Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1885-03-24
our WASHINGTON LETTER.
IFrom our Regular Correspondent.
WASHINGTON, March 10, 1885.

LII Is Salu tnaU Jne IIcSluent ia
avowed determination to adhere no
only to the letter but 20 the spirit o
the civil service reform law, and tina
all appointments to office hereafter t
be made by this administration shal
be in accordance with civil service
requirements. There is, however, {
very grave danger that the thimble
rigging Republicans politicians who
have thus far evaded the enforcement
Of the law in the retention of an army
of incompetents in every department
of the government, will find it not at
all difficult to produce reasons enough
to prevent any considerable number
If changes for the coming four years
of Democratic management. What
want to see, and what the country
expects to see, is thorough renova-
ton in the governments Offices every
where, and the administration of its
affairs placed in the hands Of those to
whom the people look for the fulfill
ment of our repeated pledges for re-
trenchment and reform.
Among the first things that Pres-
dent Cleveland should see to is the
Introducing Of some of the customs
and habits of American civilization in
the State Department, which under
the snobbish Frelinghuysen has be-
come nest of foreign lackeys and
gilt-edged nummery The idea that
anybody is important enough to make
it absolutely essential that he should
be retained in Office, should now be
etfectually exploded. If through the
opportune visitation of a pestilence,
the last one of these State Depart
ment clerks should be called hence, |
will wager horse that somebody or
other will be found to fill their places
and fill them acceptably too. Old
John Davis has surveyed and PEREZ
grinated through every administers
ton for half a century as Assistant
Secretary of State. And Hunter, an
other assistant, has kept a grip on the
poy-roil for almost two generations.
Yet the Republicans declare that the
Department of State will go to pieces
unless these two antiquated speci-
mems of senility are preserved thro'
another administration.
In the War Department, which for
four years has been ostensibly under
the guiding hand of that mighty man
Bob Lincoln, there will be found a
lot of venerable barnacles who have
gfded down to us from a former gen
Grafton, and who found their way into
position at time when competency
counted but little beside the potency
OF political influence. In this partic-
ular department, my mind reverts to
all old fellow who has for his tenants
like score of officials, one
OF whom is the chief of the division
IN which the old chap draws his reg
llar rations of $500 per annum.
liis property at the Capital is worth
OF thousands of dollars, and
many poor devil is now waiting in
VAN to get some recompense for the
sacrhccs he has made to secure the
oustlng of Just such old cormorants as !,
.hls lie Is only one of the hundreds 6
81 other bloated bondholders and real t
Estate spectators who live in Wash G
ngton and figure upon the govern
nent payroll year in and year out !
through all administrations. i
John Quincy Adams became a q
member of the Lower House of Con. t
yress after having served term as
resident of the Unite States, be- Il
,ause, as he declared, the one posi-. i,
ion was equal IN every way to the a
'ther' Now, however, we have Con- Ii
sressmen and reverand Senators who
re not only willing but anxious to :
erve their country in any possible or
impossible capacity, so long as thew
an have their names retained upon
lie government payroll. To-day o
ONE Of the ex-members of the re. lst
entity expired Congress are appli. \ \
ants for mental positions in the next y
congress, Just as the exmembers of n ,
revious Congress have accepted ser. :
ICE IN this. Fifty of these members
ave got to be provided for, though
by defeated candidate for re.elec.
on should not suffer the conseouen.
IS OF has own popularity is unfath.
nable. Pr" -