The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1886-12-03
WASHINGTON LETTER
tFrom our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, ID. c., Nov. 30,


wAsHINeros. d. O., Nov. 80, 1885.
This is one of the busiest weeks Of
the year in Washington. Congress
will be here in ono week, and every
body must be ready for it, from the
President to the clearinghouse keeper.
The Presidents message is receiving its
last course Of condensation and revis-
ion. Cabinet officers are performing
similar work on their annual reports,
and their Assistants of the First, Sec
ond. Third and Fouith degrees, with
several hundred Bureau Chiefs, Comp
trollers, Auditors and officers, too num-
erous to mention, are arranging their
figures and plodding over long tables
of statistics.
The streets of the city are again alive
with busy, bustliug throng and up at
the long deserted Capitol, Chairman
Randall, with a quorum of his CON-
mittee, has for week been pressing
work on Appropriation bills. He re-
ports fine progress. and says Congress
will not have to wait on him for money
bills. During the week he has had in
consultation, the heads of different
Bureaus and Government establish
ments, with regard to the needs of their
respective departments for the next
year. Among these were Prof. Baird,
Of the National Museum, Smithsonian
aud National Fish Commission; Super
intendent Thorne, Of the Coast Sur
vey; DR.. Godding, of the Government
Insane Asylum; Col. Wilson. of pnb-
lie buildings and grounds and others
The improved condition of the Gov
ernment service under Democratic ad-
ministra,ion has been me0tioned re-
peatedly, but new instances of reform
are continually making themselves felt,
which deserves especial notice. The
President probably never made a hap
pier stroke of public policy than when
he called Mr.. Benedict here TO be Pnb-
lie Printer. In the period of three
months the notoriously demoralized
Gov ernment Printing Office has been
put in such order that about one-third
more work is being done with the
same amount of money, and the press
room, which three months ago had 400
forms waiting for the press, is now
clear. having caught up"
1t is too bad the President cannot be
left in peace and quiet with his mod est
little country home. As soon as the
real estate dealers of Washington
knew of his intention to buy this place
they secured as much ground in the
vicinity az possible aud ever since they
have been using the Presidents name
in the most liberal manner in connec
tion with all sorts of schemes they
have organized for improvements a,
the public expense. Of course, the
President has been In no way con-
cerned in these maneuvers, but rumors
to that effect cannot but be annoying
TO him.
Almost every day the President OF
Col. Lamont is forced to say there is
not word of truth in some reports
about the President. The Co-onels
latest denial, which is very emphatic
is in RECORD to an investigation, which
| it is alleged, the President is conduct
ing, by means Of private detective
to find out if any of the District Com
missiouers ale interested in real estate
along the line of the proposed exten
sion of Massachusetts, avenue. The
Secretary adds that the President haC
his hands full of his own Legitimate
duties and did not care to interfere witt
outside matters.
| 81 h., oto fon
from this city in connection with thu
police scandal, alleging decentralization
and rottenness in District affairs ant
universal dissatisfaction with the Com
missionership form of Government, arr
quite untrue. The people of the Dis
trict feel that the present Commission
ers are honest aud reliable, and tha
any errors they may commit are purel.
those Of Judgment. The tax-payint
people especially, know when they ar
we'll off, and they have no desire t.
exchange the present Government rule
and Government backing in Distrlc
expenses for the boon of suffrage.
Speaking of the Police Scandal, Ger
tain members of Congress have ex
pressed their opinion that Congress will
not ask to have the matter investigated
"We can take no notice of it officially,
said Representative Sowden, 'for IT.
Congressman has been individually as
persed or injured, and whoever de
manded an investigation would be con
sidered as putting himself on the de
fensive and confessing his guilt Blu
now since so many police officers hav
, been punished and dismissed it is SAT-
they will appeal for redress to thu
President, and in case he declines I,
give the subject attention, they vii
ask Congress to help them.
Congress would not give any NOR
publicity to the subject, but would div
into it secretly through the Appropra
tions Committee when the question o
appropriatiug money for the Distric
would come no. The Congressme
, who were to have been subjected t.
, police espionage would not then b