Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1885-1890, 1885-09-05
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular Correspondent.
WASHINGTON, August q, 1885.

| S"i SSS'A
WASHINGTON, August q, 1885.
J, Notwithstanding the fact that til
President is hid in the depths Of th
woods and the Cabinet is scattere'
about generally the work in all tn
Offices at the National headquarter
goes on just as smoothly as if MI
Cleveland and all the Cabinet were il
the way. The secret Of this is tina
the Departments are full Of thorough
" trained and reliable clerks long &C
customed to attend to their many du
ties, one of which is to instruct thu
Cabinet Officers and Bureau Chief
in a delicate way, what to do. Whel
[ was a boy I used to wonder how
the President of the United State:
got through his onerous and multi
piled duties. [ did no then know
any thing about Bureaucracy and the
$500 Chief Clerks. These expert.
enced and accomplished $500 clerks
make the duties of Administration
smooth and easy routine for unskill-
ed Presidents and Cabinets.
The dispersion of the heads Of the
Government has not had the effect to
lessen the ranks of those who are
anxious to draw pay in the humber
walks Of office. These are still here
in great numbers and are urging
their claims with great yehemence.
It is said that a mob of them actually
invaded the bed chamber Of Mr.. La
mar, the Secretary Of the interior,
last week, and although Mr.. Lamar is
an early riser, they found him with
only the drapery of his couch about
him. Stormy times are predicted
next winter, when Congress meets,
and when the Office seeker will be
backed by his Congressional Delega-
ton.
There is talk that when Congress
meets and the appropriations for the
maintenance of the civil service are
being considered by the House, it will
be proposed to cut down the salaries
Of clerks and other classes Of employ
ees. It is urged that Government
employees I overpaid in comparison
with the same classes in the employ
ment Of private firms. One reason
for thinking that the civil Service
would afford plenty of good clerks at
lower salaries is the fact hal few Of
those who now pass the examination
are unwilling to be appointed tenn
porarily as copyists until vacancies
occur among the grades of clerks.
Every vacancy for a copyist is taken
by those who have passed the higher
grade examination.
Whenever changes are made in the
law, it is not believed that they will
be Of a kind to please the spoilsmen.
They hope to have the law amended
SO that when a person passes the civil
service examination he may receive a
certificate to that effect, and with that
in his pocket he can seek out his Con
gresham. who will, after the old plan.
when the spoils doctrine prevailed, go
to the head of a department and say
that he wants his man appointed,
provided as he is with a certificate
that he has passed the civil service
examination.
Even if the Democratic majority in
the coming Congress shall develop
enough members to amend the Presi-
dent will sanction it, and no repeal
of the law could be passed over his
veto. It is expected that instead,
President Cleveland will direct that
the rules be amended SO as to include
within their provisions officers of a
higher grade than those who are now
affected by it.
It is said that the Navy is at last to
be overhauled to weed out .shirks and
s%inecures. The Naval Officers who
who have frisked SO gaily in the sa-
Ions of Washington, occupied the
front seat at the Opera, and been SO
much admired In the fashionable
promenades of the city will be sent
out upon the rough sea. Poor fell
lows, it will make some Of them very
sick. Our Navy is top heavy with of
and all sorts of places have to
be devised in order to give them
something to do. The serviceable
vessels only 80 in number while there
are over 400 Naval Officers Of all
from ensigns to Admirals. IL
the United States Navy had four
times its present number Of war ships
it would not lack for full-quotos off
GERS to command them.
The state auditor of Illinois reports
the late long legislative session
cost $4,000 more than the last.