The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1885-05-01
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular Correspondent.

WASHINGTON, April 81, 1885.
The last week has been about the first smile of
spfhg verna Weaher that fayosed
Clevelands Inauguration: The parks, lawns and
shade trees have resumed their garb Of green and
the Capital city never looked brighter and fresh
err than 1t does now. Since many thousands of
shade trees have grown to an outrageous height
Washington has much improved as a summer
residence and it is well it has for the indications
are that 1t will be, for the next four years at
least the enforced summer home of many who
have been in the habit of spending the hot season
in the mountains or by the sea. Heretofore
Government clerks have been given an absence
of thirty days with pay, with the privilege. fire.
quenty, of thirty days more without pay. 1t has
been their custom to leave their desks for this
long period no matter how much their work was
neglected. A long summer vacation and peren-
nial systematic laziness has had the effect to
place the public service in such laggard condi-
ton that it is now necessary to work of nights in
order to catch up.
1t is said that the new administration will cur
tail the customary summer vacation, or deny it
altogether to those in offices and bureaus that are
b ehind with their work. The President proposes
to spend the summer in the city. He will live in
the Presidential cottage at Soldiers Home, which
is about three miles from the White House, and
he will drive in every morning. His new horses
have just been received from New York. They
are an excellent pair, and, it is said, can trot
mile in three minutes.
l think society is doomed to be very much dis
appointed in President Cleveland Society has
piped to him, but he will not dance. He politely
parties all her mealy-mouthed overtures. Last
night box was reserved for him at an amateur
operate performance, in which large number
OF young society people took part. The Pres-
dent was expected, but he did not appear. Had
he been sent for, he would have been found in
his office in his shirt sleeves before pile of
papers He has been expected at number of
places, but has invariably disappointed those who
expected him. In this respect he is quite differ
ent from his predecessors. Lincoln, Grant, Hayes,
and Arthur were frequently seen at the theatre
and at both private and public entertainments.
The President has made but one call, that upon
w. w. Corcoran, Esq, since he has been in
Washington.
The new administration has gone to work in
practical. thorough, comprehensive way to make
such changes in the management of the public
business as will facilitate it's transaction, save
time and money, and better accommodate the
immense number of people who have dealings
with the Government. This Is the beginning of
an already well defined and what promises to be an
is also matter of the first importance to which
little If any conspicuous attention has been given
for several administrations past.
The Republican party, like an old tenant had
become careless of its trust, and had allowed the
property to run down, as it were or at least to
go unimproved. 1t was comfortably fixed, in full
possession of the patronage and power of the
an indefinite lease in prospect.
That both the need and the room for reform
existed, is made evident by the number of i'm
portant steps in that direction which the new adj
minstration is already taking and others which
are contemplated. The doctrine of letting well
enough alone, to which its predecessor adhered,
is a loose and dangerous doctrine. 1t ia believed
cation are perfected which the heads of the de-
partments have in view, the offices will be filled
acceptably to the party, and the salaries attach
ing to them will be honestly earned.