Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1893-04-07
WASHINGTON LETTER.

Written and compiled for the HERALD
WASHINGTON. April 3, 1593-Threo
sensations in a single week is certainly
plling on the agony, even for Washing
ton People had hardly recovered frcm
the shock of the unprecedented PROPOSE
tlon made on the 1ocr OF the Senate, to
investigate the charges of criminal en-
bezzlement made against Senator Roach,
of North Dakota, when another sensa-
ton was sprung upon them by tie
announcement that Secretaries Carlisle
and Gresham had discovered that OK
Secretary of State Foster, who is U. S.
agent before the Behring Sea Court of
Arbitration, was distributing Uncle Sans
money with lavish baud, in the shape
Of allowances for expenses to favored
government employees whom he has taken
to Paris with him. Among these are
Major Halford, who was President Har-
rison's private secretary, and who was
made a paymaster in the army just before
the close of the last administration, at
salary of about $500 year.; j. Stanley
Brown, who was President Gar6eld's
private secretary and is the husband of
Mollie Garfield, who holds State depart
ment position paying SO day, and a
number of other government employees.
Tho allowance made to the two ex-priyate
secretaries, in addition 10 their regular
salary, is $15 a day, and to the Others IN
proportion. 1t is claimed that no neces-
slty existed for taking these people to
Paris, and that 1t is simply pleasure trip
at government expense for them. The
third sensation was the bringing of
charges against the Weather Bureau, Of
general crookedness ever since it was
transferred from the War to The Agricul-
tural Department, involving fayortism,
violation and evasion of the Civil Service
law by the employment of incompetent
persons at fancy salaries, and plain COM
mon, every day stealing, all Of which
proves conclusively, if any proof were
needed, that all branches of the public
service stand in need of a thorough over
hauling occasionally.
The hottest fight yet made against a
Presidential appointment is now being
wsged against J. J. McAlester, recently
nominated, but not yet confirmed, to be
U. s. Marshal for Indian Torritory.-
Charges have been preferred against Nc
Alester by w. F. Weeks, chairman OF the
democratic committee Of the territory.
and they have been filed with the Presi-
dent AID with the Senate committee. Nc
Alestcr, who is here, IS fighting back, and
saws he is confident of being confirmed.
There is much unoasiness among the
higher officials in the Department OF
State on account of the rumor, generally
believed, that Secretary Gresham has a
| little list of employees, all in the upper
grades. that he intends to dismiss for
inefliciency. Those having occasion to
visit that Department often will do no
growing if there is a general shake-up
among its bureau chiefs, some ef whom
have long been victims Of the disease
known as the "tig head"
After many conflicting statements, pro
and con, the question of an extra session
Of Congress has been definitely settled
by President Cleveland, the only man
who had the authority to settle it. There
is TO lie an extra session, and it will be
called to meet early in September, the
principal object being to pass a tariff bill
in time to 90 into cfsct in the spring OF
1894 is big task, and Judging from
past experience IN that line the admins
tration will be lucky if .he new tariff ill
gets through by the first Of July, of next
year.
No position under the government Is
more sought after than that Of government
printer. He has more patronage, ontside
of the Civil Service restrictions, than the
head of any other bureau, to say nothing
of the control of large disbursements for
printing material etc. There are a legion
of candidates, some from almost every
section of the country. President Cleve-
land says he will not make the selection
Tor several weeks yet, and that when he
does he intends to appoint man who
Will take tie Office out of politics
and run It on a business basis. That
will be an innovation indeed, as there has
been more politics to the square inch IN
that Office than in any other branch Of
the government service, and although
Mr.. Clevelaul's intentions NAV be good.
it is very doubtful whether be can sue
coed in banlshinS politics therefrom-
There is an impression here that the
Senate will adjourn as soon as it has de-
cided whether the Senators appointed by
the governors Of Montana, Washington
and Wyoming have right to their seats
and it begins to look as though that de-
cision would be in the affirmative. If
that be correct. Senator Hoar's resolution
directing an investigation of the charge
of embfzzlemcnt against Senator Roach
will not be acted upon, nor will the new
officers nominated by the democratic
cancus be elected until next fall.
--ss -~..-z
Yosfs Weekly, published at Stanton,
tells of an old bill, dated February, 1917,