New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-04-09
REFORM TRUMPETS BLARE.
TEMPORARY DEMOCRATIC ECONOMIES
LOUDLY HERALDED.
FEW CLERKS AND CoPYIsTs DISCHARGED
PERMANENT SAVING NOT TO BE
EXPECTED THUS.
,BY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE1

,BY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE,1
Washington. April s-Of course some OF the mem
bers of the new Administration regard IT rs solemn
duty to do something to try to make the country
believe that their repeated and vehement charges Of
extravagance and prod sality against the last Admin
istration were not wholly destitute OF foundation.
and to show that they the TO bring the public
expenditures down TO a basis OF economy and fru-
ganty.' Accordingly. hears already the blarc of
the trumpcts Of reform" in the Nations Capital
whenever a clerk here copyis there Is discharged,
and estimates are published in Democratic news
papers showing how great will he the annual saving
thus effected.
both the noise and the estimates are familiar to
everybody who was an observer OF events In WASH
ington during the first few months OF Mr. Cl vcands
former Administration. although the noise is not so
loud. the estimates big. Everybody remem
bers how. eight years ago. It proclaimed with
a great flourish OF trumpets by certain Cabinet Of
fcers that the horses and carriages owned by the
Government. and which had been used by the heads
Of Departments and bureaus under the preceding Ad
minstration in the discharge OF their official duties.
TO be forthwith sold. and the vast sums thus
obtained covered into the National Treasury and
every body also remember how. very soon after
ward, probably by the time the auCtOnscr had re-
ce.ved his fees. without ANY flourish OF trumpcts
whatever and very quietly indeed, carriages and
better purchased 10 be used for like pur
poses by Government officers. In some
Of the bureas the officers and clerks
were put short allowance Of soap and
towels in the name of reform" and Democrat and
Mugwump newspapers babe their readers to witness
md admire the Jefersonan simplicity and Demo
cratic economy OF the new Administrations
All. those bright and glorious umes-too happy
and beautiful to last-and long before President Ceve
land issued his first TEank> giving proclamation mat
tors had fallen into the old ruts and were running
after the old fashion; but the Administration news
about It.
There are the gravest possible reasons to fear ana
believe that the untmely fate VIII oelaii me
present reform overlook those OF eight
years ago. The cogs which now being so osten'au
osly removed from the machinery OF several OF inc
Government departments and bureaus may not be
replaced but other cogs will be put in the same
rlaces and that will happen within the next three or
four months-or soon as the appropriations Tor the
next fiscal year shall be available
Everybody who IS familiar with the details OF Gov
eminent Administration in Washington. knows that
the appropriations for various departments and bureaus
annually fall short toward the end OF the fiscal year.
making necessary frequent discharges or burroughs
OF few OF the clerks and cOpyists: 1t likewise sone-
times happens that clerks cOpysts and other persons
who have been employed work Of temporary
nature are discharged because of the completion Of
the wor-as happened in the case OF certain Treasury
employees whose services We're dispensed With by
Secretary Carlisle few days ago. II is also true
that employees are required In the several dc-
partments bureaus and Offices in Washington when
Congress sitting when is not In session. That
BODY is inQustive and prolific In resolutions OF In
quiry properly to answer which consumes the time
OF scores Of clerks many weeks In the course oil a
session. seldom If has Congress made special
appropriation TO pay for the services OF the clerks
required to answer such resolutions. and 1t has been
necessary pay the out Of regular annual
appropriations.
When csrtain members of the present Administration
shall have obtained practical experience In and
knowledge Of executive duties they will recognize and
appreciate the foregoing we'll some other facts
which might be mentioned. That the services OF
many Government officials. clerks and other employees
In Washington might be spared and much money saved
by thorough and intelligent reform in the methods
Of conducting the public business, such recon-
lnended by secretary Foster Of the Treasury Depart
ment in his annual report, there IS no doubt: but
no such reform will be accomplished by secre
tarles and chiefs Of bureaus who possess little no
knowledge of either the present methods or the
actual necessities of the public service Certainly II
will never be done by removing one set of pegs In
order TO insert another set in the same holes.
Among the removals already made was that OF an
eynploye In OF the departments, the given
for the dismissal being that the appropriation
exhausted. on the following day relative of one |
Of the minor officials in the department ap
pointed In the place Of the dismissed employc and
signed to the duties at the desk-i thus !
appearing that the exhaustion q the appropriation
was merely temporary and :" for night only" II |
Is only fair 10 add however. that Democratic de
part reform" does always revolve with so
great rapidy ii seems TO have done In this case.