Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-05-06
THE DISTRICT OFFICES.
The Brass Band Method Dropped i'm
Favor of Quieter Tactics-The Present
Situation Summed up.

The activity among the District politicians
just now in regard to the filling OF the offices,
is not of the brass band order. The time for
delegations and the circulation OF petitions,
which marked the early weeks of the present
administration, seems to have passed, and al
though an occasional deleg alton may visit one
OF the departments or the White House, on the
surface District politics seems to be as calm and
restful as if there We're offices to fill and no
anxious throng of applicants. The candidates
for the offices and their friends seem to think
the deliberation and caution displayed by the
President, the proper course to pursue or at
least no harsh criticisms are heard. The office
seekers are neither pitching into each other or
into the President, and they are awaiting the
turn of the wheel or the casting of the die with
a cheerful serenity, that to say the least is un-
usual when the interests of men are involved,
One OF the leading men in District matters thus
summed up the present situation to STAR re-
porter
"You express surprise that there is not more
stir and excitement among the District people
over the District offices. Its very easily under
great deal OF work going on. Men who rushed
upon the President before he had fairly got into
II the W. White House probably had few, If any
other matters to attend to, and besides an
nounced his intention OF going slowly in
making District appointments. suppose that
brass band business doesn't throw much light on
the character and fitness of an applicant for
and so you see the excitement and stir has
disappeared. Still 1t is only on the sur
lace. The President must be posted about the
different men, and it is important to approach
him In the proper way, and this is the kind of
work that Is now being done. The opportunity
Is now being improved of bringing to the Presi-
dents attention the claims of the various can
dldateS and it is the belief that all this will
have some weight. OF course, what is known as
the outside influence-I mean the politicians
rom the various states-is being utilized either
at the suggestion of candidates who happen to
be on friendly terms with them or because they
want to secure some of the District patronage to
strengthen themselves"
After all, he continued, "the main points of
interest 20 District people are the District Com
missionerships, although believe that District
men Will be appointed to fill the other offices.
Ihe present system of government has been q
success in spite OF the men who have been Com
mlss1oners, and now the people Of the District
want to see what the system would be when
run by men who are acquainted with the needs
and interests of the District
Some of the politicians are of the opinion that
the appointment OF Judge Merrick was not in
accordance with the policy of District men for
District offices, but Others say that it was never
contemplated that the judiciary should come
within the scope of that rule. In fact they
say, that perhaps it is better to have judges who
nave not been residents here. With this eXcep-
tlOn, the President has given no Indication
what course he will adopt in making selections
for the District offices, but there seems to be q
we'll grounded belief that the new appOinteeS
will be District men.