Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1885-11-27
WASHINGTON LETTER.
wAsHlNGroN, D. c., Nov. 10, 1885.

w Ap1lANQb AVN LII l Law
WAsHINGToN, d. c., Nov. 10, 1885.
ToTHE Souri, KENTUCKIAN
The adage that calm proceeds a
storm is as true in the political world
as elsewhere, aud its truth is pain
fully apparent just now to all news
paper correspondents. in Washing
ton. The members of Congress who
were here two weeks ago have left,
some to run back home for few
days and others overto New York to
see about stock speculations in which
they sometimes invest portion of
their hard-earned 5000 a year.
In few weeks more, however,
the winds will fairly howl with spicy
news, and then you may look for
newsy letters.
Speaker Carlisle arrived on Thurs
day and ever since has been confined
to his room at the Riggs by serious
indisposition. lie is improving,
however, and expects soon to be well
enough TO receive his many callers.
The Second Comptroller has just
disallowed two items in the account
of a Naval director-one for the pur-
chase of postage stamps and the
other for photographing anatomical
specimens, on the ground that an in
vestigation shows that payments
were really for two portraits of Sur
geon General Wholesome for the
office and the other for his house.
Portraits of living officials made 10
CRAFTY their vanity are not the kind
ofanatomical specimens contemplated
by law in appropriation bills for the
advancement of science.
The President expects fight TO be
made against some Of his appoint
ments but believes that there will be
no general opposition to them, and
that the majority of Republican SEN
ators will oppose all attempts to de-
feat confirmation except where UNI
impeached facts are presented. If
there Is one thing more than another
that the President Ia sensitive about
II is the criticism made of his selec-
ton ofpersons to I'LL the offices within
his gift. TO avoid giving grounds
for harsh criticism he moves cau-
tiously, but expects in due time TO
have all the best offices filled with
hard shell Democrats. That may be
good news to the Democrats yet at
the time IL is no disappointment 10
Republicans.
Business IN the Treasury Depart
ment is disposed of with greater dis
patch now than ut any time before
In the memory of any of its employ
ers. Clerks are not only checked and
reported to the chiet clerk by the
watchman when they come late but
are also reported by detectives IL
found engaged in social talk in the
halls during Office hours. The new
order is business during business
hours and gossip afterwards. There
is neither smoking of pipes or cigars
nor reading Of newspapers TO be seen
anywhere IN the building aud any
employer found indulging in the, Q
luxurics may not be surprised il he
receives yellow envelope from Sec
retary Manning containing an indie
flute furlough.
In some of the other Departments,
however, more freedom becoming TO
gentlemen of leisure may be found.
In the State Department, for instance,
everything is high toned, and IL a
clerk comes late or has occasion to
leave early no questions are asked.
He is regarded as the very soul of
honor aud II Is assumed that he has
good reason for everything he does,
and as he is not one of the SONS of toll
there is no reason why he should be
a slave of time. Time Is made for
slaves, not for Secretary Bayard S
diplomats.
In the Department Of Justice the
employers are hard worked but they
work spasmodicaliy as do most law
years. There is not much regularity
about their coming and going. II
they happen TO come before eight IN
the morning they are just as apt to
leave by twelve or one o'clock noon,
and as likely to come late in the day
and stay TIL late at night. Attorney
General Garland himself always gets
10 the Office earlier than any one else
in the department, usually before
eight a. M, aud he requires his pri-
vate secretary to be there on time to
meet him to make an early start OH
the days business.
| Secretary Lamar of the Interior is
the first TO come and the last to leave
his department and while kind and
oonsideraie to all who are under him
requires them 10 work faithfully
from nine till four. In order that
the work ofthe department requiring
correspondence and examinations oil
records to its discharge may be expe.
dited he has ordered that no persons
shall be admitted TO the building
after two o'clock. From nine till
two every person calling is accorded
courteous interview and respectful
hearing, but after two O'Clock the
Secretary must have time to himself
in which to consider and act upon
matters prepared in the meanwhil,
and submitted by chiefs of the bu
reaus for his fiual decision. This
often keeps him at his desk till thu
shades of the evening are low, bu
the Secretary is an indomitabll
worker and cares not for hours
when duty requires his attention
and he is dntermined that the busines,