The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1885-05-29


cultural Department..
From our Regular Correspondent,
WASHINGTON, May q, 1885.
To those who expected grand and startling
transformation scene as soon as Mr.. Cleveland
was fairly in office, the present condition of
things Is very Disappointing. But to those who
know that startling transformation is not neces-
sarily reformation, and that the latter can be at
tanned only through careful and well consider
ed action, there is much for announcement
The magnitude of the wholesome changes that
have taken place is known best by those who will
never tell it. All the Republican clerks in all the
Departments are working better and accomplish
and enjoying better health than ever before
They are doing more work because the Secreta-
ries of the different Departments have given them
to understand that idle clerks will be discharged,
and have emphasized their meaning by turning
some idlers out. Their improved health is attri-
butable to the fact that orders have gone out
that absence on account of sickness will be de-
Quoted from the thirty days summer vacation
that has been given Government clerks. This
order has had such healthy effect that absence
from alleged sickness has declined fully one
hundred per cent. Indebtedness and drunkenness
have declined because it is understood that de-
cency. competency and honesty will be insisted
upon by this Democratic Administration These
themselves but they kind of reform that re-
fleets but little glory upon them or their party:
No rogue will boast that he has been whipped
into honesty. venture to predict that in about
nine months from now. when the work of the first
year of the new administration can be reviewed,
very favorable showing will be MADE and 1t will
be found not only that larger amount of work
has been done but that it has been accomplished
more economically and with smaller force. In
a month from now it is believed that very i'm
portant changes will have beeh made. 1t has
been found impracticable to make these changes
as rapidly as was desired owing partly to the lack
of acquaintance of Mr. Cleveland and his cabinet
with the routine and the personel of the different
bureaus and partly to the conflicting claims of
the many applicants for office. But the know
ledge necessary to intelligent action is being rap
idly acquired and it is reported that extensive
changes will be made about the 3Oth of June.
No Department of the Government has been
worse mismanaged than that of Agriculture
The late Commissioner spent his time from June
to November making speeches for Blaine, and the
new Commissioner appointed by President Ceve-
land found that $38 was the unexpended balance
left him for carrying on the department for three
months, or until the appropriations of the next
fiscal year shall become available.
How this state OF affairs has been brought
about is easy to see There Is no doubt that
funds have been largely used to promote the
election of the Republican candidate for the
and gaining votes, the salaries of employees in
various States have been largely increased
Thus, in one instance. man in the statistical de-
partment out in Kansas had his salary raised
from $500 to $4,000, while his chief in the bureau
at Washington only gets $500. This wholesale
distribution of the funds of the department for
political purposes soon ran away with the appro-
priation, and to this as much as to any other
cause the bankrupt condition Of the Agricultural
Bureau is to be attributed. The original intent |
OF Congress in appropriatng money for the dis |
tribution of seeds. to buy rare grains beyond
the reach of ordinary agriculturists and SO dis |
tribute them as TO improve the character of our |
crops. Instead of this, however. the recent Com
missioner bought for free distribution ordinary |
seeds to be found in every seed store in the |
country. The true character of these common |
seeds was hidden under high sounding names, |
and they were sent by Congressman broadcast |
throughout their districts for the purpose of |
making votes. For the last five years the bureau
has not introduced a single new grain of any |
value. nor has it done one thing to aid the true |
interests of agriculture.