New Ulm weekly review., 1885-06-24
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Washington. June 10Th, 1ss;

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The sessions of the Charity Congress,
school commandments by the dozen.
with music, flowers, premiums, medals
and declamations; the accident to the
Washington Monument, and more vic
tors with more spoils are among the
weeks happenings in Washington.
| Since the Monument was struck by
lightning, Col. Casey has been receiy-
ing communications daily from every
part of the country giving advice and
suggestions for the protection of the
structure. Probably every lightning
rod agent in the country has written
about the peculiar advantages of his
rod, urging that it be placed upon the
Monument to insure its future safety.
Many of them evidently believe moth
ing has ever been done to protect the
shaft from thunder-bolts. The scient.
lists who examined the Monuments in
juries agreed that its present electric
apparatus is in perfect condition. They
deem it advisable however, to provide
additional collective points for the
lightning to strike. During the present
week, the damages to the eapstone will
be repaired, and the new rods will be
added. There will then be twenty-nine
lightning rods on the top ofithe raonu-
ment. Every morning, shortly after
tour O'Clock now, a groop of people
gather on the stairway at the west
front of the Capitol, to see the first rays
OF the sun fall upon the Monument.
Striking the aluminium tip of the shaft,
they make it sparkle and radiate for a
few minutes, sometimes like silver
star, and sometime like a brilliant cleo
! trio light, then the dazzling brightness
disappears.
| Now that Gen. Grants relics are in
possession of the Government, the
Grant museum will be oae of the most
interesting features Of. Washington.
The collection comprises about two
hundred articles, many of which carry
associations that will enahar them to
the nation. There is demand for their
exhibition at the earliest day practlc-
able, and it has been suggested that a
room in the National Museum be set
apart for them Immediately. Greater
facilities will be required to insure the
safety of the articles than the mus
cum now possesses. Congress will no
doub, gladly vote an appropriation for
fire and burglar proof eases in which
to exhibit such interesting and valuable
gifts of the country's most distinguish
ed soldier.
The periodical rumors of discharges
in the Executive Departments is again
current. 1t is said that accompanying
the half monthly pay, numerous of en-
pioyes will receive the dreaded '.yellow
envelops." The new fiscal year begins
the first of nexih month, and wethcr
the ''clean sweep so much talked OF
will occur on that day or not, Govern
ment employees look forward to it with
great anxiety. DeMbt!ess there will be
many changes. and dismissals. Mem
bers of tile Cabinet have requested the
heads of bureaus in their respective De-
partments to make list of clerks that
can be dispensed with. or whose places
can be filled by alleged Civil Service
appointments. Besides the first of Ju-
ly is the date for the regular biennial
revision Of the Blue Book, and the new
powers will endeavor to have the names
of as many new officials and employees
ready for it as possible.
1t is evident the office hunters think
there is. to be general onslaught upon
Republican Office holders at the close
of the current fiscal year. The city is
full of the same men who came here at
the time of Inauguration.
President Cleveland's inexperienced
Cabinet officers. and all of them may
be said to be inexperienced in the ad.
ministration of public business, have
been laboring hard during the pas,
three months to get some insight inte
the details of their Departments. Moth
withstanding their official ignorance
they have entertained some novel ane
original ideas with regard to the trans
faction of business and have tried to in
ftroduce them IN their several Depart
: ments. They have failed completed,
: in some instances, for their are certain
systems of routine which will have t
: be adhered to under any aud all ad
ministrations. The new officials ar
impressed that they must do some
thing different from their predecessors
something, no matter what, and do
- 4s q r gFl,