Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1885-03-21

4
WASHINGTON, March is, 18S5.-l
Tlie new administration with its new
broom has been set mp for twelve
days, and Is yet nobody knows
what 1t means. The most radical
and revolutionary order set issued is |
that breakfast shall be served
promptly at eight o'clock, and that
the new president win expect every
man about him to eat his hash at
that hour.
Notwithstanding the presence of
the new broom, the White House
has q very uncIean appearances; in
deed, il looks more Hike the Augean
stable chan It has ever looked before.
No wonder. During the last week
it has. been over run by such q herd
as was never before seen in Wash
ington. All the departments and
the hotels have the same unclean
appearance. ] have heard that
Cleveland has been throwing cold
water ON the Office seekers. Unjust
have surprised their bodies very
much. and if soap had been added,
it would have done them real good.
We have been waiting and watch
ing for a manifestation of the much
advertised reform, but besides the
discharge OF, four clerks by President
Lamont, l mean Mr.. Cleveland,
there has been nothing to stir or
ripple the monotony of Washington
life. The White House and the De-
partments are daily thronged with
applicants for Office. Senators, ex-
Senators, representatives and ex-
Representatives and hundreds OF
bankrupt Democrats, from the
north and west are beseiging the
departments for clerkships for them
selves or friends. Many of them
came to the Inauguration on limited
tickets and have consequently had
to leave, but a large proportion have
arrived SINCE the fourth of March,
and will stay till they starve or until
they can beg their way home.
The policy Of the new administra-
ton IS to feel its way very carefully
in the matter of appointments lest
it should cast its foot against a stone.
The Republican senate sits in men,
ance of folly, and to see that moth
ing is done to the detriment of the
republic. Mr.. Cleveland and his
cabinet doubtless realize that any
unfit nominations, or those made in
defiance of the tenure of Office act
will fall short of confirmation. It is
this that makes them cautious and
slow.
But the rush for the places has
not slackened in the least. Appli-
cants plead approximately, and the
entire administration is engaged
much of its time in hearing the pa.
triots. The latter are willing to sac.
rifice themselves on the altar of their
country in all the various capacities,
from cross roads postoffice to the
Berlin mission. Many Of the Office
seekers collect daily in the Senate
galleries to await Presidential nomi-
nations. They take no interest in
the proceedings of the body, but sit
and look anxious and hungry.
Inventors will be glad to learn
that the acting Commissioner of
Patents has inaugurated reform in
his department favorable to their in
terests. It is notorious that work in
the Patent Office is greatly in ar
rears, and that applicants for patents
are often compelled to wait eight or
ten months before their cases are
touched by the government exami-
ners. Now the employees are prohib-
tied from reading newspapers during
Office hours, they are permitted only
half an hour for lunch, and are re-
CURED to work of nights in the OFF,
ces when business is behind.
Mr.. Blaine's visit to President
Cleveland the other evening was not
an unexpected one. He had asked
for an appointment to suit the Pres
ident's convenience, and had been
invited to come at five o'clock, the
hour when MIR. Cleveland would be
least likely to be interrupted. The
two men met then for the first time
and shook hands cordially, as if they
had not been opposing candidates in
the late severe conflict. Mr.. Blaine
congratulated Mr.. Cleveland, ex-
planned his absence from the city on
Inauguration day caused by the
death Of his sister, talked brilliantly
Of men and things, and when he re- |
tired the President asked him to
come again, remarkiDg that they
we're near neighbors. Mr.. Blame
has not been to the White House
since the winter Of 1883. At Miss
Cieveland's Saturday afternoon re-