Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1892-11-24
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Civil Service Commission May Con.
troll the Printers.
Thousands Applying for the Government
Blue Book.
From u Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, D. c., Nov. 1S, '92.

WASHINGTON, D. c., Nov. 1S, '92.
President Harrison is doing no talk
ing through the press, but he takes a
deep interest and an active part in the
consideration of the future plans of the
Republican party. He has been receiv-
ing calls from men more or less promi-
nent in the party since the election,
and his talks with them have tended
to encourage them to activity in the
work of organizing and strengthening
the party. There has been no despon-
dency in what he has said and he
wastes no time in vain regrets, but is
earnest in the feeling hat more than
ever there is need for compactness and
unity of purpose in the party. 1t is
evidently his feeling that the party
should show no weakening in the pres
ence of defeat, and lose as little time
as possible in strengthening the party
organization. The discussion of the
reorganization in the sense, not of
change of principle or policy, but of
perfecting the management and meth
DDS, has already been taken up serious
ly by leading Republicans, and cores
pondence looking to the strengthening
of the organization has already begun.
A permanent organization, with work
ers who will keep up the work all the
year around and every year, instead of
trying to do the work of four years
in the few months before a presi-
Dental election, is what is aimed at.
There is some difference of opinion
among Republicans as to the policy to
be followed, but the idea seems to pre-
vail that the force bill" question must
be forever put aside and that there
must be a modification of the position
on the tariff, that the Mckinley bill
places the party on a dangerous height
and that they must come down a little,
making their contention merely for
the principle of protection and con-
senting to moderation in its application.
Never since the civil service law went
into effect has any reform proposition
called forth SO great a number of local
supporters and antagonists as has the
proposition to make employees of the
Government printing Office more Sc
cure in their position by giving the
civil service commission full legal con-
troll by the conditions upon which the
makeup of the force depends. Natur-
ally, the majority of those now en-
ployed in the great building favor any
thing that looks like an extension of
the term through which they may con-
tinue to place their autographs on I'm
Gle Samuel's pay rolls. Quite as many
are there on the outside who want to
return to the places which they occu-
pied prior to the incoming of this ad-
ministration. Between the two classes
there a be no harmony, no oneness
of sentiment.
There are those, however, who have
no personal interest either in the Gov
eminent printing Office as an establish
ment, or in any of its employees, and
some of these have taken up the banner
of civil service reform and propose to
wave it persistently before the eyes of
President Harrison until he fixes it to
the halyards of the Government print
ing office flagstaff. Among these phil
anthropists there now seems to be a
satisfying impression that the Presi-
dent will shortly accede to their wishes
although up to the present time he has
made them no promises.
There is not believed to be the least
probability that any of the ''pop.gun"
tariff bills that were sent over to the
Senate by the House at the last session
will be considered by the Senate at this
session. 1t is hardly likely that any of
them will be reported by the commit
tee. Whatever further is done with the
tariff will, it is thought, be left over
for the Democrats in the next Con-
gress. There has been some idle talk
about the Republicans throwing up
their hands in the next Congress, and
letting the Democrats do as they please.
The Republicans, however, will doubt
less defend their institutions of pro-
lection as well as they can at all times,
and in the next Congress they may not
be SO insignificant in power as not to
be able to give the controlling party a
great deal of trouble. AT the coming
session there will be no chance to do
anything except make appropriations
unless the necessities of the case COM
pei some agreement on a plan for rails.
ing more revenue Certainly the idea
of cutting the revenue still lower by
the passage of any of the free trade bills
Of the last session will not be enter
tanned by the Senate for a moment.
There is a certain little pamphlet is
sued by the State Department that is
in great demand these days. The re-
quests come by mail in profusion, by
telegraph, and every day numbers of
gladstone looking individuals, their
features bright with the sunshine of
hope, march into the chief clerks Of
and ask for it. The little book which
is so precious bears the unassuming
title of Register of the State Depart
ment," and gives the patronage to he
dispensed by the State Department.