Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1889-02-21
WASHINGTON LETTRR.

WAsnINGTON. Nh. nm. -

" ASiilNA'l On tD, Ill., 1867.
There is the lively music OF q great
row in the Democratic camp, ana its
ultimate result is difficult 10 foreteiL
The Presidents removal on Saturday
Of Civil Service Commissioner Edg,r-
ton is the talk Of the town. and especial
ly Of Mr.. Edgerton himself. Mr.
Edgerton says, 1.-THE civil service laws
have never been enforced during this
administration, and the President has
never made a thorough attempt 20 en-
force them. Mr.. Thompson. whose
nomination the President has sent TO
the Senate, wlllnot be confirmed. and
if Mr.. Oberly is nominated he will mo-
be confirmed. These two men are in
competent and politically dishonest. "
1t has been known for long TIM"
! that President Cleveland desired Nj
Edgerton TO resign, but it was not ex-
pected that he would peremDtorily re-
move him. The bargain. if bargain IL
were, between the President ana Messrs
| Thompson and Oberly seems void o.
purpose. And how Oberly came To
consent that Thompson should be nom
mated instead of himself is q question.
Oberly had the first claim. as ever since
his retirement from the Gyi. -ay i..
Commission he has desired 10 tl -h,
vacancy his retirement made if he
could only get Judge Edgerton remov-
ed. The only possible solution B, that
Thompson was more accepfaU.e tn
nomination as being more respectable.
Oberly is one of the most marked
representatives of cheap ana dirty poll
tical tricksterS that ever Glsgraced any
administration. His only repulsive
manners and his hypocrisy are IS char
acteristic as his unblushiug impudence
when occasion favors. lie brought q
pack OF hungry relatives anG heelers !
with him. and found them places. Il, |
did not hesitate to claim Jealous friend |
ship for civil service. while me- tool |
every possible means TO degrade auc |
disgrace IT. know the Obrrly tribe.
and can warmly endorse them Tor
ignorance and greed.
Commissioner Edgertou right or
wrong in this case, represents The bet
Ter element Of the Democracy. lie is
seventy-six years old. ana Was in Con-
gress and an advocate Of civli scryic,
reform in the days of Pierce and OF
Fillmore. His appointment was well
received by both parties, and, though |
his methods may be slow, there is II,
doubling his sincerity. lie is man o,
and his practical talents are
in his business measure. If, |
as is now proposed. President lIarri- |
son should appoint him the Democra- |
tic member OF the Commission, il vii |
be heavy blow at cleveland In fact
how the whole affair can be regarded |
as other than a bad blunder on Mr. |
Cleyeland's part, am at a loss to un-
derstand.
The tariff calculation furnished by !
the Treasury Deplr,mr. 70 the COM
mittee on Ways and Means rrachyo !
the Committee Oh saturday and were |
Immediately rushgJ oil o. The priute
without consideration oI review. They /
Hi!. be in PRINT. however. h.. ,O-mUiiu# !
and the committee VIII probably re-
poIt a ylii 10 the iiousr t.ls week
Chairman Minis is busy on what he
a showing Of a few Of the |
iRcOugrulties of the senate bill The !
republicans in the committee will prob
ably submit detailed report, but will |
merely Recommend that the House
concur in the substitute Of the Senate
bill for the Mills bill
The Window boom for the Treasury |
portfolio seems to have fallen to the |
ground, and that very large and loose
jointed individual seems to be doomed |
to remain in political retirement. at
least SO far as any chances in the next |
Cabinet are concerned The latest |
cabinet slate made in Washington is:
Secretary of state, Blaine; Treasury,
New or Mckinley; War, Alger; Navy,
Wanamaker; Postofiice, Plat; Interior,
Thurston; Acknowledgement, Estee;
Agriculture, Miller.
On saturday Minister Phelps arrived
- New York. and is expected in Wash
ugtun tonight. lie states that he will
neither confirm nor deny the story that
. left England because no Minister
aas sent 70 this country to succeed Mr..
West. and he refuses to talk on the
,rnoan question, thus leaving the
american people to get out Of the dif
liculty as best it may. without the
l Of his daring intelligence. This
SIS wrong in Edward J. Phelps. lie IS
sind enough. however, to inform
waiting and anxious world that he has
not resigned. Resigned, Of course not.