The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1885-04-01
From our regular Correspondent.
Washington Letter.

Although nothing dramatic has occurr-
ed at the White House, on Capitol Hill,
or at the Executive Departments in the
last few days, succession of events has
made the situation here decidedly inter-
esting. President Cleveland's important
nominations were all surprises. He Sc
lects men whose names have not been
publicly canvassed, and who have not
been urged for place by their friends.
Among his last appointments were Mr..
Porter, of Tennessee, for Assistant Sec
retary of State, and ex-Representative
Atkins, of Tennessee, for Commissioner
of Indian affairs. Michigan was recog-
nized through Mr.. Montgomery for Com
missioner OF Patents. Kentucky was ac-
corded the important trust of First Comp
troller of the Currency in the appoint
ment of Mr.. Durham, and the keystone
State" got good place, Mr.. Hay, of Pitts
burg, being nominated for First Assist
ant Postmaster General. Mr.. Hay is too
sick, however, to enter upon the onerous
duties of office. He has started for Flori-
da to recuperate his health, leaving the
former incumbent in charge. Official
and clerical Washington is in a state of
CONSERVATION. Reform has begun in
the United States Treasury, and the ex-
ample will be followed in all the other
Government Departments. The Treasury
is the most unwieldly, cumbrous and ex-
travagant of all the Departments, and
Secretary Manning leads off in the good
work by appointing commission of in
quiry into the the methods of conducting
business Tlis means slnnlitica tiols
anu Improvement Of methods, and a
great reduction of the official and clerical
e u. ~ -
Quoted by committee of three Treasury
officials, one of whom is the recently ap-
pointed Assistant Secretary, who is a
Democrat, another is Republican and
the third is an Independent, who voted
for Cleveland All of them are strong
advocates of Civil Service Reform. They
expect to be engaged about a month in
the inspecting of the various branches of
the service, where there are twenty-three
hundred employees. 1t is thought their
work will result in the dismissal of one
fourth of this force.
The new broom is sweeping in quiet
sort of way in other quarters. In the
Department of Justice seven superfluities
were cast off yesterday, and Secretaries
Endicott and Whitney have already
taken steps to inform themselves as to
the efficiency of their officials, and the
workings of their departments.
OF the seven members of his official
household, Secretary Lamar seems to be
the Presidents favorite. Scarcely an
evening passes that he. does not make a
visit to the White House, and Miss
Lamar, the daughter of the Secretary, is
to be Miss Cleveland's guest at the Ex
ecutive Mansion for the next few weeks.
AS the Secretary of the Interior is wild
over, his daughter is to do the honors of
his home in Washington.
President Cleveland has not yet at
tended church in the city. So much was
said about his intentions in this respect
and so great a rush was made by the
eager curiosity hunters to attend the
church where he was expected to appear
that he modestly determined to remain
at home until he ceases to be regarded
as sight. He wants to attend church
quietly and unostentaciously, like any
other man. III
Speaking of the Presidents callous-
ness to the opportunities of office-seek-
ers, it may be said that the pressure of
influence has failed to dictate single
important appointment. So far, entrea-
ties from interested parties have done
more harm than good and there are
place-hunters here now.who regret that
their applications for appointments are
attached to long petitions with numerous
signatures.
New applicants come to the city daily,
however, in considerable numbers, and
many of them have perfect faith in the
potency of Endorsements. Ayoung DEM
ocrat from one of the rural districts
showed his much signed petition yester-
day to friend, saying he was anxious
for the President to see his papers as
soon as possible. The latter replied, ''It
would be fatal to your hopes to show
your backing. The new administration
resents every thing of that kind as an
encroachment upon its functions. Go
home and wait for the, country to call
you" "But," protested the expectant,
III want the President to see how strong
II, 7 nm, ondorcad for tha offica I want .,