The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1886-05-01
From Washington.
from our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, April 10. lSS

[trom our Regular Correspondent
WAsuINGToN, April 10, 1856.
The labor troubles, the proposed Exposi
ton in Washington, the probable fate of the
new tariff bill, and the Presidents rumored
marriage are among the subjects that one
the Capitol our law makers are talking
about Inter State Commerce, secret sessions,
the fisheries question, and appropriation
bills
An enthusiastic meeting was held at vii.
lard's hotel few evening since, ut which
representative business men Of Baltimore and
Washington discussed the projected Exposi-
ton to be inaugurated here in 1889 An ad
dress was presented, which is to be scattered
broadcast over the country, setting forth the
plan Of the great Worlds Fair Congress is
to be asked 10 establish number of perma-
nent exhibition buildings in the city on the
Mall for the products Of North, South, and
Central America, and the Empire Of Brazil.
The Mall is that extensive area Of parking
extending from the Capitol to the White
House, including the Smithsonian Agricul
tural, and Monument grounds
1t is tae intention to strip the project Of
all local purpose, and TO make it national
and international, politics being ignored in
the interest OF all countries. For instance,
it is suggested that a building be erected for
the display of working models in the inter
est Of inventors, and that there shall be a
national art gallery sustained not only by
the Government, but populariled by requests
from private individuals 1t is expected
that one and perhaps both Houses Of Con
gross will take some favorable action on the
subject this week
AS to senators and their secrets, those who
have in the debate branded the secret SEES
sions as fareical, childish, cowardly, and
treacherous, are Platt, Logan, Butler and
Riddleberger. Senator Logan was wonder
ing how executive secrets leaked out News
paper men always got them in some way.
Senator Riddleberger gave his idea of how
they were exposed. Il have n private sec
retary," said he; Il walk down the avenue
with him, he asks me a question or two, and
being smarter than am, he knows more in
he gives it to somebody else and the news
paper fraternity gets it.
Hon. Mr.. Whitthornc. who has been ap-
pointed to succeed Judge Jackson in the L.
S. Senate, will need no introduction to the
halls of Congress. He served with distnc-
ton in the Lower House during the Forty
fourth, Forty fifth, Forty.sixth ald Forty,
seventh Congresses As chairman Of the
Naval Affairs Committee he was very earnest
and successful in exposing the rascalities of
the Navy Department under Grant and eX
Secretary Robson.
There has been great improvement in the
ways Of doing business in the Government
Departments here under the new regime,
Their reforms are looked for through the pas
sage Of bill that is exciting good deal of
interest 1t provides for a Redistribution
and reorganization of the civil service at
Washington, and its purpose is to 80 arrange
the force Of the Departments that the same
kind of work will receive the same pay.
Under the present plan there are clerks
drawing $72O to $40 who are doing the
same work in regard to quality and amount
as clerks who get from ~ ,2OC to 81 600 a
year.
The last classification was made in 1854
when there were only 10 clerks in the de.
partments, now there are S,03l. Under
this arrangement there are four classes
class receiving $1,000; class 2, l,i0O;
class 8, 81 900, and class 4, $500 Clerks
have been employed and assigned TO these
classes with but little regard TO their grade
Consequently there is great deal of waste
to the tax payers in the Departments But
ns there is no fixed limit TO the revenues of
the Government and the burdens OF the tax.
payers, the waste is not perceived. While
the new Administration is setting the Gov
ernmental house in order, it proposes to sub
icct the men and women employed here to
a thorough investigation, weed out the in.
competent, and redistribute the others so as
to enable them to do the greatest amount
and best kind of work of which they are
capable.
Apropos of work. group of Congressman
we're chatting few days ago; when allusion
was made to the popular idea that men in
legislative positions work little and get good
paw. Mr.. Scott, the wealthiest member in
the House, spoke up: i have worked
harder since became Congressmaa," said
he, ethan ever before in my life. get to
work every day that | am in Washington at
eight o'clock in the morning, AMI | seldom