News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1885-04-02
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, D. c., |
March %. 1885,

WASHINGTON, ~. u,
March %. 1885.
The new administration has passed
another week without anything to dis
tinouish it in work or sensation. 1he
Senate awaits with patience the eX-
pected nominations, anxious to finish
and 90 home. President Cleveland
has said he would prefer it to con-
time in session until he wants the
Senate to rass upon his selections for
diplomatic posts, so that the question
of confirmation may be settled before
the appointees 60 abroad.
In lieu of Presidential nominations
for discussion, the Senate talks on
treaty subjects, and is much exercised
about preventing the publication OF
its executive secrets. Yesterday
stalwart messenger was stationed out
side of each gallery door, all OF
which were securely locked, to keep
nc wspaper men from listening.
1t is amusing these days to observe
the efforts of democratic Senators TO
avoid office seekers al the Capitol.
Every morning, an hour before the
Senate convenes, applicants Tor oeha-
torial influence collect in tine chamber
and watch for their men. They ply
the pages with questions in regard TO
Senator So and So. When does he
usually come? at what hour does ne
enter? etc and as the hour of noon
draws near, the impotence CT the
hungry constituent manifests itself.
Five minutes before noon the hoor OF
the Senate is cleared of intruders,
and the Democratic Senators are care
full not to make an appearance until
after the body has been called to Or
der. At the falling of the gavel they
are protected by the rules of the Sen
ate, and they file in five minutes after
the crowd of Office seekers has filed
out.
just now there is great deal of
talk among place hunting patriots
about the ingratitude of republics.
They thought after the election of
Mr.. Cleveland that there was to be
new deal all around. Everything that
has been done was to be undone.
Now they are sorely tried. The more
eager they are for office, and the
stronger their support, and the longer
their petitions, the further they are
left by TIE new administration. An
office seeker in making a calculation
as to how long it will take, at the
present rate of progress, to turn the
government over to the Democrats,
reached a result bordering closely on
two thousand years. There are 963
applicants tor the place he wants.
The appointment of offices for the
different executive departments con-
tinue to be rushed with work owing to
the large number OF applicants pour
ing in. At the Treasury Depal tment,
Clerk Higgins, of recent offensive
fame, finds hi-4self the recipient of
about 200 requests daily. At the
Department of Justice, the number of
applications for office averages 800
daily, and at the Navy Department
Secretary Whitney is flooded with the
same kind of papers.
There are several places in this city
where people make good living by
preparing others tor civil service ex-
aminations. just before and just af-
ter the Inauguration they had but lit
tie BUSINESS. People in office were
uneasy, and the democrats did not
believe that they would have to I'M
dergo examinations to get them.
Now the business is good again. Ac-
cording to the statement Of one of
the instructors, it takes about forty
lessons of an hour each to finish one
in the common branches. After such
course a person is expected to be
able TO pass examination for $1,000
or $1,000 position.
Several of the new Senators were
sworn into office this week, and the
Senate will have but few vacancies
upon the adjournment of the present
special session. The biennial change
of one-third of its number introduces
hut few rev faces. The Senator from
New York is prohahl, the best known
10 the country, having been twice a
cabinet minister. Mr.. Evarts has
distinguished himseIf by silence. He
has not spoken word except to vote.
senator Blackburn is not new in Con-
gressional experience. He has served
eight years in tue House from the old
Henry Clay district of Kentucky.
Senator Walthall, the successor Of
Senator Lamar, is straight, athletic
looking man, with keen face and
thick, long hair. Senator Spooner,
from Wisconsin is new to public life.
He has red hair and looks not over
twenty-five years old, although he is
forty. Mr.. Stanford, the new Rrpub-
lican Senator from California, is I'm
posing in stature and weighs 24O
pounds.