The Press., 1885-04-02
WASHINGTON LETTER.

WASHiNG kVN LEkEEks
 Washington, D. C., March 2s, 1885.
 Tine new foreign ministers have been the chief subject of criticism and political gossip this week at the capitol. Some of the appointments were received with sur- prise, most of them with astonishmeut, and few of them with disgust from cer- tain democrat politicians, whom the policy of the new administration has begun to make sick. One of the most important nominations in the gift of the government, the British mission, goes to Mir. Phelps, an unknown quantity ill political equation. And to select him from dyed-in- the wool republican Vermont is, ia the eyes of the democratic malcontents, a violation of one of the axioms of statecraft. Senator Pen dleton's appointment was no surprlse, ex- ceLt that he was not expected to go to Berliu Gov. McLane had not been pub- licly spoken of for France, and General Williams was intended for the Mexican mission iustead of General Jackson. Last ly, Hon. L. $. Cox goes to Turkey, altho he was not expected to go any where but to congress, where he has been going for succession of terms. Mr. Cox has made no secret of his weariness of congressional life, and his new appointment is just to hls liking. . .... x.
 Some of the thwarted democratic poiiti- clans affect now to feel no interest Ill the nominations to be sent in. saying that the president is sure to name for every place some one they have never heard of before, and that the sensation of surprise has ceased to be novelty.
 It is true that many office seekers have gone home disgusted, but new ones come every day, and they cannot be said to be scarce in Washington, 80 long as one man has calls from three hundred applicants per day, as in the case of Mir. Atkins, the new commissioner of Indian affairs. Still an acknowledged Office seeker is hardly to be found They are affecting modesty. The latest method for an ex-member Of congress who is after place is to get his friends to circulate the statement that they | cannot get him to make an effort for any thing. This Is expected to be effective with the new administration.
 i The Kentucky and Indiana delegations are thoroughly disgusted at the way things are going, and the vice-president is much dissatisfied with what he deems sentiment al civil service. Malcontents are increas- ing every day, and between the tariff re- 1 formers, the incensed silver men, and the civil service anii-reforners, there threat ems to be strong combination against Mir. Cleveland and his advisers.
 A democrat congressman said yesterday ! that all this talk about President Cleve- ! land beng so independent and non-par. i tisan was sheer nonsense. Why" con- tinued he, ''this independent president is run by little clique composed of Randall, German, Manning and Hewitt. These men have his ears at all times.' It is strictly true that Messrs Randall and Cor. man call at the white house every day, and [ 1t is noticed that they never send their cards in as other people are requirel to dc. i Ex-Representative Money of Mississip- pi, who first failed to be postmaster geu. eral and then fell short of the first assist ant postmaster generals place is among those who are real mad at the president for his manner of dispensing official pa. tronage He says that MT. Cleveland is bent on satisfying his personal inclina. tions.
 Yesterday I heard republican con. gressnlan congratulate a democratic mem.
 home, saying, you have gotten your ap
 that, replied the other, but I have come
 to the conclusion that democrat has nc
 influence with this administration. Ther Mir. Randall takes every occasion to make some taunting remark to the effect tha
 only thwarted place hunters grumble fand thus the happy democratic family have set out on their four years cruise. |. In department circles tho absorbing topic is the work of the recently appointed
 treasury investigation commission. In formation as to the course to be pursued
 in reference to reduction of the clerica
 force is eagerly sought. The committed
 is considered fair and disinterested one
 but large reductions are sure to be recon
 mended.
 Y Changes in the heads of the treasury bureaus are coming one by one. The frs
 comptroller and several other importan
 officials have been superseded this week and the prediction is made that all tas
 treasury heads will be changed as rapidly
 as the president and Mir. Moaning can de decide upon their successors,