate and perfume
the grand east room. The president
worked his arm like a veteran. He has
been president long enough to have got
ten his hand in, Once in the midst OF
the performance, after he had shaken
1892 hands, he called for glass of wa
ter, or at least it looked like water, and
thus refreshed, he resumed his labors
and finished with a round six thousand.
The belief is very general that we are
on the eve of very important changes
in large number OF government Off
ces. The new cabinet has now been in
office long enough to become acquaint-
ed with some of the more fragrant
abuses of power long practiced by the
party of moral ideas, President CleVe-
land desires reform, and the introduce
ton of honest business methods in the
transaction OF the government business.
Does he expect his cabinet and heads of
bureaus TO bring about reforms
through the same agencies by which
frauds and corruptions have been crea-
ted.
Why did Mr.. Cleveland select new
cabinet officers, and democrats, too?
Simply because he desired and the
country expected that the true and
tried friends of the principles and poll
cies upon which a majority raj
lied to his support and secured his
election should be selected to assist him
in executing that trust according to the
decree.
Do not the same reasons exist why
the agencies through which these poll
cies are to be carried out should be
equally positive, equally above suspi-
cion.
The departments are filled with spies
and enemies. The heads of bureaus
are fettered by subOrdinates doggedly
opposed tothem. There is one remedy,
and that was announced in the cam
paign and accepted by the people
Turn the rascals out"
Frauds have been perpetrated, syndi-
Gates for the purposes OF plumber and
robbery have been formed, have grown
strong, and still exist under the same
subordinate officers who gave them
birth, nourishment, and strength.
Take the western states and territories.
Millions of acres OF lands have been
fraudulently entered, stolen from the
government, actual settlers dsfrauded
and rings formed for plumber, controll-
ed by the republican officials now in
power, aided and abetted by some dem
Ocrats, many of whom are now trying
to control and direct the appointments,
with the express purpose of perpetual
ting the same ways under another
name H. sT ct this "iaas ~ ham""rsts
are civil service reformers''-thati is.
they desire their thie7ing republican
confederates to stay in.
The many navy yards have been moth
ing better than republican political for
tresses. 1t is a fact not generally
>
maintain more navy yards than a first
class naval power. These navy yards are
now receiving the especial attention OF
Secretary hitney, and in future cleo
tons the republican party will be shorn
of this powerful element Of political
strength.
Government employees are very much
disturbed ever report that the new
administration will curtail their sum-
mer holiday. Heretofore every clerk has
been given vacation of thirty DAYS,
with pay, every summer. This vaca-
ton has been given Notwithstanding
the fact that the clerks had done little
work during the year, and that the
work in the departments was far in ar
rears. Now it is proposed to give yaca-
ton only in those offices and bureaus
where the work has been honestly per-
formed, and kept up to date. This will
be an admirable rule, as it will stlmu-
late the officers to do their work, and
make them uncomfortable places for.
habltual shirks.