Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1885-11-13
Washington Letter.
From our Regular Correspondent.

fore the assembling of Congress.
Not only the United States, but the
whole civilized world awaits with in
terest the first message from Dem.
ocratic President since 1860. Mr..
Cleveland has not yet put pen to
paper in preparation of this mes
sage to Congress, nor have any sug
gestions or memoranda been sub
mitted to him. He will commence
this work early in November, and
will devote some hours to it daily
until Congress meets. In view OF
the seclusioD needed for this work
came the Presidents edict, on
Wednesday, closing the White
House to The office-seeker and his in
fuence from the 1st of November for
an indefDite time. Col. Lamont
thinks the rule may be relaxed lit
tie when Congress meets, so as to
admit Senators and Representatives,
but the desire of the President is to
withdraw from the annoyance per-
manently. Under the new arrange
ment aspirants for positions will
have to reach the President through
the heads of departments, bat he
will still feel under obligation to
seek information as to their fitness
for Office from such sources as he
may prefer, and in such ways as he
may sec tit to alopt. No one at
distance from the capital-indeed no
one whose avocation does not bring
the matter directly to his notice.
can realize the enormous demands
that have heen made upon the Pres
ident's time, since his Inauguration,
by petty place hunters. Those who
appreciate the duties of his Office,
and who know how MIR. Cleveland's
performance OF them has been i'm
peded by these exacting importu-
mates will commend the new rule.
In order to prepare himself for the
questions of the winter, the line had
to be drawn at last, not in spirit
of exclusiveness, as the untbinking
may claim, but in defense of the pub
lie interests.
The growth of the country and
the modern systems of rapid transit
may yet make necessary some limita-
ton to the freedom with which the
Executive is approached. This be-
ing Republic, of course the Presi-
dent belongs to everybody. He is q
perennial circus that must be seen
and shook. He is by far the most
easily approached rulsr in the world.
Any citizen can walk into his private
office unannounced, introduce him.
self, and be accorded a personal in
terview. Men call upon him be-
cause they voted for Buchanan ;
bridal couples call upon him as q
spectacular part of the honeymoon,
and politicians from all parts of the
Union insist upon making his per-
sonal acquaintance.
Candidates for the district offices
and their friends are growing anx-
ious as November approaches. for it
is thought that early in that month
the President will Legin to make
the long discussed changes. The
latest gossip says that Gen. Farms
worth will be the next Marshal OF
the District of Columbia. 1t is
known that the President has wished
to have personal friend in the Of
fee which is so close to himself.
Gen. Farnsworth is q close friend of
the President, and was upon his
staff when be was Governor of New
York.
The President is experiencing diff
ficul.y in re-organizing the Civil
Service Commission. He regards
reform in The civil service one of
the most important features of his
Administration, aud he is trying to
secure men for the place whose
names will guarantee practical car
ryins out of the duties of the office.
1t is hard 10 find such men as pos
sess the necessary qualifications, and
who are willing to make the sacri-
fee. The salary is only $500 a
year. Three gentlemen have already
declined appointment. Congress
will probably be asked during the
winter to increase the compensation.
There are quite number oi
house-hunting Congressman in the
city who are deploring the scarcity
of suitable residences. The trans
lent winter population of Washing
ton is so large that the supply of de-
sirable furnished houses for rent was
exhausted some weeks ago, and
many of the late comers will be com
pelled to put up at hotels. This
mode of Lying is not fashionable
here, however. It is the custom fol
public men to keep house. Con
gresham Fisher, of Michigan, ant
Bayne, of Pennsylvania, failing tt
get the kind of houses they want