Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1886-03-20
INTER-OCEAN

NTER-OCEAM
WASHINGTON WATTS.
society-senate and President
Civil servlce-Etc.
spsaaal Correspondence Of the ~rSrER.0cEaN.1
WAsH1NaroN, March 12.-Washington
society has gone into mourning for forty
days. To observe or appear to observe
Lent is as fashionable in this city as it
is to approach it with social events
heaped upon one another. Tho young
lady who has been going to balls, routs,
receptions and dancing attendance upon
the german has thrown aside her decol-
lete satin robe and arrayed herself IN a
high cut suit Of sack-cloth, metaphoric.
ally speaking, while she cries mea culpa
and contents herself with afternoon teas,
drives and theatre parties.
Every day crowds Of people go to the
capitol and make their way to the SEN
ate galleries where they listen to the
long looked for debate on the presiden-
tial prerogative. Although all the dis
cussion that could be crowded into q
year would not remove the question
at issue from the category Of vexed po-
litical problems, the people will be glad
to have the subject thoroughly exhaust
ed. Then both parties to the contro-
versy may settle down to the real work
Of the session. There will be a general
approval, however, if the debate shall
produce as one Of its indirect results the
throwing open Of executive business to
the scrutiny of the public.
The new administration is but little
more than a year old. 1t may interest
civil service .reformers to read what
changes have been made in the person
mel Of the executive departments during
the twelve months and how the presi-
dent has carried out his pledges at the
SAPSA1SO VI uAo pa1Gys
The treasury department, which is by
far the largest Of them all, afford the
most interesting example Of what has
been done. Its assistant secretaries have
given place to Democratic successors
and the score of bureau officers who
were. with few exceptions, active parti-
sans, have given place to successors
chosen on about the same principles.
Tho supervising architect and chief Of
the secret service retain their places.
Among the deputy chiefs Of bureaus,
sabout one.half have been displaced or
reduced to lower grades. Of the chiefs
of divis,on about one-half have been dis.
placed or reduced to clerkships. TAX
ing the secretary's Office as an example,
If its nine division chiefs four have
1aeen displaced, M of whom was sue.
oeeded by the promotion Of an efficient
subordinate the other five have been
retained. The treasurer's bureau has
been protected absolutely from partisan
changes, and vacancies in all its grades
have been filled by promotion. Assistant
chiefs of division have been recognized
as under the civil service classification
and free from partisan changes, the ap.
pointment Of an assistant chief Of the
appointment division being the only vic.
lation of this principle and policy. In
the four clerical grades the civil service
law has been absolutely enforced and
excuses for removals or evasions have
not been sought.
The bureau of engraving and printing,
controlling more patronage unrestricted
by the civil service law than all the bu-
reaus of the treasury combined, has af-
forded the most conspicuous and per-
feet example Of the triumphs of reform
principles.
Throughout the departments where
assistant secretaries were employed they
have been superseded with u single ex-
ception. With chief clerks the rule has
been very different. The veteran and ef.
ficient chief clerks Of the state, war and
navy departments, trained under Re-
publican administrations, have been re-
tanned. The chief clerk of the depart.
ment of justice and of the interior de.
partment both continue to serve, and
the only two who have been succeeded
are those oftSc treasury and postofice
departments, voluntarily resigned.
The state, war. and navy departments
have been absolutely free from partisan
changes above, below and in the CLASH.
fed grades. The department Of justice
has witnessed numerous changes in its
higher positions, tho assistant attorney
generals, the solicitor general, 8 special
attorneys, etc., but its chief clerk, ap
pointment clerk and other prominent
officers remain, and in the grades of di.
vision chiefs, clerical grades, and among
the laborers and messengers, partisan
shiY has had no victims.
In the interior and ~postofice depart.
;nents changes and reductions have been