Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-12-06
BEFORE AND AFTER.
Smiles that Turned TO SneefS on
the Faces Of SycOphants.
Flat Footed Truths
Which Defeat Has Brought President
Cleveland 10 Realize.
Disgraceful Condition OF the Mail Ser
vice.
Flat Footed Truths
Especial to the Kennebec Journal.

Special to the Kennebec Journal
WAsHIs6roS, Dec. ..
But month ago President Cleveland was
the most sought after man in this country
Crowds of people were at the White House
seeking interviews, and many of them sought
10 vain. HIS genius, his phenomenal success
in political life, his luck and his pluck were
all magnited by millions of people who,
however much they despised In their hearts,
praised him with then lips. He was looked
upon by maay-as what he believed himself
~ be- a man of destiny" who would con
tinue to hold the reins of government. And,
therefore, he was cOurted and fawned upon
by counties. sycophAn,s. Today the White
House is almost deserted. The ante-rooms
which but yesterday were thronged BY anI-
ious waiting crowds, are silent
The President has spent week
or more at oak View, scarcely, if at all.
coming into the city. His praises are no
longer sung upon the street corners, aud the
utmC ct that me nov hears said in his b half
Is that he is honest" His honesty is the
kind that sees in every other man a thief
that believe, that in himself are eentered all
the virtues and all the grsces that exist in
the world, while he looks ith suspicion upon
his fellow men. Now that his term or Office
draws TO a close, Mr. Cleveland will be
brought face to face with some aat-footed
truths, which, imagine, will cause him
much astonishment Hi, scolding message
to Congress excited but little interest.
A Demoralized Department.
Every one who has much correspondence
knows into what disgraceful condition the
mail service. nf tho ta. fall ui.
this administration. incompetent men have
been put in the places of true and tried Off
cials. large publishing firm of Richmond
Va, has just given notice to the department
that they will be forced TO leave the city un-
less their mail is forwarded more promptly
Two bushel baskets of letters of complaints
are received at the department daily Yet
the expenditures of the department have in
creased instead of decreasing. In order
however, that the outgoing administration
may make the best possible showing, all ex-
penditures for repairs and other current eI-
penses have been practically stopped. AM
official from the post office department told
me the other day that it oud cost. BY the
fourth of next March, 81 900, 900 to repair
and replace worn out bags ond other neces-
sary repairs, so as to place the department
in as good a condition as it was when turned
over TO the new administration on March 4th,
1856.
1t is surprise to many that Postmaster
General Dickinson in his annual report. Just
issued, makes no reference whatever to the
reduction on letter postage. There is a de-
cided wish on the part of the people that
postage on letters should be reduced to one
cent per ounce. And such a reduction is
sure to come at no distant day.
No Saw dust in Democratic Spittoons
The frantic efforts OF the democrats to re-
duce expenses, so as to lessen to some ex-
tent the increased expenditures of the gov
ernment during tins administration, leads to
some ridiculous make ,hfts 1t is the old
story of stopping up the spiggot and leaving
the bunghole open. One instance which | |
will note. has caused much amusement.
The floors of the corridors in the patent of
flee are laid in white marble. At regular
intervals large iron cuspidores are placed to
receive the eXpeclorations of those who chew
tobacco. 1t is needless to say that they
have been well patronzed since "colonels'
and ma Jahs" from the south took charge.
From time immemorial these receptacles
have been filled each morning with fresh
sawdust which rendered them comparatively
inOffensye to the eye as well as to the sense
of smell. But few months ago the chief
clerk of the interior department ,wOre that
he would have no such republican e1traya-
gancies as that and he directed that the use of
sawdust be discontinued and plain water,
for which he had no use, substituted IN its
place. Thus this great and glorious gov
eminent was saved the expense of Sl.7j per
annum. This same official deals out pens
one at a time to clerks in the building, and
81. -f.
to certain amount of coal each day, no
matter whether the rooms are warm or not
The Inauguration
One of the busiest places in the city Just
now is the inauguration headquarters, :
which is located in the Atlantic building on
+ street, n. W. Committees have been
appointed which are to take entire charge of
the parade and and private accommodations
for visi ors. They will also make all ar
rangements for the inaugural ball, which i.
to be held in the great court of the new
pension building in Judiciary square Indi-
yiduas or organizations desiring to do so can
obtain accommodations in advance BY ad-
dressing department of Public Comfort,
Inauguration Committee, Atlantic Building,
Washington, ID. G. If the 4th of March
should be pleasant day there will be the
grandest Inauguration parade that has ever
been witnessed in Washington. Many
thousands have already engaged quarters.
Let Maine send her full quota
No Rush to the Capital.
have never seen so few people here
before at the opening of Congress. The
reason is that theee are few who care for an
appointment under the outgoing administra-
ton. Those who expect TO come in under
the new one have not yet begun their wire
pulling at the National Capital. But the
beautiful city is as fair as ever and is rem
dered more glorious by the clear, crisp
weather which prevails.
The Contest for Speaker.
There will be four prominent members.
of the present House in the speakership race
as follows: Thomas B. Reed of Maine,
William Mckinley, Jr., of Ohio. Joseph O.
Cannon of Illinois and Julius c. Burrows of
Michigan. The chances for Mr.. Reeds
success appear to he excellent.
Comment on the Message.
The republicans 10 both Houses use some
very vigorous language in denOunciug the
message. Senator Allison this evening said,
30 II 4. uBpAUlDtC- ne senator haI special
reference to the second paragraph in the
message, which casts serious doubt on the
wisdom of the foundation of our republic
because it Is founded upon the freedom Of
the people" He thinks the President struck
a very cruel blow at the American form of
government simply because its citizens did
not retain him in power
Senator sherman said 1t contains
nothing new except certain forms of com
plant.
The Senate Bill
Mr.: Allison states that if it should be
deemed desirable the Senate tariff bill will
be called up even in the morning hour
There will be much opposition to this.
pecially on the part of the friends Of the
Union Pacific Funding bill. who had the
day assigned for the consideration of that
measure. Mr.. Hoar and Mr. Morgan have
both expressed themselves as anxious that
this bill shall be sent to the House at the
earliest practicable moment The bill is the