The Press., 1885-04-09
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Washington, D. C., April 3, 1sSi


 Surprising appointments by President Cleveland, combinations of the same by the senate, resignations, dismissals, civil service protection, retrenclment, reform, and the re-appointed postmaster of New York city are among the things that are happening and being talked about in Washington now.
 The week has been 8 great one for the cavaliers They have gathered in the spells of last November's victory i'll foreign missions, and various othor good things. Virginia, North Carolina and Georgia have been among the last recipients of pa tronage The confederate brigadiers are meeting with rich favor. Still there is such thing as overdoing the work of put ting them into the possession of the lead ing offices of the government they fought so hard to destroy. Mir. Cleveland owes calities, and it would be well for him to leave few of his confederate friends at home.
 The nominations that are comlng in so rapidly now do not make all of the patriots happy by any means. They admit that the appointecs are all good democrats, but the tendency is away from "the workers. ' and this fills them with grief for the pres ent, and apprehension for the future. Moreover the new men often need intro duciions to the faithful themselves, as we'll as to the public. They forget that there 1 are so many offices that eligible democrats would not half go round.
 To say that the democrats are much dis satisfied with their presidents method of making selections for office is to express : the prevalent feeling very mildly. At first 1 they confined their ehagrin to their own political family circle, and whispered their fears and disappointments only to those of their own faith, expressing the hope that MT. Cleveland would yet see the error his way, and take advice of the men who elected him. But at the renomination ot 1 Postmaster Pearson their indignation broke all bounds of discretion. Words of con- among them and threats of refusal to as- sist in his confirmation. Senator Beck de- clared his intention to fight the nomina- , ton to the bitter end, and Congressman Spriggs of New York thought every dem- ocrat senator, who is moved by 3 feeling of allegiance to bis party, shonld do the same.
 l Among the executive departments tbe 1 treasury Is still taking the lead in dis charges, resignations, aud changes in many directions. There is mueh uneasiness among the employees. It was like the ex- plosion of a bombsheIl among them, when, ou one day during the week, several lead 1 ing officers were asked to resign, and a hundred clerks were discharged from one branch of the treasury service. The pre-. vailing idea is that large number of clerks are to be dispensed with soon, on 1 the snbterfuge of economy, and theif places filled in a short time with demo- crats. By this process the department will in time be in possession of the dem J. crats.
 l Senator Harris, of Tennessee, is anxious for sweeping change in the offices, and has told ths president what his duty is in this matter. Another pr9minent demo- cratic senator is authority for the state ment that meeting of party managers will shortly be convened for the purpose of discussing this question and advising l MT. Cleveland
 1 Doubtless when this letter reaches you the capitol will be draped in mourning for the hero of Appomattox, whose life is eb. ping away so fast. At this moment and for several days past his condition has been the subject of constant inquiry, in the departments and throughout the city. Washington has 6 local interest in the fame of Gen. Grant. It was here that he achieved some of his greatest distinctions i'll war and peace, and some of his closest social ties bind him to the city. He spent some of his happiest years here, and it was known to be his desire to return and make Washington the home of his old age.