The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1893-05-17
WASHINGTON LETTER.

WASHINGTON, May ~. 1898
wPresident Cleveland has this week been able
TO devote more of his time to important public
matters than in any single week since his in
auguration. owing to his having stopped the
practice OF granting personal interviews to
applicants for Presidential positions; but it has
been Just the reverse with members of his Cab
met; they have had SO many callers that they
have had to devote almost their entire time to
them, and unless there is a let up'' they will
be compelled to follow the Presidents example
and decline seeing applicants for Office. Those
who pretend to be shocked at what they are
pleased to call the Presidents innovation have
short memories, as he did precisely the same
thing in October. 1885. 1t would be advantage
ous to applicants for places if members of the
Cabinet would also refuse to see applicants, for
then they would have chance to look over the
papers on file and make recommendations to
the President, thus Fastening appointments.
Itis because republicans know this that they
are trying so hard to create public sentiment
In favor of unlimited personal interviews; the
longer the heads of the departments are kept
away from the papers on file. by callers. the
longer the big offices will be filed by republic
cans. Seer
The W Gather Bureau investigation has closed
and Gen. Colby is now at work on the testimony,
upon which his report will be based What
that report will recommend your correspondent
has no means of knowing. but the evidence will
certainly justify general shake-up of the bu-
reau from top 10 bottom, and it is altogether
probable that Secretary Morton will see that it
gets it. W hile nothing absolutely criminal was
proven against prominent officials. state of
affairs was shown to exist that calls loudly for
change.
Secretary Herbert has correct and thoroughly
democratic ideas about the relations that should
exist between Naval officers and the Q. S. Coy
ernment, as his order that no more leaves of
absence be granted naval officers for the pur-
pose of allowing them to enter private employ
fully proves. This practice. like many other
questionable ones, is of republican origin. and
has lgrown into almost scandal Under it
naval officers VIII have acquired special knowl
edge along certain lines after long study, at
government expense. have secured leaves of alb
sence, in some cases for as long as four years.
on two.thirds pay, in order that they might sell
their special knowledge to the highest bidder
among those to whom it would be most valuable
the contractors who do business with the
Navy department. Secretary Herbert says that
hereafter when any naval officer desires to ac-
cept private employment he must resign his
commission before doing so. and every good
democrat will sa amen.
So many complaints of one kind and another
have been received by Secretary Carlisle about
the methods and administration of the New
York Custom. house that he has determined to
have it thoroughly investigated from top to
bottom. and has selected the following gentle
men to do it,: Ex-Secretary Fairchild. of New
York city; Hon. Daniel Magone, of Ogdens
burg, n Y; and Hon. Poindexter Dunn, of
Arkansas.
II is significant that upon the very day Judge
Lochren, the new Commissioner of Pensions.
took personal charge of the Pension bureau that
frauds agEregating something like $100,C00
should have been exposed. And still more sig
niicsnt is the fact that all of these frauds OBJ
tanned pensions through single attorney-W
r. Drewry of Norfolk, Va. That hundreds of
similar cases will bs nnearthed is the general
belie ( here. Judge Lochran is of the opinion
that the amount paid out for pensions can be
largely reduced without depriving any men of
what is justly and legally his, and without
changing the laws, and he proposes to demon
strste the correct ness of that opinion.
A number of prominent democrats, headed
by Representative Bynum. of Indiana, are en-
deavoring to persuade President Cleveland to
call the extra session In June. instead of Sep.
teuber The argument of these gentlemen is
that September is the most unhealthy month in
the wear in Washington, malaria being worse
than at any other time. They say that if Con.
Rress comes together in June the House can
erfect its organization and the committees get