The Washington critic., 1886-03-29
OUR OWL COLUMN.
Grist for Tho Critics Hopper From
Various Outside Sources.


"President Cleveland don't believe In this
civil-service reform humbug any more than
| do" remarked prominent New York
Member OF Congress last evening, whose
opposition to the present method of reform
is well known and outspoken.
"What do you base your statement
uponf" was queried.
"Well, !" he replied, "I've known Cleve-
land long and well, and one time at Albany
had conversation with him on the sub
ject in which l denounced this reform
scheme as an arrant humbug, as 1t Is, and
he unhesitatingly coincided with my senti-
ments, and as an illustration OF his own
views, be said 'lf there was break In the
Erie Canal / could readily get man OF
| practical common sense who would cause
| repairs to be made at once, though he might
| not be an educated person or even able to
| write legble hand, while II ] called upon
| graduate of Harvard or Cambridge, who
| had passed a civil-service examination, to
repair the break, he would, quite likely,
| require time to go through a calculation In
| logarithms before proceeding to practical
| work on the REPAIRS and so II Is with the
affairs of the Nation generally, the persons
| OF practical common sense are equal to oil
the needs Of our Republican form Of Gov
| ernment.'n
"That is what Grover Cleveland said then,
and he has too level head to change his
mind on such self-evdent proposition.
can only explain his present position as
| merely that Of attitudinizng In payment OF
| the debt he considers he owes the mug
wumps, whose votes aided in securing his
| election. He knows the country is bound
to repudiate the humbug."
%
| The Congressional lobby at Washington
has, at times, been an important factor In
shaping legislation in matters relating to
| great corporation interests and schemes
loaded with personal benefits, but so far
during the present Congress these brainy
parliamentary solicitors complain Of dull
times. The present situation was clearly
defined by a veteran lobbyist last evening
when he said: "The truth is, the business
of Congressional advocates has been greatly
restricted, owing to the fact that many of
the corporations of the country and monied
combinations have secured the election Of
their agents TO Congress as Senators and
Members, and are, therefore, Independent
of the services of the outside lobby.n And
then he enumerated number of Senators
and Members elected in the interest of cer-
tain corporations and Congressional
schemes. The old statesman gave a sigh
expressing deep grief at these degenerate
times, where the lobby is inside the halls of
Congress and the occupation Of the outside
advocate thus taken away. But his dlagno-
sis of the situation furnishes q text for a
political reform sermon.
Ex-Congressman Dorsheimer of New
York, editor Of the Star the Administration
organ OF that city, is special friend of
President Cleveland, and takes a deep per-
sonal interest in his success as head of
the Democratic party. He was on visit to
Washington a short time ago and had sew
eral interviews and conversations with the
President. He told the President frankly
that he kept himself too isolated from the
party leaders; that he must give dinners aud
have social intercourse with the representa-
tive men Of the party, by which they would
better know each other and could discuss
Democratic policies In free and easy man
ner; that the party In the country was in
danger of disintegrating by reason of lacl,
of conference and understanding between
the President and the party chieftains on
current political topics and general line
interviews with Carlisle, Morrison and
others, and keep up close Democratic al
lance.
The President remarked that Carlisle had
been up to see him some time before, but az
he (the Presdent) couldn't accommodate
him In an appointment he sought for, thai
he (Carlisle) hadn't been to the White House
since. The president, 1t is understood, has
adopted Mr.. Dorsheimer's suggestions to
certain extent, but In his own peculiar way
He has begun course Of Congressional
dinners. lie did invite Morrison up to the
White House the other evening on visit
and the Illinois statesman having been in
formed OF Dorsheimer's scheme for a close
alliance between the President and the party
| dor khnr t,,n t.it
thinking that q full and free conference OF
the political situation would result. Morri
sons disgust can be imagined when h
stated to friend the next day that the "bi.
conference" was only a three hours cha
on social topics, story telling and drinkin,
up bottle OF whisky; that politics or polio,
was never once referred to by the President
There are rumors all along the line O
contemplated changes In the Cabinet, ant
In this connection there seems to be an al
most universal desire among the pronounce'
leaders Of the Democratic party that tn
PostmasterG General should be succeeded b,
person who is equal to better compre
hension Of the magnitude of this great De
partment so close to all the people Of tn,
country. Senators and Members are EN-
phatic In their criticism OF his treatment o
their august personages. 1t is reported tina
Senator Beck has written him q character
istic letter and that personal relations II
| that quarter are severed. Tue cause o
, complaint among Congressmen is that h
Postmaster-Gene keeps them dancing At
tendance so long in the corridors of the Dc
partment, while he busies himself examiu
ing his mail matter, and they ar
in hurry to reach the commit
tee meeting at the Capitol. A fey
days ago q number of Congressman met q
the Department, each desiring to see th
Postmaster-General on official business be
fore proceeding to the Capitol. In re
sponse to the card of each came the repl
that he was not yet through with his mail
They all finally departed for the Capito
without having seen his "royal majesty,
as one of them characterized the z. NJ. q
and 1t was half seriously proposed to olre
q resolution In the House providing tina
the Postmaster General should defer open
ing his mail long enough to see the chose
representatives of the people who call o
official business in regard to the Postofllc
Department, about which they are to legls
late. There is an evident intention anon!
leading Democrats to make 1t too hot 70
the present p. NJ. q. to retain his sea
much longer in President Cleyeland's Cab
met
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