Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1885-05-22
Washington Letter.
From our Regular Correspondent.
WASHINGTON. Nav 9. 1855.

and cleaning in the Government Of
fees here and elsewhere. Republi.
can Office holders who have been
hugging the delusive phantom of
hope, now wish they had something
more substantial to anchor to.
Things have occurred during the
week that have shaken them up con-
siderably and made them remember
the many political crimes of their
depraved partisan lives. The Chi.
cago postmaster was given his walk
ing papers in very peremptory
way. Chief clerk Nimmo, the statis-
tician of the Treasury Department,
who during the last campaign was
= ,killful in making figures lie, has
Zen dismissed. Democrats have
Leen appointed to large number
of postof1ices, and as remarked. it
is believed that the long prayed for
reform in the personnel of the civil
service has begun, aud it is to be
hoped it will not stop soon.
The smoldering Democratic impa-
tience has broken out into fierce
flames in places. There was con-
ference held at Willard's hotel last
night which is much talked about to-
day. There were present Demo-
cratic Senators, Representatives, and
prominent citizens from Michigan,
Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Mis-
souri,, Kentucky, Virginia and else
where, including several members
of the National Democratic Commit
tee. The discussions were lengthy
and earnest. 1t was urged that
President Cleveland and nearly all
bis Cabinet had refused to remove
Republican office-holders, even on
the ground of offensive parlisanship,
and that throughout all the Depatt-
ments there We're Republicans W o
had voluntarily contributed their
time and money to the Republican
campaign, but yet they were not
only encouraged to remain, but it
was deemed an offense to even sug-
gest their removal.
The President has been informed
that tho greatest source of discon-
tent was the postoffices. which are
not being filled by Democrats, while
the Republicans are laughing def
ance. They blamed the President
for not demanding the resignation of
First Assistant Postmaster General
Hay and appointing an assistant
who could aid the Postmaster Gen
eral in filling the small postoffices.
They blamed the President for not
removing Republican office.holders
in the States and giving the Offices
TO the victors. After an interchange
of views, it was generally agreed
that if the Administration continued
tc keep Republicans in Office, tho
President should be gently informed
that he must look to the Republicans
in Congress for support. THE
President has told u.s." said one
Senator today, "that we must be
conservative in these matters. l did
not understand that we carried the
last election on a 'possum policy.
We made a straight out fight and
won. Whose was the victory
This thing of keeping Republicans
in Office because they might feel
hurt if removed, may be the sort of
politics they have up in heaven, bu:
it won't do on earth"
The latest " Democratic outrage"
is found in the announcement that
the clerks in the Pension Office did
more work during April than in any
previous month in its history, the in
crease amounting to an addition of
nearly one-half, with the same force
as before. There has never been
any doubt among we'll informed
people that the average amount OF
work turned off every day by Gov
eminent clerk fell far below not
only what he should accomplish, but
also what the employe of any private
establishment would have to render
on penalty of dismissal for lneffi-
cheney, and this change in the Pen
sion Office demonstrates the fact.
The trouble was, that under the
spoils system the political " striker"
who forced his patron to give him a
pllce in one of the Departments,
knew that he could keep it 50 long
as his Senator or Representative
backed him, even if he were lazy
and negligent, and SO he had no in
centive to do his best. Now on the
other hand, the clerk is we'll aware