St. Paul daily globe., 1893-04-21

president remembering what office each
one wanted, it was simply out of the
question. In all these matters vast
amount of time and money could be
saved by good Democrats if they would
send in their applications and indOrSe-
ments depending upon some we'll
known leader or congressman to push
their matters. Trips to Washington cost
money, and do the office-Seeker no good
whatever.
German the Leader.
In the upper house of the national
congress the Democratic party is eX-
ceedingly fortunate at this time in hav-
ing a wise and experienced leader. Sen
ator German is perhaps to greater
extent than has ever been known before
in the history of the Democratic party
the senatorial leader. And he is III this
position by reason of his remarkable
fitness for the place. He is one man in
thousands strong. capable, persever-
ing, determined, and Withal harmon
iZer. To getup quarrel with him that
would divide the Democratic senators is
a task so near to the impossible that it
will not be attempted.
1IlG CdtCCl VI CCllolOl lidS 81
largely been filled with contests that af-
fOrded opportunities for strategic move
mentS and shrewd management that the
people outside his own state have to
certain extent come to consider him
merely as a field marshal. How far
from the truth this statement is those
who know the great Marylander can
testify. for he is really one of the best
posted and strongest men IN public life.
His mind takes to problems of govern
ment naturally, and no public matter
comes up that does not find him ready
for it. But, best of all, Senator German
is man of the most Democratic tastes
and sympathieS. Coming from the very
bottom OF the ladder, he has not for
gotten the common people, as was
shown few days ago in his remarks
concerning the decisions of Judge
Kicks, Judge Taft and Judge Speer.
Attacks on Judge LOchren.
Already the Republican organs have
commenced the task of discrediting the
new commissioner of pensions, task
that all MinnesOtanS, without regard to
party affiliations, will agree is impOssi-
BILE. When they are referred to his
magnificent military record they retort
that that is all well enough, but that in
the past men with records like Judge
Lochren have been more severe than
any others in their treatment OF the
pensiOn-SeekeTS. Gen. John {. Black,
of Illinois. the commissioner during
President Cleyeland'S first adminlstra-
ton, is sneered at as an enemy OF the
old soldier and the prediction made that
Judge Lochren may prove to be built
something after the plan of Gen. Black.
But for once the pension agents and
pension gTabbeTS have attacked the
wrong man. Judge Lochren never
flinched Oh the field of battle when his
comrades were falling on all sides of
him. and he Will not Waver in the trying
position to which he has been called.
There are those who flatter themselves
that there will be little change in the
management of the pension bureau un-
der the new commissioner because of
his soldier record, but this is mistake.
The country demands a reform IN that
great bureau, the people are ready for
it, and when President Cleveland
selected Judge Lochren for the post he
had in mind certain reform measures,
and the fact that he made the appoint
ment shows that Judge LOchren is in
harmony with his views. 1t Will be
most difficult and trying position to fill,
and the president believed that no one
save an old soldier like Judge LOchren
could 90 through the ordeal WithO ut
being affected by the hue and cry that
will be soon heard all along the line.
The people are oveTtaXed and there
can be no great reduction in federal
taxation wIthou reduction in the eX-
peniituTes of the pension bureau. For
this reason the lists will be revised and
purged and Judge Lochren is the man
to do the Work.
An 0yeFhauling Needed.
The most uitra-civil service retOrmer
In the country will be wiling toreVisa mis-
views Oh that question very naturally
after call at the pOstoffice department
i'm this city, especially If he has any
thing to do that requires him to look up
papers that should be on file there.
There are something over 60. COO fourth
class postOfficeS in the United States, but
hardly more than half this number are
large enough to be worth seeking,
and a good portion of this half present
but one candidate, and yet 1t is impoS-
sibe for the army of clerks IN the de-
partment to keep track of the papers
filed. Applications. Endorsements and
petitions filed can hardly ever be found
when called for. Sometimes portions
| are recovered, but seldom all.
So notorious has this careIeSsnesS and
mismanagement become that many
members of congress decline to file pa
pers until they are assured of immediate
| action upon them. There seems 10 be a
| disposition on the part of certain di-
| vision chiefs TO hamper the work of the
! department rather than to push things,
and this is partly responsible for tue de-
lay in making changes in fOurth-class
| pOStOtficeS in Minnesota.
THE whole trouble" said a member
of congress who has vainiy searched fol-
| papers filed several weeks ago, lis that
the principal clerks and division chiefs
are not in sympathy with the admins
| tratiOn. They do not want to facilitate
the work of making changes. l have
changed my mind regarding the benefit
| of the civil service laws, and had the
| power l would completely reorganize
| the post0ffice department. l am now
satisfied that new clerks could do nc
worse, and l believe could find somC
that would be found a great deal more
| useful than a number of those now il
with whom have come in contact dur
! ing the past few weeks"
Congressional Temperance Society
There are great many amusing SO