Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1885-03-13
HE SnOilS

WAsHINGToN, ID. C., March 1l.-Office-
seekers have taken Mr.. Cleveland at his
word. The effect of the announcement that
applications must not come directly to the
| president, but through the cabinet, was seen
when the departments opened this morning
Pressure on the White House door was sud-
| denly relieved, but the outer offices of the
secretaries showed that the importunate
mob had not left Washington.
Every member of the cabinet
held a levee. and when the hour of closing
came round petitions and Endorsements
were stackedup before them in great heaps
Mr.. Villas bore the brunt of the rush The
morning mails brought 1890 letters on no
other business than applications for post
offices. These could be thrust aside. but
the petitioners who had come in person
could not be disposed of AS easily, SO great
was the rush Of personal presentation of
claims for postmasterships that five men had
to be detailed from other divisions of the
department; 10 assist Mr.. Mari and Mr. Ma
than Smith the clerk and the assistant clerk
Of the first assistant postmaster general of
the department. This office handles all pa
pcrs relating TO postofiices and prepares
the commissions. Additional desks
were rugged up, and the clerks were. as Mr. I
Cox. of New York, would say. las busy ~ I
the bees when the buckwheat blooms" Mr. 4
Villas stood in his room and went through I
the ordeal Of callers as well as could be ex- 4
pected. He stood like patience on mon .
ument" and smiled-but not like Shake ,
speare's patience was be, smiling at grief .
he WAS smiling at hope. the hope Of his call .
eTs to get places for themselves or their
friends. At one time there were so many
United States senators IN the qnte-room
that a looker-on thought roll call would
show quorum. None were let IN except
by card and senators were not excepted in
this rule. In the course Of the day there ar
rived from the White House wagon load
of applications for postofiiccs, which had
been sent u the president direct Their
showed that they had only been
sorted out that they might
be sent 90 the departments. No other atten-
ton had been paid TO them. NJ. Villas said
they would be filed away and reached in
regular order. To-day the heads OF the
bureaus Of the department notified him that
heir designations wers at his disposal when
ever he wished 10 appoint their Successors.
They were requested to remain until the
postmaster general made up h> mind. One
# the -isitors - the department to-day vino
attracted 4 good deal of attention was ex-
Mooney. Of Mississippi, w''o
wanted Ia be postmaster general quite bad
y. Mr.. Haiton dropped in t. smile SYM
upon his successor To sll who
anne Mr.. Villas was very pleasant, but indef-
Mite Several congressionai delegations
allied, but they got no mon satisfaction
han the individuals did.
Secretary Villas added that there WAS no (
ioGbt that Mr.. Cleveland would hold the
ahinet responsible for their every act, but
would have ncihin. - do with the offices.
Oar policy i Vet 70 he determined. he
aid, but | think il will be a vigorous one"
This l. the most satisfaction anybody got
Politicians about the hotel lObbies. discuss !
ng their visits 10 the various departments,
ii tell about the same story. Nothing can
'e gotten 81. aud all are uncertain and dis
atistied. They ind that Il Is absolutely i'm
'ossible 10 hurry things. and no man feels
ny certainty a. - what i going 10 be done
Democratic congressman SIRE packing up
nd going Of on every train, though most OF
hem leave private arrangements for their
eturn here in the course Of five or six weeks.
here is some understanding among the
-ell-po,;ed that the fewest possible changes
re 10 be made until the crowd leaves and ,
ne excitement incident to the inauguration I,
past.