The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1885-02-06

WASHINGTON, Feb'y. 4. 1885
In four short weeks this city, let the
weather be what it may, will present
an appearance joyful or tristful accord
ing to the brain behind the retina
upon which the vision falls. As seen
by hopeful democrats, it will be hap
py day. To Respondent republicans. it
will be the day Of doom. TO class
that has grown numerous in Washing
ton of late, it will be day of mingled
hope and despair The class | refer to
comprise large number of crescent
democrats, those who were republicans
four months ago, but who have been
growing, growing in the nurture and
admonition of Andrew Jackson and
Samuel J. Tildeu; growing so fast that
they are green and sappy. They have
folded up their bloody shirts. abjured
their campaign ISLANDERS, read the con
stitution Of the United States right
side mp, and are vociferous for the old
flag and an appropriation. There are
thousands of them, male and female.
Who would have believed TO have
heard them talk, and to have seen them
work for the "grand, pure, historic par
ty of moral IDEAS that they would
now be willing to hold office and draw
pay from the party of dsunion, of ret
repression, rascality, rum, Romanism
and rebellion ! But there is no doubt
about it, their racket is to hold the Off
ces and draw the pay. They have in
terpreted the bright motto OF civil SER
vice reform to mean "to the victims
belong the spoils." Happy victims of
foolish delusion 1t is not for such
as you that political wars are waged
and administrations won. The carpet.
ed, upholstered, and curtained offices of
the public service will soon know you
no more. Your luxurious places will
soon be filled by those who will work,
by real clerks who are not enervated
by years Of idleness and shirking
The work of the government in
many offices is twelve months in ar
rears. The neglect of work especially
in the U. S. Patent Office is disgrace
full. This office, far from being a tax
on the people is actually money-mak
ing establishment. The fees paid by
inventors to have their machines exam
ined are largely IN excess of the ex-
penses of the office, and it has paid
surplus of more than S2,700,000 into
the Treasury of the United States.
Notwithstanding this fact, inventors
are compelled to wait eight and ten
months before their cases are taken up
for examination. Tbn Commissioner
of Patents, Hon. Ben. Butterworth is
politician and too much engaged in the
work of his contested election to at
tend to the duties of the Patent Office.
Many of the examiners are incompe-
tent, dissipated and idle. They are re-
quired to spend only seven hours per
day in office, but instead ofgiving their
time TO the examination OF applications
for patent, they waste their time in
reading gossip, and in flirtations with
the female employees of the Patent
Office. These Examiners are hoping
to hold their places upder the new ad-
milistration on the ground that they
have expert mechanical skill, and spec
ial knowledge of the classes of iuven-
ton over which they have charge. But
there are few government offices in
which judicious wedding will do more
good.
Ornamental drones and idle sinecur-
lists are thick in all the offices, and their
newly assumed and i'll fitting democra-
cy should not deceive anyone.
1t is the general opinion that the
week will be devoted to the Diplomat
ic appropriation bill! in the Senate, and
to the River and Harbor and Post Of
fee appropriation bill in the House.
The Post Office bill as prepared by the
committee on appropriations of the
House, makes two important changes
in the rates of postage. The rate on
letters and other sealed packages chan
ged from two (2) cents for each half
ounce, or fraction thereof, TO two (2)
cents an ounce: while the postage on
newspapers and other periodicals, mail
ed from a recognized office of publica-
tion, is reduced from two cents per
pound to one cent. Both changes will
be welcomed by tho public and both
are in the interest of the people. Con-
gress should have no hesitation in
adOn,inor the reDort of the committee