Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-03-13
The Spells

WASHINGTON, ID. c., March 11.-Ofice-
seekers have taken Mr.. Cleveland at his
word. The effect of the announcement that
applications must not come directly to the
president, but through the cabinet, was seen
when the departments opened this morning
Pressure on the White House door was sud
denly relieved, but the outer offices of the
secretaries showed that the importunate
mob had not left Washington.
Every member of the cabinet
held levee, and when the hour of closing
came round petitions and Endorsements
were stacked up before them in great heaps
Mr.. Villas bore the brunt of the rush. The
morning mails brought $500 letters on no
other business than applications for post
offices. These could be thrust aside. but
the petitioners who had come in person
could not he disposed of as easily, So great
was the rush Of personal presentation of
claims for postmasterships that five men had
TO be detailed from other divisions of the
department to assist Mr.. Mari and Mr. Ma
than Smith, the clerk and the assistant clerk
Of the first assistant postmaster general of
the department. This office handles all pa
pers relating to postoffices and prepares
the commissions. Additional desks
were rugged up. and the clerks were, as Mr.
Cox, of New York, would say, las busy as
the bees when the buckwheat blooms" Mr..
Villas stood in his room and went through
the ordeal of callers as well rs could be ex-
pected. He stood like patience on mon
ument," and smiled-but not like Shake
speare's patience was he, Smiling at grief"
he was smiling at hope, the hope of his cali
ers TO get places for themselves or their
friends. AT one time there were so many
United States senators in the ante-room
that a looker-on thought roll call would
show a quorum. None were let in except
by card, and senators were not excepted in
this rule. In the course of the day there ar
rived from the White House wagon load
of applications for postoffices, which had
been sent to the president direct. Their
condition showed that they had only been
sorted out so that they might
be sent TO the departments. No other atten-
ton had been paid to them. Mr. Villas said
they would be filed away and reached in
regular order. To-day the heads of the
bureaus of the department notified him that
their designations were at his disposal when
ever he wished to appoint their successors
They were requested TO remain until the
postmaster general made up his mind. One
of the 7isitors to the department to-day who
attracted good deal of attention was ex-
Representative Mooney, of Mississippi, woo
wanted to be postmaster general quite bad
ly. Mr.. Hatton dropped in to smile SYM
pathetically upon his successor. To all who
came Mr.. Villas was very pleasant, but indef-
mite. Several congressional delegations
called, but they got no more satisfaction
than the individuals did.
Secretary Villas added that there was no
doubt that Mr.. Cleveland would hold the
cabinet responsible for their every act, but
would have nothing to do with the Offices.
"Our policy is yet to be determined" he
said, "but think it will be vigorous one
This is the most satisfaction anybody got
Politicians about the hotel Hobbies, discuss
ing their visits to the various departments,
all tell about the same story. Nothing can
be gotten at, and all are uncertain and dis
satisfied. They find that it Is absolutely i'm
possible TO hurry things, and no man feels
any certainty as to what is going to be done.
Democratic congressman are packing up
and going off on. every train. though most Of
them leave private arrangements for their
return here in the course of five or six weeks. |
There is some understanding among the
well-posted that the fewest possible changes
are to be made until the crowd leaves and |
the excitement incident TO the Inauguration |
is past.