The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1889-07-11
Washington Letter.
WASHINGTON. D C., Iune 28th.

J
Blane's youngest man with bangs William
Walter Phelps, of New Jersey, has been ap-
pointed Minister to Germany There is nothing
strange about this appointment, which was
known and discussed in Berlin, where Phelps
with the Samoan Commission, six weeks ago,
except the absurd attempt the part Of Blaine
Harrison and Phelps to make it appear 10 the
public that the latter very much surprised
when rendered the commission as Minister, when
as a matter of fact the thing has been fully set
tied ever since shortly after the Senate rejected
the nomination Of Murat Halstead TO the same
position. BY accident discovered the cause OF
this little display. Phelps wants to spend the
most of the summer in this country, and it was
concluded that if it was given out that the posi-
ton had been given him Unexpectedly, he could
plead private business" as an excuse for not
going to Berlin for several months. Verify the
tricks of the politicians many.
Commissioner of Pensions Tanner is supposed
to be rather thick-skinned, but the charges of
lavoritism towards a certain firm of pension
agents here, which were recently made against
the Pension office, broke him all up as the
| boys say. Before leaving for the west, where
| he goes to attend several soldiers meetings, he
| called on the President to assure him that he
was innocent of the charges He also told the
| President that when he returned from this trip
he proposed making personal investigation in
order 10 ascertain whether there was any basis
| for the charges.
There is to be big discharge at the Govern
ment printing office tomorrow l am Informed
that Public Printer Palmer has instructed The
foremen in the several departments that ht
wanted none but democrats selected for dis
missal.
The Indiana republicans that stay at hom
must be very different from those that come Il
Washington, else Representative Owens, c
that State. who is just from home, must be fiji
bing when he says speaking of his constituents
- The people of the State feel that superior t
patronage. personal abmiton for place, and a
that, is the sense that Indiana has a Presider
whose administration they may be proud of
For several reasons | am constrained to believ
that MIR Owens is only giving the man i'll tn
White House taffy'' with the hope of " catcI
ing on to something for some of his atores;li
Constituents. First, because in the eyes of a
the republicans from Indiana that | have eve
seen, nothing was superior TO official patronage
Secondly, the administration of the Indiana ma
has hardly been long enough its acts mpor
ant enough to either be proud of or ashamed Q
The traveller who is at present occupying IL
White House. is working the railroads in gre
shape. He returned from Cape May Monde
night and today he has gone back there.
will return here the first of the week, bringir
his family. Tuesday or Wednesday he is
carry the old lady and babies to Deer Par
+. where deadhead cottage has been placed at /
disposal for the summer. He is then 10 go
the Fourth of July celebration at Woodstoc
How many drummers do more travelling tn;
this in the same time.
The Civil Service Commission has return
from its investigating tour. The Commissions
are disappointed and almost discouraged
only one place did they find the law being stri,
ly carried out--Chicago. The visits of inspe
n ton will be kept up, and unless the courage
a the cNmmission shall all ooze out, the law "
Il be strictly enforced. without fear or favor, TT
II treatment. II persisted in, will make the law
permanent thing or it wihsause it to be repealC
4 Mr.. Porter, Superintendent~ef the Gems
proposes to set up little opposition<to
II Civil Service Commission. He refuses TO "a
a his clerks through the Commission. and has
u ranged list of questions which he says all a
a plicants must answer satisfactorily before :
b pointment. The only difference is. if furnish
by the Commission some of tine clerks would
Il democrats, while Porters plan makes sure of
a being republicans
III Special orders have been given collectors
Il Internal revenue to watching fruit distill
during the coming season.