New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-05-20
MIR. Villas WINS APPLAUSE.
HOW DEMOCRATS LOOK UPON HIS LETTER.
ISSUED AFTER MATURE CONSIDERATION By THE
cABINEr-rHE WORK OF REFORM" TO BEGIN

icy TELEGRAPH TO THE TEIDUSE.l

IssrIFD AFTER MATURE CONSIDERATION BIZ THE
c.nrNrr-rHE WORK OF "REFoRM" TO BEGIN
SOON.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIpUSEl
WASHINGTON, May 19.-"Nllas MADE Dianheu
fool Of himself when he wrote that confidential letter.
said veteran Democrat to-day Or course 'no o",oo.
be had in view was all right but there was no neen Oh
His issung confidential circular on the subject" An
other Democrat who has been in public life many years
said: at do not share the opinion ofsmen VINO resai
yilass letter. aud especially the publication OF H. Us
bad blunder On the contrary, consider tne uocHen
wise production, and the publication OF IT. II he man
aged It, as shrewd movement on the part OF Was 'uS
remember the situation Of affairs when the letter WIS
written The Administration had been beset Tor weeks
by importunities for the removal OF Republican omce
holders and complaints because changes were not aoe
more expeditiousy. In some quarters LINE oiSsa"so
ton had become great as In the opinion Oh some
Presidents advisers, threaten party disaster NO" INC
President. as well every member of his Cabinet is
thorough Democrat who wishes, above all things TO pro-
mote the success Of his party But OF course ne desires
also not to ALLEVIATE the Mugwumps IL he can aVou III
and ever since he took his place at the helm DO mas AeP
his weather eye open for Mugwump breakers. Wlthiu
the first month he several times put on ntue D'ore
party sail simply to test he seaworthiness OF Ms admin
istraton The Higgins experiment. several OF the Ne"
England appointments the Kelley episode, the removal
of scores OF officers the Consular, Internal Revenue
and Customs service all experiments ana each ono
was successful In one respect The protests IL cseu
from tue Mugwumps were weak and innocuons out 'no
fact that the experiments were treated by the
newspapers as exceptions-were temporary alterations
OF the Administration, so to speak-c0nyneed tue Frosi
dent that something broader and more comprehensive
was necessary not only to test the fidelity OF the Mug
wump recruits. but also to show our leaders hat the
Administration means business.
The circular Of Mr. Villas not Issued until after
the subject had maturey considered by the Pres
Na1f al al faRf w IN
objects: Firstto draw the fire OF the Mugwumps II they
had the spirit and courage to open ONE and second
convey an official assurance to the ana
senators party that Republican oncehoiders are To
be removed that in the selection OF their successors
the wishes and recommendations o. Congresseh ana
other Leaders OF the IaTty are 10 ne regareu ne p
has succeeded admirably Inc Muswumps nave IoaIed
gently as sucking doves so nst Tue rresd n e
In regard offices which he may deem necessary 10
adopt aud at the same time the IN our own
relieved By bold stroke OF two serious sources oil EN-
barrassment and hereafter the Work Of Milling the oces
with men who are an iuil aecqr9 WIN Tue party IN power
Will proceed smoothly and swiftly.
the oninons and observations Just quoted find support
among many Democratic politicians In Washington, and
Mr. Villas who had become very unpopular among many
men o. his own M n week IL Is understood that there
were several Cabinet discussions before the issue OF the
confidential circular by Mr. Villas and that considerable
dierence Of opnion over the Ditiatory step sec
retary Lamar II IL said was m0re than willing TO begin
operations by making clean sweep IN the Interior De
nartmeut and turning out only all the officers in the
Pnbc Lands service ani Indian service, hut also by
removing. rs specify Us PIhcsUaVe' al III
piScss This plan, advocated with much force aud
eoquence and it is asserted with Tie countenanve and
sssstanea OF secretary Bayard Secretary Manning and
Atornev Garland II Is further asserted that
this scheme OF reform was postponed only until the
hegnning of the fiscal year, July l. and that II Will
then be carried operation In az least two the
ecutve departments-the Treasury aud Interior; lhe
removal ON Yesterday by Secretary Manning OF two
fanl and efficient clerks who belonged in classes pro
tected 10y the civil Service law-and one OF whom lost an
arm nv n rebel bullet while he serving the Union
soderin aicates that he u anxious to carry out the
scheme in his department without waiting for the end OF
the Success of the policy. in party Will
depend largely upon certain notifications oI the civil
service rulea Which, IL seems, under c0nsdera
lion Inv sue eminent civil service refOrIners Daniel
Manning Nicholas Be. Eugene Higgins, Daniel McCon-
VILE and General " Sparks