The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1885-07-18
FROM WASHINGTON
From our Regular Correspondent.

| W IL Sss Oui1 ~ CJa
1t is safe to say that it has been q long
time since the laws were so thoroughly
studied and so honestly enforced as they
now are, while the present generation
| sees for the first time sincere endeavor
to check extravaganza and the wilful
waste of the peoples money. The
Kellar incident of the past week indi-
Gates the desire to do what is right, no
matter how odous the statute may be-
come in its application. The circum-
stances of this case, although well
known, will bear repitition. Mr.. Kel-
lar had passed civil service examina-
ton and was certified to the Treasury
Department for a clerkship. After he
had left his home Congressman Warner
sent to the department a series OF pro-
tests against his appointment, signed
by the leading residents, on the ground
that he was partisan of the most
offensive kind. These papers were
shown to Mr.. Kellar by First Auditor
Chenowith, with the remark that if the
appointment was made it would proba-
bly, be at once revoked. Mr.. Kellar
complained to the Civil Service Com
mission and they laid the facts before
the President. Then, for the first time,
Secretary Manning became acquainted
with the matter. There was but one
thing for the Secretary to do and he did
it. He lived up to the law. Mr.. Kel-
lar was promptly sent for and appointed.
More than that, he will not be dis
missed. 'He has complied with the
law, )" said the Secretary to Judge Chen
owith, "and as long as he proves an
honest, efficient clerk he will be re-
tanned. At the end of his probationary
term if he has been attentive to his du-
ties, he will be appointed permanently.
If he persists, while holding pnblic of
flee, in his patisanship, will see that
he not allowed to remain, here but the
department viii take no cognizance of
his past actions"
1t is perhaps singular that only few
a very few-Congressmen can be found
to assist in the endeavor to reform the
abuses which the epresent administration
has found to exist. Yet such is the
case. The number of Representatives
who take broad, patriotic, statesman
like view of the situation can be count
ed on ones fingers. The rest are will
ing to feed any number of people at the
public crib, without regard to the actual
necessities of the public service. With
some Congressman the desire to obtain
patronage amounts to perfect fascina-
tion. They take up case at first with
an air of the utmost Indifference, but.
gradually becoming interested in the
fight, push il with all their vigor They
make it a personal matter; they renew
their efforts when there seems to be a
chance of victory for some rival. 1t has
the same fascination as gambling, and
in its way presents quite as many chances
for speculation and excitement as wheat
margins or Wall street stocks.
Washington has more pretty women
on its streets on pleasant day than any
other city in the country. This Is one
OF its attractions, no tso generally adver-
tised at present, but the reputation of
this vicinity as the conservatory OF fe-
male beauty find extends back little
short of a century. / don't think the
city has lost anything in this particular
in its growth. Walking past the hand
some West End, residences on a warm.
pleasant evening, one sees group of
pretty girls on every doorstep. During
themorning shopping hours the brightest
goods in the fashionable stores are not
SO fresh and fair as'the throng of merry
loungers. And to stand in front of a
fashionable Washington church Just as
the folks are let out from the service
will take your breath away if YOU are a
man, and fill you with biting envy If
you are so unfortunate as TO be woman
who don't belong here.
The publication of the official records
of the War of the Rebellion is steadily
going ON and the nineteenth volume has
just been issued, When completed it is
expected that the number of volumes
will have reached eighty, and these win
comprise the full official records of the
Union and Confederate armies during
the late war. 1t is not easy to eompre-
bend the immensity of the work (which
the publication Of these records entails.
An average Of thirty men are kept busy
copying manuscript, reading proof and
indexing from one years end 10 the
other, and al the present rate il is ex-
pected that they will publish five or six
volumes a year. The work is done in a
fine old mansion west of the White
House, which has been used 10y the Gov,
ernment for years. and which Is now
wholly devoted to this work. The files
of papers are brought here from the War