The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1886-11-04
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WAsH1NaroN. oct. aOrh. 1ss

w ASh4N6lON, OC6. OObuS lOOOs
The week has been rather a quiet
one in Washington. The president
and his cabinet returned promptly af-
ter the fatigue of Bartholdi day in New
York, and settled down to their desks
l do not think they are billed for any
more fairs or dwellings this fall. The
annual autumn races, which have al
ways attracted large contingents from
the fashionable, diplomatic, army, navy
and official circles of Washington, are
in progress, but the weather is unpro-
pitious and they have excited less in
terest than usual.
Those of you who live far removed
from governmental machinery connot
realize the extent of the improvements
in departmental work under the new
administration. But those of us who
have been here all the time, and who
have seen so much of the idleness, ex-
travagance, worthlessness and corrup-
ton of the oldrepublIcan officials and
methods, take special delight in the new
order of things and feel as if too much
could not be said about it.
For instance, the current business of
the patent Office is in a much better and
more prosperous condition than when
commissioner Montgomery assumed
control. At that time the work was
largely in arrears, and he has succeed
ed in bringing much of it up to date.
The application of an inventor for a
patent is now reached in about three
months after filing. The time former
" was five and a half months. Mr..
Montgomery says he expects to be able
to bring all the work substantially up
to date within the next few mouths,
and so keep it.
A little over year ago some of the
divisions of this office were as much a s
seventeen months behind in their ex-
aminatiOns. To fully appreciate the
work accomplished, consideration must
be given to the fact that the commits
sioner was inexperienced and had to
study up and advise himself thorough
~ on all points relating to very diff
cult practice, The attorneys practic-
ing before the Office are much pleased
with the progress made, and ask that
the good work may go on. The patent
office, tbesides being self supporting,
pays balance in the treasury. There
is now an account to its credit there OF
nearly three million dollars Last
year "a, 1874 patents were granted out of
81, 695 applications,
A new order of things confront poll
ticIans these days !; no help from Wash
ington, and stumping federal officials to
be called to account. Consequently
but few can be seen here this week.
The ELECTIONS are only five days off
but the habit of running to Washing
ton in a hurry to get friends or offices
to assist in the election is not in order
this year. No assistance beyond send
ing out documents by the campaign
committee has been drawn from the
capital. Notwithstanding the great
interest felt in the result, the admins
tration has rigidly abstained from ev-
erything that conld be construed into
official interference and no campaign
contributions have been collected in
the departments.
A campaign lie has been going the
rounds of late TO the effect that when
the agent for the,sale,of General Grants
Memoirs asked permission to canvass
the interior department for subscribers,
Secretary Lamar refused to grant it,
but that an agent for the Life of Rob-
ert z. Lee was accorded the privilege
without the objection being interposed.
Nobody ever solicited permission to
canvass the interior department for the
"Life OF Robert E. Lee'' until last
Tuesday, when leave was promptly
granted. When the agent of Grants
Memoirs made known to Mr.. Lamar
his desire to go through the depart
ment with This subscription book, the
secretary not only acceded to the re-
quest without hesitation, but headed
the Hist of interior department SUBJ
scribers with an order for the twenty
five dollar or costly edition.