The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1886-01-14
Washington Letter.

WAsHINaToN, Jan. 8, 1885.
The recently scattered Congress il
together again. The organization Of
the House has been completed by the
announcement Of the standing COM
mittees, and both branches have set
tied down to a solid six months session
The Speaker of the House is at last
through with his difficult and delicate
work of committee making. He has
been subjected to very heavy pressure.
and had quite hard time over some of
the popular places. The pressure has
been much worse than it was two
years ago, some of the new members
being particularly unreasonable in
their demands. Almost every man
called for craftsmanship, and certain
new members asked that old and eK-
perienoed Congressmen be made to
stand aside for them.
Speaker Carlisle looks old and care
worn, and the strain of his recent task
has left other physical marks upon
him. Many questions important and
grave to the people of the United
States will be considered by the com.
mittees he has just arranged. He
made them up after mature delibera-
ton, solely with regard to the inter,
ssts of the country, and with reference
to maturing legislation and securing
a favorable hearing on the floor of the
n
pointed with the assignments they
have received, of course, but their ir-
ritation will subside as the session
progresses. Mr.. Carlisle's work com.
mends itself as a whole to those who
realize his difficulties in trying to
please three hundred men whose abil-
tiles and opinions differ widely on
many questions, and whose sgotism
and ambition are unparalleled. Pos
sibly he has made some mistakes, but
even his political enemies concede that
his Judgment is excellent and his mo-
tives are pure. One thing at least, is
certain. No committee has been
formed for any ignoble purpose, as has
been the case often in the last quarter
of century. Nor will there be that
trading of chairmanships, for personal
interests, that there has been in the
past.
The unusual Importance attached to
the formation of the committees this
year greatly increased the Speakers
work and added to his trying perplex-
tiles. He worked day and night while
Congress was enjoying the holidays.
Indeed, Mr.. Carlisle has as much in.
dustry as President Cleveland, and he
is equally unremitting in giving his
attention wholly to business. Like
the President, too, he is rarely seen
out in society,
Secretary Manning is another hard
worker. No one unfamiliar with the
details of the Treasury Department
can have any idea Of the immense
amount Of mere routine work he takes
upon himself. Most of this work he
could intrust to subordinate as his
predecessors did, but he prefers to look
after his own responsibilities. Unlike
the President and Speaker of the
House, Mr.. Manning likes society,
especially dinner parties, and he ex-
poets to entertain extensively this
winter.
Under the new regime there is @
much stricter enforcement of Depart
ment rules. Clerks are required to be
at their desks now by nine o'clock In
the morning, and they are not per.
mitted to leave them until the clock
strikes four in the afternoon. In the
Treasury Department note is made oi
any violation of these rules, and tardy
clerks are required to report tine time
of their arrival to the Chief Clerk
Consequently Treasury employees iare
kept in state of perturbation from
the time they wake every morning
until they get into the department
safely on time. The Government gets
good deal more work for the money
it pays them. When these rules went
into effect the daily average of tardy
clerks OF the Treasury was over two
hundred. Now, out of about tive
thousand employees, the average ol
delinquents is from six to ten. though
occasionally the record is entirely
clear.
There is a steady removal going Oh
in the departments here, and scarcely
a day passes without some displacs.
ment of Republicans and appointment
of Democrats to fill their places. Still
the incumbents hope to be retained
hope in spite of everything and with
such menacing examples daily before
their eyes. "There will not be one o1
you fellows left in two years from
now" said Republican senator to q
Department clerk recently. And
there was much truth in his remark.
All idle and inefficient employees will
60 in the course of time.
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BELDING II ARGsTRoNG.