Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1885-08-29
OFFICIAL DOG DAYS.
How the Government Works With.
out the Bosses.

How the Government Works With.
out the Bosses.
Special Correspondence Of the IxrrsO Ocrax1
WASHINGTON, Aug. 2l.-Notwishs,and.
ing the fact that the president is hid in
the depths Of the woods and the cabinet
Is scattered about generally, the work in
all the offices at the national hesdo,,ar-
ters goes on just as smoothly as if Mr..
Cleveland and all the cabinet were in the
way. The secret Of this is that the dc.
partments are full Of thoroughly trained
ana reliable Republican clerks, long nc.
c"stomed to attend to their many duties,
one OF which is to instruct the cabinet
officers and bureau chiefs, in a delicate
way, what to do. When was a boy
used to wonder how the president of the
United States got through his oner0,s
and multiplied duties. did not then
know anything about Bureaucracy and
the $500 chief clerks. These expe-
r'enced and accomplished 1880 clerks
make the duties of administrations
smooth and easy routine for unskille,l
presidents and cabinets.
The dispersion of the heads of the
government has not had the effect IN
lessen the ranks of those who are anx.
ious to draw pay in the humber walks
OF office. These are still here in grcat
numbers and are urging their claims
with great vehemence. 1t is said that
mob OF them actually invaded the bed
chamber OF Mr.. Lamar, the secretary Of
the interior, last week, and although Mr..
Lamar is an early riser they found him
with only the dmpery of his couch about
him. Stormy times are predicted next
winter, when congress assemblies, and
when the Office seeker will be backed by
his congressional delegation.
There is talk that when congress meets
and the appropriations for the mainten-
ance OF the civil service are beng con.
sldered by the house, it will be proposed
to cut down the salaries Of clerks and
other Glasses Of employees. 1t is urged
that government employees are over
paid i'll comparison with the same classes
i'll the employment Of private firms.
One reason for thinking that the civil
service would afford plenty of good
clerks ut lower salaries is the fact that
few OF those who now pass the examin.
atoms are unwilling to be appointed
temporarily as copyists until vacancies
occur among the grades of clerks. Every
vacancy for copyist is taken by those
who have passed the higher grade cx-
Whatever changes are made in the
law, 1t Is not believed that they will he
nope 10 liAve-LIc inW atsac..uv4 .,.,-....---
when a person passes the civil service
he may receive certificate
TO that effect, and with that in his pock-
ct he can seek out his congressman, who
will, after the old plan, when the spoils
doctrine prevailed, 90 to the head Of u
department and say that he wants his
man appointed, provided as he is with u
certificate that he has passed the civil
service examination.
Even ifthc Democratic majority in the
coming congress shall develop enough
to amend the present law, it
is not expected that the president will
it, and no repeal Of the law
could be passed over his Veto 1t is ex-
pccted that instead President Cleveland
will direct that the rules be amended so
as to include within their provisions Of
ficers Of Il higher grade than those who
are now affected by it.
1t is said that the navy is at last to be
oyerhaulcd to weed out shirks and sine
cures. The naval officers who have
friskcd so gaily in the salons Of Wash
ington, occupied the front seats at the
opera, and been so much admired in the
fashionable promenades Of the city will
be sent out upon the rough sea. Poor
fellows, it will make some Of them very
sick. Our navy is top heavy with Off
GERS, and all sorts of plans have to be
devised in order to give them something
TO do. The serviceaLle vessels are only
thirty-nine in number, while there are
over l4OO navy officers of all ranks from
ensigns to admirals. If the United
States navy had four times its present
number OF war ships it would not lack
for full quota Of officers to command
them.