The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1889-10-03
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.

WASHINGTON, D. c., Sept. 81, 1889.
Editor Herald:
The President and Mrs. Harrison re-
turned to Washington this afternoon.
This time they have come to stay, and
the White House again becomes the CEN
tire of public interest. The real work OF
the administration will now begin in
earnest. Tomorrow meeting of The
cabinet will be held to discuss a num-
Der of important matters, not the least
of which will be who is to succeed Cor
poral Tanner as commissioner ofpension.
The president already has his message
to congress sketched in outline. The
details will, OF course, require many
consultations with the members of his
cabinet and the party leaders.
Representative Benz. Butterworth, the
popular son of Ohio, who has just re-
turned from a trip to Europe, was given
Il welcome home tonight that must
have warmed his big heart to its inner
most parts. At least three thousand
people took part in the reception which
was held in the old skating rink. Hon.
S. S. Shellabarger delivered the address
of welcome, and number of other gen.
tlemen, including Senator Sherman,
made short speeches. The reply of Mr.
Butterworth was a gem IN it's way and
could have been made by few men so
we'll. Mr.. Butterworth will take the
stump in Ohio for Gov. Foraker in few
days. The reception was held under the
auspices of the Ohio Republican Asso-
citation of this city.
Almost quorum of the senate has
been in Washington during this week.
The majority of the senator's were only
here for day or two, as they returned
from their summer vacations, and had
little to say on political matters. At
least a dozen of the shrewdest news
paper men in town successfully tackled
Senator Quay for an interview but the
junior Senator from the keystone state
knocked them out in one, two, three
order without the slightest tumble.
There are few men in public life harder
to interview than Mr.. Quay, and yet no
man is easier to approach.
The return to this city of Commissioner
Roosevelt, of the civil service commission,
has started anew the fight in the present
civil service law. Mr.. Roosevelt is being
more or less harshly criticised by repub-
leans who believe the present civil SER
vice law to be colossal humbug, and
their number is legion, for having said
in newspaper interview that it would
be party treachery for a republican con-
gresham to attack on the floor of the
house the present civil service law. Said
republican representative. "Mr. Roose-
welt makes the mistake of thinking that
those who oppose the present law are
opposed to reform in the civil service
The great majority of those who are
agitating the repeal of the present law
are doing it because they have become
satisfied that no reform has been or is
likely to be effected by it. These men
are il, line with the best sentiment of the
Republican party in desiring a true re-
form in our civil service, but they can
see no good in continuing the present
cumbersome and expensivelaw. Progress
has ever been synonymous with the
methods of the Republican party, and in
my opinion progress toward a better
civil service demands the repeal of the
present law. was working republic
can before Mr.. Roosevelt ever cast a
vote, and think the republicans in con-
gross can decide this question without
any advice from either of the gentlemen
who are drawing $1,000 year as COM
missioners under this law"
Secretary Window has asked for and
received the resignation of J. K. Kimball,
director of the mint, and Col. Switzler,
commissioner of statistics. E. 0.
Leech. who has been in the office for
number Of years, and who is now acting
director of the mint, will assume that
Office October Is, when Mr.. Kimball's
resignation takes effect. The presence in
Washington of Joseph Nimo, whom Mr..
Switzler succeeded early in the Cleveland
administration, makes it generally be-
ieved that he is to take his old place.