The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1886-01-14
Washington Letter.

Washington Letter.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 8th, 1885,
The recently scattered congress is
together again. The organization
of the house has been been cem-
pleted by the announcement of the
standing committees, and both
branches have settled down to 8
solid six months session.
The speaker of the house is at
last through with his delicate and
difficult work of committee making.
He has been subjected to very
heavy pressure, and has had quite
hard time over some of the popu-
lar places. The pressure has been
much worse than it was two years
ago, some of the new members be-
ing particularly unreasonable in
their demands. Almost every man
called for chalrmanship and GER
tain new mem bers asked that old
and experienced congressman be
made TO stand aside for them.
Speaker Carlisle looks pale and
oare-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 cen
sidered by the committees he has
just arranged. He made them up
sitter nature deliberation, solely
with regard to the interests Of the
country, and with reference to ma
turing legislation and securing q
favorable hearing on the floor Of
the house. Certain members are
disappointed with the assignments
they have received, of course, but
their irritation will subside as the
session progresses. Carlisle's
work cemmends itself as a whole to
those whe realize his difficulties in
trying to please three hundred men
whose abilities and opinions differ
widely on many questions, and
whose egotism and ambition are
unparalleled. Possibly he has
made some mistakes, but even his
political enemies concede that his
juddment is excellent and that his
motives are pure. One thing, at
least, is certain: No committee
has been made for any ignobls pur-
pose, as has been the case often in
the last quarter century. Nor will
there be that trading of chairman
ships, for personal interests, that
there has been in the past.
The unusual Importance at
tached to the formation of the COM
Dlttees this year greatly increased
the speakers work and added to
his trying perplexities. He worked
day and night while congress was
enjoying the holidays. Indeed, Mr..
Carlisle has as much industry as
President Cleveland, and he is
equally unremittipg in giving his
attention wholly to business. Like
the president too he is rarely seen
out in society.
Secretary Manaing is another
hard worker. Ne one unfamiliar
with the details of the treasury de-
partment 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
espOnsibilities. Unlike the presi-
dent and speaker of the house, Mr..
Manning likes society, especially
dinner parties, and he expects to
entertain extensively this winter.
Under the new regime there is
much stricter enforcement of the
department rules. Clerks are re-
quired to be at their desks now by
nine O'Clock in the morning and
they are not permitted TO leave them
until the clock strikes four in the
afternoon. In the treasury depart
ment note is made of any violation
of these rules, and tardy clerks are
required to report the time of their
arrival to the chief clerk. Con-
sequsntly treasury employees are
kept in a state of perturbatioH
from the time they awake every
morning until they get into the de-
partDent safely on time. The gov
ernment gets a good deal more
work fer the money it pays them
When these rules went INTO effect
the daily average of tardy clerks at
the treasury was over two hundred
Now, out of about two thousand
employees, the average OF delin-
quents is from six to ten, though
occasionally the record is entirely
clear
There is steady removal going
on in the departments here and
scarcely day passes without some
displacement of republicans and APP
pointment Of democrats to fill their
places. Still the incumbents hope
to be retained, hope 10 spite Of
everything and with such menac-
ing examples daily before their
eyes. ''There will not be one of
you fellows left two years from
now," said a republican senator to
a department clerk recently. And
there was much truth in his remark
All idle and inefficient employees
will go in the course of time.
LIGHTNING.