Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-03-26
His Nose TO the Grindstone.

There il a good deal OF talk now being
INDUCED in at Washington about RIDING
tho departments of useless incumoents
and nbolishing their places.
In the interest of good government we
trust that the movement may succeed
nrovided that il is carried out without fear,
favor. or affection but alas. We know that
the useless official is generally popular.
He has plenty Of time to make himself
agreeable 10 his superlors and 70 the pub
he. while the fellow with his nose to the
rrindstone IA but little known, and tho
very fact that he works so much where
and when others are idle mas make him
unpopular rather than popular with his
comrades at least.
We have noticed. too, in some spasms OF
retrcnchment and reform that the aim OF
the rcformers ia generally TO reform on the
holders Of small places and tho recipients
Of small salaries, whIlo heads of depart
mcuts and big officials" go untouched
and unreformei. In other words, the
helpless are hurt; those who cannot defend
themselves are attacked.
II Is almost certain that we employ too
many men and women to do ouI work at
Washington. and we would have the Demo-
crats act more honestly about the matter
than the Republicans have ever done and
practice real rotrenchment and economic
all along the line and from top to bottom.
but let 1t be thorough. honest. impartial.
We dare say. however. that the movement
viii 30 chilled. If 1t Is not altogether
stopped. when 1t Is known that big men as
well IA small men are 10 be the subjects OF
investigation and reformation.
No sound reason has over vet been
ciyen-none ever will be givcn-why tho
department employees at Washington
should not work as many hours as the en-
p%loyees Of the Federal Government a New
York. Philadelphia, Baltimore, Richmond,
Charleston, &c. but 1t is useless 10 expect
Any change in the present law. Such an
amen iment recently proposed utterly
failed.
Great abuses have grown up under Re
publican administrations. and the Demo-
Gratis will ind 1t difficult and tedious to
correct them. but We should try. The
Washington Post says that IN all the de-
partmcut, il Will be found that men and
women are employed who DO not depend
upon their government salaries for the
suppor, Of themselves and their families.
" In son.e cases it will be found that hus-
hand aud wife are in tho public service.
IL Will also be found If the investigation
be % vigorous one that sons and daughters
of w|ell-tO-do parents are drawing good
salarics.' The Post THINKS that If the SER
vices IF ANY Of the clerks are 70 be dis
ren,cd with they should come from the
two classes above referred to. and-0ther
things being cqual-its view Is a commend
able one.
It Is hard upon the p%rivates IN the ranks
OF the Democratic party to have 10 stand
by and see number Of small places abol-
ishel lust a. We como into sight Of our
Cauaan-placcs winch hundreds Of thou
sands of our young men and women could
well fin and would i%oyfully accept-but II
IL must be-. IN compliance with our pledges
e. the people. let Us be sure TO DO our
work 40 that there Will be 10 taint Of Ia
yoritlsm about It. Let Us strike high and
low-whercvcr a needless expense can be
Topped of. Don't cut OF the man with
ms nose TO the grindstone and spare the
'' ornaments" of the Office.