Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-02-28
A CONDITION AT WASHINGTON.

1t Is interesting to note, on the threshold of the new administration. the condition of the three great departments at Washington in respect of the clerical help. These are the treasury, interior and postothce. and the investigation that has just been made of them by the Wash ington correspondent of the New York Herald reveals some curious and inter- | estlng facts. It shows very plainly why it is that President Cleveland could not expect to command any great enthusiasm in the ranks of the democracy, and ap- positely what broken reed he relied upon when he chased the shadow of civil service reform.
 The Herald writer, looking after the number of employees ''held over," finds that in the treasury department there are now employed 1, ,230 officials, receiving Sl ,SS5.O00 annual pay, who were ap- pointed prior to March 4. 1885. There are 40 employees, receiving an annual pay amounting to SS1S,340, whose ap- pointments date subsequent to March 1, 1885. In the interior department there are 1 ,G,4 "hold-overs," having S2,000,0 ,000 annual pay, and 456 appointees of the present administration, drawing S550, ,00O annual pay. In the postotfice depart ment there are AS persons, having an aggregate salary of S550, ,000, who have been there more than four years, and 143 persons, with an aggregate salary of S175,000, who have been there less than four years. It will be seen from these figures that the departments in Washington are much more strongly republican than democrat ic after the four years of President Cleve- lands administration. This may not be an ideal civil service reform for republl- cans-none could be that would allow any democrats to hold office-but it is entirely too much so for the men who voted four years az o to turn the rascals out" When Grover Cleveland was in augurated president four years ago it was expected by those who elected him that there would be cltaning out of the Augean stables in the departments of the government, but instead we find the same old barnacleS that have been fast ened for years to the ship of state. Could it be expected, under such circumstances. that the democratic party would exert itself very greatly in the interest of a man whose chief solicitude was for re- publicans, mugwumps and political pharisees?
 We do not believe that General liar rison will allow himself to fall into Pres. z ident Cleveland's error. Whatever may be said or thought Of his backbone, what |, ever disposition he may have to keep the airy promises given to the civil service reformers, he will be surrounded by mer at Washington who will insist that his administration be a republican one il
 fact as we'll as in name. Of course, as k shown by the figures quoted above, his administration would still be republican so far as the Washington departments are concerned, even if there was not single democrat removed to make room
 for republican. But we venture tt predict-and we don't think any repub
 lican paper will gainsay us-that Gen eral Harrison and his immediate subori 3 dinate will not spare the rake in thei1 n reorganization of the civil service. AnG f the grist that the rake will gather vii !. De democrats.
 0 Thus will vanish the ignis fatuus O e civil service reform.