Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1885-04-02
WASHINGTON Letter.
(FRoM OuR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT
Washing March so, 1883.

~ SSSAAAAAS W." DSOpSA'
/ (FRoM OuR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT J
Washingo on, March 80, 1855.
1t looks as if there will be at least
genuine rctrcnchment and reform in
; the Government Offices at Washington
Even that usually serene, imperturablc
body, the United States Senate, has
caught the infection 1t has become
. alarmed at it's own extravaganza and
has decided that its contingent fund,
rs well as the secrets Of its executive
sessions, must be protected. Commit
tecmen, who had done nothing all win
ter, desired to employ clerks, steno-
graphers, messengers, and to travel
about the country all summer, stepping
at this pleasant place for q time, then
at that the expense Of all to be paid,
Of course, by the public. From time
to time the Senate had accorded these
privileges to a large number OF its
committees. Other committees asked
permission to sit daring the Congress
/ ional recess. with silsilar iavors, until
the contingent fund was threatened
with ,xE,au tion Senators grew fright
ened at Their own prodigaity, held
caucuses, had lively discussions, and
voted for retrenchmcnt. The iunkct-
ing excursions We're all nippcl in the
bud. Then it was agreed to cut down
LIST Of committees to a severely utili-
tartan standard. 1t was decided tina,
the Ben Batter house on Capitol hill
which has been used as an annex to the
Capitol. for Senatorial committees, at a
cost Of SIS 600 a year, shall be given
mp 1t was algo discovered that over
three hundred persons on the Senate
rolls are costing the government 1850
900 year, which suggested the posi-
bilitv Of saving few dollars in that
direction
That efficiency and economy are to
be the rule in the executive depart
mcnts Of the government during the
Cleveland administration has, BY this
time, been made pretty clear. There
fore il bchoovcs the legislative depart
ment, particularly that branch of it
which is under Republican control, to
tolerate no ]azlnc9s or extravaganza in !.
its domain. The good resolutions Of !
this Week were led by the Republican
Senators, and they deserve commenda-
ion for voting to reduce the nulnbcr OF |
unlerworked and overpaid employees of
their honorable, but by 10 means fra
gal, body, The thoughtful constituent,
too, will be tlatteled by Just such little
attentions to his pre- ullccs III favor Of
reform.
1t Was Arranged BIZ the Senator's that
the present extra session should close
last week, but the president asked them
to wait another week. He drires to
have all ms diplomatic nominations
as ministers and consul>
would not like to be sent to foreign
countries, without their tenure of office
being made clear aud final
Yesterday for the first time since his
President Cleveland at
tended divine service. lie entered a
small Presbyterian church on Four
and a-haIf street, under the pastorate
Of Dr.. Sunderland it is plain, un-
church. The President oc-
;upied pew which he rented . week
ago, and Tor which he paid a quarters
rent in advance. In this matter as
we'll as in other things, Mr.. Cleveland
shows originality. He is opposed to
IN church rs a side show Of
! worldly aristocratic congregation. 1t
cannot he denied that since the time
he Metropolitan church, under Rev.
John p Newman, was arranged for
he accommodation Of Gen. Grant, the
Members OF the Cabinet and the jus ,
ices Of the Supreme Court, there has /
oeen a scramble for tho place Of Court
Church in Washington.
When ey- President Arthur took his
inal departure from the city % satur
lay, large crowd Of distinguished
.oop'' gathered At The station 70 err ;