The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1885-04-23
WASHINGTON = 7
[From Our Regular Correspondent.
WASHINGTON, DC,
April 90. 1885.

April 20, 1885.
I do not think it exaggeration to
say that many Of the Government Of
fees in Washington have accomplish
ed more work in the last month than
was accomplished in any two months
Of the preceding year. I say many
of the Offices, for some of them have
not done much for the reason that
there is not much for them to do. A
large number of the offices, owing TO
the negligence, idleness, and incom-
petence of the clerks, are far behind
with their work. This is especially
the case with the Patent, Pension and
Land offices, but within the last
month wonderful progress has been
made, and it is probable that the vex-
atious and unnecessary delays that
have driven applicants for patents
and pensions to despair will be suf-
fered no longer.
From the President down to his
last appointment, the personal Of the
administration is capable of hard
work, and has evidently this object
in view, more than pleasure, emolu-
ment, or fame. The cabinet Of the
new President are not men with itch
ing palms. They are all men of suf-
fcient wealth, or men to whom their
wealth is sufficient. So it is with the
recent bureau a%ppointees, a gentle.
man whose fortune is not less than
$150,000 was last week appointed to
an office in one of the departments,
the salary of which is only $4,000. He
did not need the Office. but the office
needed him.
Heretofore the staples Of recon.
mendatlon for office have been power.
ty, and patriotism. "He needs the of.
flee he has large family, and he was
a good soldier" No question as to fit.
ness. vas considered, and the civil ser
vice has been made an elegant and lu.
c~rative asylum for incompetent disa
bled soldiers, and dishonest republi
can politicians. 1t is needless to say
that this is u ~perversion of the object
of government offices, which have fol
their end the transaction Of the pos
tai, military, naval, and financial bus
mess of the country. The United
States pension and bounty laws have
paid with a lavishness unparalleled il
history for the service which every
man owes to his country, and it is
time this false philanthropy and
| a.,o~% 1fotoor n IF M
pointing men to offices they do no,
need and are not competent to fill
should end.
There r a great many Office seek
ers in the city at present. The ole
crowd that came here OF or about
the fourth of March is pretty wei
thinned ont. Some of them lingel
because they cannot borrow money
to get home. But q new crowd has
come in in the last two weeks. TheiI
disappointment and chagrin on learn.
ing the situation Of affairs is pic.
turesque. All applicants are handed
a copy of the civil service law, and 6
blank application for examination
The President does not consider any
appointments for small offices, anG
none Will be made until after the frs
of July. The new administration
seems more anxious just now to emp
ty than to fill offices, and each weel
results in the discharge of a number
of those who have been kept on the
government pay-rolls, although they
have rendered no legitimate service
If the discharge Of this class shall b.
made thorough and exhaustive, lit
eral millions will be saved annually
and the moral of the service will b.
greatly improved.
The daily routine at the White
House involves an immense amour
of work. And although Presiden
Cleveland is relieved of much worl
by his Secretary, Ctl. Lamont, yet {
great quantity has to receive his per
sonal attention. The President i
ready for work at eight O'Clock in tn
morning, and is usually busy unit
midnight. About ten o'clock he be
gins the perusal of such letters as re
Quire his special attention. The grea
bulk of the letters sent to the Presi
dent marked I" personal" and "conf
dential," is never seen by him. The
are from all sorts of people and Oh
all sorts of subjects. Many of then
are of q character that would seer
to entitle the writer to a place in
lunatic asylum. 1t is not uncommo
for these writers to send ten and TWEEN
ty page letters, and some of them Ell
; close their photographs. These le'
tiers are carefully culled and place
on the eccentric file and not mol
than 8 or 10 letters per day receiy
the special attention of the Presiden
Tom.