Chariton courier. (Keytesville, Chariton County, Mo.) 1878-current, 1885-04-24
WASHINGTON LETTER.
lFrom our regular correspondent
Washington, April 10, 1885

/ w NaSHtuStOn, ApTu lbs 1000
1 do not think it exaggeration tC
say that many of the government
offices in Washington have accom-,
plished more work in the last month
than was accomplished in any two
months of the preceding year. l say
many of the offices, for someof them
have not done much for the reason
that there is not much for them to
do. A large number of the offices,
owing to negligence, Idleness, and
incompetence of the clerks, are far
behind with their work. This is es-
pecially 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 no longer.
From the president down to his
last appointment, the personeI of the
administration is capable of hard
work and it has evidently this object
in view more than pleasure, emolu-
ment or fame. The cabinet of the
new president are not men with itch
ing palms. They are men of suffi-
cient wealth, or rather men to w3om
their wealth is sufficient. So it is
with the recent bureau appointees,
a gentleman whose fortune is not
less than $50, 900 was last week ap-
pointed to an office in one of the de-
partments, the salary of which SON.
lY 5000. He did not need the Of
fee but the office needed him.
Heretofore the staples of recon-
mendation for Office have been pov-
erty and patriotism. He needs the
Office, he has a large family and was
a good soldier. No question as to
fitness is considered. and thus the
civil service has been made an ele-
giant and lucrative asylum for incom-
petent, disabled soldiers and dishon-
est Republican politicians. 1t is
needless to say that this is perver-
siou of the object of government
offices, which have for their end the
transaction of the postal, military,
naval and financial business of the
entire country. The United States
and bounty laws have paid
with a lavishness unparalleled in his
tory for the service which every man
owes to his country and 1t is time
this false philanthropy and sentimen-
tai craftsmanship of appointing men
to offices they do not need and are
20 fill, should end.
There arc great many office-seek-
ers in the city at present. The old
crowd that came here on or about
the fourth of March is pretty well
out. Some of them linger
because they can not borrow money
to get home. "A new crowd has come
in the last two weeks. There disap-
pointment and chagrin on learning
the situation of affairs is picturesque.
All applicants are handed copy of
the civil service law and blank ap-
plication for examination. The pres
ident does not consider any applica-
tons for small offices and none will
be made until after the first of July.
The new administration just now
seems more anxious to empty thau
to fill offices and each week results
in the discharge of number of those
who have been kept on the govern
ment payrolls, although they have
rendered no legitimate service. If
the discharge of this class shall be-
made thorough and exhaustive, liter
al millions will be saved annually and
the morals of the service will be
greatly improved.
The daily routine of the White
House involves an immense amount
of work. Although President Cleve-
land Is relieved by much work his
secretary, Col. Lamont, yet great
quantity has to receive his personal
attention.. The president is ready
for work at 8 O'Clock in the morn
ing aud is usually busy uutil mid
night. About 10 he hegins the peru
sal of such letters as require his per-
sonal attention. The great bulk of
the letters marked personal and
.sconfdentiaI' Is never seen by him.
They are from all sorts of people
and on all sorts of subjects. Many
of them are of a character that would
seem to entitle the writer to a place
in lunatics asylum. It IS not un-
common for these writer's to send
ten and twenty letters, and some of
them enclose their photographs.
These letters are culled and placed
on the eccentric file. Not more than
eight or ten letters per day receive
the special attention of the president.
A Remarkable Escape.