St. Landry democrat., 1885-07-18
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From Our Regular Correspondent


new and better governmental era haf
dawued upon the country, and that the
hope for purer and more business
like administration which expressed it.
self in the election of Cleveland
will not be disappointed.
1t is safe to say that it has been g
long time since the laws were so thor
0ughly studied and so honestly enforced
as they now are, while the present gen.
Grafton sees for the first time sincere
endeavor to check extravaganza and
the willful waste of the peoples money
The Government receipts and expen-
ditures for the month of June, 1884, and
1885, are significant as showing how faI
- administrative reform affects the bal
ances. For the month of June, 1885
the receipts were $27157, ,015.55 June.
1884, $26, ,932 ,O88.3O; expenses for June
1885, S15,255, ,G59.11, June 1884, 16,116,-
1880. The increase of receipts can
largely be placed to the increased vigi-
lance of the customs service, under the
spur of the new administration, in pre-
venting frauds in under valuation.
The reduction in expenditures of over
eight hundred thousand dollars is the
immediate result of the initial passage
of the Jacksonian broom of retrench-
ment and reform through the Federal
service.
The claim made by the Democrats in
recent canvasses that it was high time
to have q look at the books has been
abundantly sustained. In every de-
partment, and in almost every bureau
of the Government Irregularities are
coming to light. Secretary Manning is
overhauling the Internal Revenue Bu-
reau, reorganizing. the Bureau Of En-
craving and Printing and reducing this
charity hospital to business principles
and he is breaking up the ring which
has filched the fifty millions or 80 from
the Treasury department. by underval-
uing their importations. The Agricul-
tural department has been overhauled
with results disastrous to the reputa-
tions of mealy mouthed Loring, and his
subordinates. The land grabbers have
been checked, and on every hand evI-
dences Of recklessness, and extrava-
gance are coming to light. The last
bureau to be heard from is Coast Sur
yey. the accounts of which are under
suspicion and investigation by the Au-
.sditor. The wholesome feeling now is
that all these investigations will be
honest ones, that the innocent will be
vindicated, while the guilty will not be
whitewashed. For such is the Demo-
cratic reform.
Since the reorganization of the Bu-
reau of Engraving and Printing over
two hundred persons have been dis
charged without their loss being felt
either in the quality or quantity of the
work done, and at saving OF over
100000, per aunum. How can this be 7
The explanation is easy. Congress
places in the hands of the chief of the
bureau nearly a million of dollars an
nually, with absolutely no restrictions.
The bureau has filled with clerks many
of whom are assisting the others to do
nothing. Fifty or more were discharg-
ed, and $4,000, was saved at one swoop.
One matron and nine assistants were
employed to protect from theft the
clothes in the dressing room of the fe-
male assistants to the printers. These
ten people read and gossiped all day,
and drew their salaries on the first OF
the month. Now two women pass oc-
.casionally through the dressing room
and the same result is attained. Eight
lazy colored men sat on hench in the
corridor. Now only one is left to tell
the tale. The Treasury Department
corridors also were thronged with idle
messengers, so much SO, in fact, that it
became subject of complaint to the
Secretary. Now the efficiency OF few
is increased by the discharge of many.
The new administration is a little
raw as yet, has not got its hand in, but
in the initial work Of four months
there is promise for the forty and four
following.
Uncle Mace and his wife, who live out
r-o1vrn hnUn hnpD fiOHfIOp