The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1885-03-19
WASHINGTON T T
From Our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, DC,
1R o

AoLANo4SN HsS
March 16, 1885.
1t is said that the President has
u determination to adhere
not only to the letter but 10 the spirit
of the civil service reform law, and
that all appointments TO office here
after to be made by this administra-
ton shall be in accordance will civil
service requirements. There is, how
ever, u yer, grave danger that the
thimble-riggiug Republican politi
clans who have thus far evaded the
cnfoi cement of the law in the reten
ton OF an army OF incompetents in
every department, will find it not at
all difficult to produce reasons enough
to prevent any considerable number
Of changes for the coming four years
OF Democratic management. What l
want to see, and what the country
expects to see, is a Thorough
ton in the governments offices every
where and the administration Of its
affairs placed in the hands Of those
30 whom the people look for the full
tllment of our repeated pledges for
letrenchment and reform.
Among the first things chat Prcsi-
dent Cleveland should see to is the
Introducing of some OF the customs
AID habits of American civilization
in the State Department, which I'M
der the snobbish Frelingluysen has
become Il nest offereigu lackeys and
SHEedged tiummery. The iaea that
anybody is important enough to make
it absolutely essential that he should
be retained in office, should now be
etfectually exploded. If through the
opportune visitation of a pestiience,
the last one of these. Stale Depart
ment clerks should be called hence, l
will wager q horse that somebody or
other will be found to fill their places
and fill them accep,ably too. Old
John Davis has survived and pere
grinated through every administra
tion for half a,century as Assistant
Secretary of State. And Hunter, al
other assistant. has kept a grip on the
pay roll for almost two generations.
Yet the Republicans declare that the
Department OF State will go to pieces
unless these two antigua ed speci-
ments of senility are preserved thro'
yet another administration.
In the War Department, which for
four years has been o~stensibly under
the guiding hand OF that mighty man
Bob Lincoln there will be found Il jot
of venerable barnacies who have
glided down TO US from q former gen
GRAFTON, and who found their way in
to position at a time when competen
cy countel but little beside the pc
,ency of political influence. In this
particular department., my mind re-
verts TO an Old fellow who has for his
tenants something like a score of of
~ficials, one of whom sthe chief OF
the division in which the old chap
draws uis regular rations OF 81. SOC
per annurn. His property at the Cap.
itaI is worth huGdreds Of thousands
OF dollars, and many a poor devil is
now waiting in vain to get some rec.
ompense for the sacrifices he has
made to secure the ousting of just
such old cormorants as this. He il
only one of the hundreds of Other
bioated bondholders and real estate
spectators who live in Washington
aud figure upon the gov rnment pay
roll year in and year out through al
administrations.
John Q. Adams became mem
Der Of the lower House of Congress
after having served a term as Prcsi
dent of the United States, because,
as he declared, the IL position was
equal in every way to the other. Now
however, we may have Congressman
and reverend Senators vino are mol
only willing but anxious to serv,
their country in any possible or i'm
possible cal acity, so long as they Cal
have their names retained upon thu
Government pay roll. To day some
of che ex members of the recently ex
pred Congress are applicants 70
mental positions in the hext Con
gress, just as the ex members of
previous Congress have accepted ser
vice in this. Fifty of these member
have got to be provided for, thouyl
, why a defeated candidate for re cleo
r ton should not safer the consequen
ces Of his " unpopuiarity, is I'm
fashionable. PyoNo.