The Russellville Democrat., 1885-05-07
Washington Correspondence.


 them have not done much for the reason that there IS not much for them to do. A large number Of the officers, owing to the negligence, idleuess, and incompetence of the clerks, are far behind wlth their work. Thus is especially the case with the Patent, Pension, and Land offices, but within the last month wonderful progress has been made, and it is probable that the vexatious and unnecessary delays that have driven applicants for patents and pensions to despair will be suffered DO longer.
 From the president down to his last appointment, the personel of the administration is capable of hard work, and it Is evidently this object in view, more than pleasure. emolu ment. or fame. The cabinet of the new president are not men with itching palms. They are all men of sufficient wealth, or men to whom | their wealth is sufficient. So 1t IS the recent bureau appointees, gen t!eman whose fortune is not less than Sl50,000 was last week appointed to the office in one of the departments, the salary of which is only S300O. He did not need the office, but the office needed him.
 Heretofore the staples of recon mendation for office have been poY- erty, and patriotism. He needs the office, he has large family, and he was a good soldier. No question as to fitness was considered, and the civil service has been made an ele- gant and lucrative asylum for lncon- petent disabled soldiers, and dishon- est republican politicians. It is needless to say that this is perver ion ef tue object of government of- fees. which have for their end the transaction of the postal, military, naval, and financial business Of tue entire country. The United States pension and bounty laws have paid with layishness unparal.ed in his tory for the service which every man owes to his country, and 1t IS time this false philanthropy and sentimental statesmanship of ap- pointing men to offices they do not need and are not competent to fill, should end.
 There are a great many oillce seekers in the city at present The old crowd that came here on or about 1 March the 4th, are about thlnned out. Some of them finger because they cannot borrow money to get home But new crowd has come Tn the last two weeks. Their disappoint ment and cbagrin on learning the situation of affairs is picturesque. 1 All applicants are handed q copy of the civil service law, and blank ap- | plicatian for examinatlons. The president does not consider any ap- pointments for small offices, and none will be made until after the 4th of July. The administration seems more anxious just now to empty than to fill the offices, and each week results in the discharge of number who
 
 have been kept on the government pay rolls, although they rendered no legitimate service. If the discharge of this class shall be made thorough and exhaustive, literal millions will be saved annually, and the moral Of the service greatly improved.
 The daily routine at the White House involves great amount oi work. And although President Cleveland is relieved of much by hls secretary. Col. Lamont, a great quan- tity has to receive his personal at tention. The president is ready for work at eight o'clock in the morning and IS usually busy until midnight. About ten o'clock he begins the De rusal of such letters as require his special attention. The great bulk of letters sent to the president mark ed Apersonal' and confidential 7 are never seen by him. They are from all sorts of people and on all sorts of subjects. Many of them are of character that would seem to entitIe the writer to a place in luna tic asylum. It is not uncommon for these writers to send ten and twenty page letters, and some of them ea close their photographs. These let ters are carefully culled and placed on the excentuc file, and not more than or ten letters per day receive the special attention of thc presi 
 dent.
 An occasional howl of rage in the Republican morning paper amour ces that the officlal head of Re publican worker has fallen into the place of wailing and gnashing of teeth. but as yet this good work has hardly begun. There will be more of it anon and If the Republican pa per is going to howl about such a little thing as chopping of official heads, 1t will have to issue double sheet and an extra edition.
 Some Democrats are impatient at the delay in dIscharging q class of Republicans who are notoriousy unfit for their places; but these should reflect that 1t requires time to select the proper substitutes, and consider the tremendous diff. culties that confront the Admins tration. Therc are knotty legal