The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1885-03-25

From Our Regular Cbrsspondess.
WAsHrzGToS, March 20, 1885.
The new broom does not
sweep rapidly enough for the throng
of Office seeking patriots who Saided
Washington about three weeks ago.
Disappointed spoilsmen shake the
dust of the city from Their weary
feet, and sadly turn their dejected
noses towards their distant homes.
The discomforture OF the place hun
ter gives some relief to the Cabinet
officers who have been under hot
siege since the fourth Of March
Even the Postmaster General has had
perceptible respite from callers dur
ing the past few days The appl-
cations for postmastesships, howev-
er, do not fall off. They rather in
crease. In the office of the clerk to
the first Assistant Postmaster Gener-
al, with an extra detail Of assistants,
it is difficult to keep up with the
work of briefng and filing appica-
tions.
President Cleveland evidently pre-
fers for office the quiet men who
kept comparatively in the back
ground. Those who have advertis-
ed their merits with delegations,
have been left out every time. The
last list of nominations sent to the
Senate created more surprise and
more disappointment than any ap-
pointments yet made. The names
which had figured on the states were
all absent from the list. This fact
has operated very discouragingly
upon those who have been devoting
every day and every hour to their
claims.
Among the most important nomi-
nations were Mr.. Hay, of Pittsburg,
to be First Assistant Postmaster Cen
eral. Mr.. Montgomery OF Michigan
to be Commissioner of Patents, and
Ex-Representative Durham of Ken
lucky, for First Comptroller of the
Currency. The defeat of Phil.
Thompson for Commissioner of In
ternal Revenue, by Mr.. Miller of W.
Va, was surprise to many; and a
real shock to his friends, who had
strenuously urged him for the place.
They say they will not suggest his
name for any other place now since
his ability and claims are not ap-
preciated by the new powers.
The acting Commissioner of Pat
ents, Mr.. Dyenforth, did not hesitate
to express surprise at the nomina-
ton of his successor, since he claim
ed that the Commissiopership had
been offered to himself b. both the
President and Secretary Lamar.
Through the dilatoriness of the
Patent examiners, the office
is shamefully in arrears, and
Mr.. Dyrenforth recently began re-
form by requiring night work in the
offices that are behind with the busi-
ness of the department. This will
now be kept up until the work is
brought up to date, which, from the
present energy displayed, will be in
about three months. This fact will
be gratifying to inventors whose
patience has been severely tried by
the delays in the issuance OF their
patents.
Wednesday was President Cleve-
lands torty-eighth birthday, and he
varied his daily programme by TAX
ing a two hours drive with Col. La
mont, behind pair of ex-President
Arthur's horses. The retiring Presi-
dent kept ten horses of his own at
the Executive stables. all of which
he left FOR the use of Mr.. Cleveland
until the latter should make provis-
ion. Mr.. Arthur has called socially
on President Cleveland during the
week and attended his official recep-
ton. Since his retirement from Of
fee he has been the guest of ex-Sec-
retary Freylinghuysen, and a recip.
lent of constant attention from So
ciety people without regard to party.
President Cleveland will give an en-
tertainment in his honor next week.
Secretary Whitney has begun an in
vestigation of the Navy Department,
and Secretary Endicott proposes to
turn things over in the War depart
ment. He has requested the Adju-
tant General of the Army to furnish
him with a complete list of all the
officers on duty in Washington. He
asked what duty each one is author
lied by law, and the exact time each
has been on duty here.
The Higgins appointment has
proved to be very embarrassing to
the administration. Besides the
odorous scandals that accompanied
his appointment, one charge is that
hestuffed the ballot box in mayoral-
ty contest of 1875; another is that
he imported voters into Hamard
county in 1879, and another is that
he is actively engaged as lobbyist
at Annapolis. A certain Southern
Senator says that Higgins owes It to
his party to resign, but a Baltimorean
who knows the Higgins'es remarked
that though they may die they nev-
er resign. The Baltimore Civil Ser
vice Reform Association is expected
to come here to-day and petition Sec
retary Manning to remove Higgins.
If he does not consent, they will
probably appeal directly to Presi-
dent Cleveland.
Awarded $4,000.