The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1885-06-13
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.

OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
Prospective Removals Offensive Par
tisaR Surprised-Saturday Evening Con-
certs in the White House Gardens, etc.
WASHINGTON, D. c., June 9, 1885.
Ep1foR CH1EF:
The FIRST impulse of the tidal wave of re-
moval is being felt in the Departments.
Each of the Cabinet officers has requested
the heads of bureaus in their respective de-
partments to furnish him with list of
clerks that can be dispensed with, OR whose
places can be flled by civil service appoint
ments. These lists will be furnished before
the 1st of July. The communications of
the heads of bureaus will be treated as
strictly confidential, as the information
asked for does not solely relate to the cler-
ical fitness of clerks, but includes what
may be known in regard to ''ofensise
bartisaaship." etc. The design is to use the
information in making removals from the
service class in order to open the way for
appointments through the Civil Service
Commissioners. In order to give greater
popularity to the nethod of appointment
by competition it is seen that there must
be some vacancies in order that there may
be eon1e appointments. A member of the
Cabinet said yesterday that in the course
of the aummer he expected to dismiss
twenty live per cent. of his force of clerks.
He had already more than enough to be-
gin with, but he thought it best to make
one job of it, and would put cotton. of
until he got through with more pressing
business.
One of the heads of division whose res
ignation was asked for during the week
went on Friday to see Secretary Manning,
with view of getting some mitigation of
his sentence. He was received by the Sec
retary, who asked him if lie had not all
afohS anticipated removal when a Demo-
cratic administration should come in. 81
really cannot see, said the Secretary, how
you could expect anything else" The off,
eial demurred to this, and said that he had
faithfully performed his duties, was NOS a
politician, and 10 one had complained of
Secretary, II will let you be the judge
yourself. Here are pile of letters which
have received from people in your dis
trict. Read them over and let me know if
you think Democratic Secretary ought to
be blamed for asking you to give way for a
Democrat. The ex-bureau chief read over
the letters with amaZement. He was pro-
nounced by the writers to be d" red hot" in
his politics; a frequent correspondent o1
Republican newspapers, extracts from his
letters being appended; his Journeys horne
at election time we're noted; reports of his
speeches at town meetings were given, and
his immediate removal was demanded as
the only thing that would pacify his Demo-
cratic neighbors. When he had got through
with the batch of letters he handed them
back to the Secretary. 81 haven ! another
word to say" said he. I am sorry ]
troubled you. am an offensive partisan,
but I'm blessed It ] knew it until now.'
The Saturday evening concerts in the
grounds of the Presidential mansion,
which were discontinued by order of Mr..
Cleveland, have Been. resumed, and there
were fully 5O0e people there Saturday after
noon. The people sat ON the infreauen,
benches, reclined Upon the grass under
the spreading growth Of the foliage, and
promenaded across the grass plots ard it,
the gravel walks. For the most part tho
men enjoyed the music and the women
looked at each others clothes. The people
looked prosperous and were all well
dressed; if there were shadows upon some
faces, they could be attributed to the fact
that life, to many people, seems not worth
living. Nurses came with their infant
charges, ladies with their pets puga, and
men and maidens came in companies linn
tied. The music was somewhat limited,
too. Friends from the southeast part OF
the city greeted friends from the West End
and, as events 60 III this world, everybody
III his own way enjoyed the diversion. Be-
sides the Music and the pretty toilets and
prettier women. the crowd was gratifed
with good solid look at the Chief Magis-
trate. President Cleveland stood during
most Of the concert upon the balcony Of
the south front and for some time he stood
leanins upon the railing in full view of the
people wao came and stood directly unde,
the vine COZ srea iron rails. Miss Cleve-
land stood by his side and recognized ac.
quaintances who passed beneath. Trey
both looked happy. Others Oh the balcony
were Secretary Endicott, Mr.. Lamont, Mrs
Manning, Mrs. Lamont, Madame dz
Struve, and Secretary Villas. The dsstin-
guished party seemed to enjoy TIE garden
j. party quite as much Ga did the people.
Yours truly, ALERT.