Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1885-05-30
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.

lFTOlA OuI hcSuldh SOAiSSEOhuChI.l
To those who expected grand and
startling transformation scene as soon
as Mr.. Cleveland was fairly in Office
the present condition of things is very
Disappointing. But to those who know
that startling transformation is not
necessarily reformation, and that the
latter can only be attained through care
full and well considered action, there is
much for encouragement The mag
nitude of wholesome changes that
have taken place is known best by
those who will never tell it. All the
Republican clerks in all the Depart
ments are working better and accom-
plishing more, drinking less, paying
their old debts and enjoying better
health than ever before They are
doing more work because the Secre-
taries of the different Departments
have given them to understand that
idle clerks will be discharged, and
have emphasized their meaning by
turning some idlers out. Their inn
proved health is attributable to the
fact that orders have gone out that alb
sence on account of sickness will be de-
Quoted from the thirty days summer
vacation that has been given Govern
ment clerks. This order has had such
a healthy effect that absence from al
lodged sickness has declined fully one
hundred per cent. Indebtedness and
drunkness have declined because it is
understood that decency, competency
and honesty will be insisted upon by
this Democratic administration. These
reforms are best known by the Repub-
lIcan clerks themselves but they are
kind of reform that reflects but little
glory upon them or their party. No
rogue will boast that he has been
whipped into honesty venture to
predict that in about nine months
from now, when the work of the first
year of the new administration can be
reviewed, very favorable showing
will he made and it will be found not
only that a larger amount of work has
been done, but that it has been ac-
complished more economically and |
with smaller force In month |
from now it is believed that very inn
portant changes will have been made. |
It has been found impracticable to
make these changes as rapidly as WAS
desired owing partly to the lack of ac-
quaintance of Mr.. Cleveland and his
Cabinet with the routine and the per-
sonnet of the DIFFERENT bureaus, and
partly to the conflicting claims of the
many applicants for Office. But the
necessary to intelligent ac-
lion is being rapidly acquired and it is
reported that extensive changes will be
made about the 30th, of June.
No department of the Government
mas been worse mismanaged than that
1f Agriculture. The late commiss-
oner spent his time from June to No
1ember making speeches for Blaine
md the new Commissioner appointed
1y President Cleveland found that
s13S was the expended balance left
him for carrying ON the Department
or three months, or until the appro-
,riations of the next fiscal year shall
become available.
How this state of affairs has been
brought about is easy to see. There is
10 doubt that funds-have been used to
promote the election of the Republi-
an candidate for the Presidency.
For the purpose of currying favor and
aiming votes, the salaries of employees
n various States have been largely in
reased. Thus, in one instance, a man
n the statistical department out in
Kansas, had his salary raised from 4
800 to $4,000, while his chief in the
'ureau at Washington only gets ST.
co. This wholesale distribution of
he funds of the department for polit- 6
al purposes soon ran away with the +
and to this as much as
. any other cause the bankrupt con-
ition of the Agricultural Bureau is c
0 be attributed. The original intent i
{ Congress in appropriating money r
Or the distribution of seeds was to !.
NY rare grains beyond the reach of
rdinary agriculturists and SO distrib- I
tie them as to improve the character
our crops. Instead OF this, however
1e recent commissioner bought for
zee distribution ordinary seeds to be :
,und in every seed store in the coun- a
". The true character of these com O
ION seeds was hidden under high i
,unding names, and they were sent
Y Congressman broadcast throughout 7
leir districts for the purpose OF max h
,g votes. For the last five years the O
nreau has not introduced a single :;
ew grain of any value, nor hiss it
1ne one thing to aid the true interests u
agriculture. D
Washington May, %, 1885, F