The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1885-05-29
Ivfom our Regular rcousspondsntl
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WAsHfNGToN. u. e.. Nav IA. i00S.

WA6olN4ION LETTER.
WAsHlSGroS, d. e., May 10. 1886.
1t IL pretty we'll known by the editor
|and by the readers " this paper that
their Washington correspondent is no
lfriend Of the Republican Office holder.
For the last ten years have been trying
TO have him discharged, and for the last
Eight years l have considered him and
written OF him as no better than . thief,
who, like II. b. Hayes. drew the salary
|of another man. The only difference Il
that these Office holders have been draw
ling their fraudulent salaries for eight
Years instead OF four, or ever since the
voice Of the country discharged them bv
Ithe election Of Tilden. Bnt notwifh-
am anxious TO see Republican
IofIico holders 20. cannot join In the
pretty common denunciation Of the new
because II has not CON-
|pleted ite four years mission in ten
weeks. To me it appears remarkable
that so much has been accomplished In
|sn little time. and can account for the
|denunciation Of the 90 called tardiness
|of the administration only on the euppo-
sition that those who denounce know
nothing OF what task Mr.. CleveIsnd
and his Cabinet had before them. Ten
weeks ago the President found himself
at the head OF ponderous and compli-
Gated chaos OF governmental machinery
Intimately connected with the interests
Of SO, 100000 OF people and handling
$500. .000, 900 per year In the TRANSACTION
OF public business. He was without ex-
periencc In National affairs, had not been
In Washington until he came a. Presi.
dent. 1t Is not remarkable that he spoke
In his inaugural address Of the painful
sense Of responsibility with which be un-
dertook the stupendous work. II would
be very easy for him 10 dawdle:through
Ills term and pose as President like his
proper and respectable predecessor. But
the times demanded different work from
him--the work Of reforming and,simpli.
flying vast and demoraIized bureaucracy
and reducing II 10 an honest business
basis. Ten weeks have passed aud much
has been accomplished. A large number
OF the civil service bureaus have baen
filed with good democrats and with
good men. To the unreflecting million
this may hava seemed IN easy task. but
when II II remembered that the time Of
tho administration has been occupied by
OF delegations pressing rival
candidates, BY Office seekers single. and
Office seekers In mobs, sll good demo-
crnts 80 called aud beautifully endorsed.
II IL remarkable that time has been found
TO make the host SELECTIONS. Most peo-
pie, ! presume, are aware that the mere
fact 0f having voted the democratic tick
ct does not fit man for Office where be
must perform PROMPTLY and creditably .
class Of work about which he knows
nothing more than he does OF Russian
language. When Mr.. Cleveland came
into Office. the first consideration was
nsing sn old figure. TO keep the ship OF
state sailing smoothly and effectively.
making the best time end preserving the
precious freight Of men and merchandise.
Revenues had 10 be collected. The army,
the navy, pensions, the courts, and vast
civil list had to be paid; the books must
DO kept, and ten thousand incidental pro-
cesses requiring skill and experience had
to be minutely carried out. The Presi-
dent and his Cabinet and bis party were
and unex experienced in executige
affairs. They have ss yet only . gener-
81 idea OF what they have 10 do. and
what can be done. Ii IL not anything to|
the disparag ement Of many Of the bureau
officers that have been appointed to say
that they are helplessly dependent upon
their Republican subordinales In oljiceI
Tor information in the commoneet de-
tails OF their official duty. They are at
The head Of Bureaus. vast Offices employ
ing from one hundred to six hundred
cIcrks, and yet they know less than any
Of these clerks about tho routine OF fhel
bureaus.
II would then seem to be not Just the
time to discharge these clerks who. how
ever bad politically and personally. have
4 skill upon which the new Administra-
ton Will be dependent for : time, and
nothing would be more rash md ruinons|
than TO all these Offices at once with nm
skilled men. The post ofIices through
out the country are different class OIL
offices, and they are being 6lled q the
rate OF about 100 per day, o. just % rap
Idly - the Postmaster General can werk.
g. A. 6.