Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-12-28
FROM WASHINGTON.
Especial Correspondence of the Alexa. GAzETTE'I
WASHINGTON, D. c., Dec. Is, 1885.


Especial Correspondence of the Ale1a. GAZETTE
WASHINGTON, D. c., Dec. 2S, 1885.
The chief topic of conversation here to-
day is Mr.. Bigelow's resignation of the
position of Assistant q. S. Treasurer at
New York. 1t is confidently asserted by
Mr.. Bigelow's friends that it was direct
attempt on his part to show his disregard of,
and his disrespect for, the administration.
They say that he had previously held more
exalted positions, that be is rich man,
that if Mr.. Tilden had been President be
would have been minister either to England
or France, that Mr.. Tilden has got nothing
from the administration, and that the pea
pod, as they call it, which Mr.. BigeloW has
resigned, was what neither Mr.. Tilden
wanted for his friend Bigelow, nor what
Bigelow wanted for himself, and that the
latter therefore resigned it without thanks.
A democratic member of the House IN
talking with the GAzETTE's correspondent
this morning said he was so irritated the
other day at being told at one of the de-
partments here it was impossible tor him to
get an Office for an old, tried and true and
Influential democrat in his county, on &C.
count OF the civil service rules, that he was
forced to reply that, civil service rules or
"a
heads of departments and Senators, repub-
licaps as we'll as democrats, whom he knew
could not pass satisfactory examinations,
and who never had and never could do
either their party or their country any ser.
vice, holding lucrative positions, and that
that being the case he could not understand
why his friend, who had and could do. both,
was denied one. The explanation made to
to him was that it was necessary for
heads of the departments to have GER
tain con6dentia employees, and that for
that purpose they could best rely upon
their relatives. It is said here that the sys-
tenn of nepotism was never before carried to
tho extent it is now, and that there is not
US Senator, republican or democrat,
who has not from one to many relatives in
Office, and that it is for this reason that most
if not all the Presidents nominations will
be confirmed.
OF the 1888 members of the U. S. House of
Representatives only 1873 went home to
spend Christmas, leaving 200 here to look
after the places they hope to get on the COM
mittees. Mr.. Speaker Carlisle was in his
room at the Capitol to-day hard at work
completing the formation of the committees,
and had several of the leading members of
his side of his party in consultation with
him.
Mr.. Joseph Mason, of Manchester, Va,
who has been re.appointed U. S. Consul to
Dresden, is staunch republican and Ma
honeite. He was reappointed at the solicit
tation of Senator Don Cameron, of whom
he was q college mate. For this and other
like favors, it is expected that Mr.. Cameron
will not assist Mr.. Logan in his proposed
assault up the Presidents nominations.
Senator Beck's recent speech on silver, in
which he charged the administration with
being under the influence of Wall street, is
still the topic of good deal of talk here.
1t is conceded that the Presidents views on
neither the silver nor the tariff question
will be adopted, though those on the former
most wise men must agree are right.
Some of the democratic members of the
House talk of assaults upon the administra.
ton by democratic Congressman soon after
the reassembling of Congress, but as it is of
an indefinite character and is always &C.
companied by an Injunction of secrecy, it is
generally supposed that there is not much
to it.
1t is currently reported here that Mr.
Mitchell, who WIS recently elected to the
U. S. Senate by democratic votes in the Or
egon Legislature, says if he had been
member of the Senate at its organization he
would have supported good democratic
Senator for president pro tempore of that
body against Mr.. Sherman, who was
elected.
Congressman Brady, of Virginia, was tho only
member of tho House from his State in the House
to-day. He was there to get his mail and attend
to his correspondence, which is exceedingly largo.
He says no new circular has boon sent to the dis
trict committees of his party in his State, asking
for charges against the Presidents appointees
therein but that such IA one was sent out soon
after the removal of the old officers began. Mr..
Brady is member of the executive committee of
his party in Virginia.