Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1893-03-27
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Washinpton. D. C., Mar. "a, 1s9

Washington, D. c., Mar. "a, 1898.
President Cleveland has done no more
popular thing since he assumed his high
office than when he Jumped on" to
use bit of expressive slang, the head of
the Shiny serpent, nepotism, which begun
to wrigge around entirely too promis-
cuously. He first took occasion to in
form a distinguished southern senator
who had appointed his son to be clerk of
the senate committee of which he was
lately made chairman, that in conse-
quence of that appointment, indicating a
desire to look out for his personal and
family interests first of all, his RECON-
mendations had been much weakened.
Next, he took western congressman's
breath away, when as a clinch argument
in favor of the appointment to an office
of one of his constituents he said: "And
he is relative of yours, Mr.. Presi-
dent" by saying: "That settles it. No
relative of mine shall be appointed to
office by me-" He then gave that con-
gresham a short but comprehensive
lesson on the evils of nepotism, which it
is safe to say he will never forget if he
| lives century. 1t is safe to say that
the head of the aforesaid Shiny serpent
will not be reared in any of the eXecu-
tive departments of the government for
four years to come, all of which is a de-
cided gain for the country.
The executive departments are being
put upon Democratic basis as rapidly
| as possible, and Republican chiefs of bu-
reaus and divivisions are being succeed
ed by Democrats as fast as the heads of
| the departments can select the new otfi-
cials. Democratic economy is also being
put into practical operation. Following
Secretary Mortons order dismissing all
all of the superfuous employees of the
department of agriculture, came an Or
der from Secretary Carlisle to the divi-
sion chiefs of the treasury department,
ordering the immediate dismissal of
every employe not absolutely essential
to keep up the department. The Demo
cratic administration was voted into
power to reduce the extravagant eXpen-
ditures of the government, and every
member of it is fully determined that
the wishes of the voters shall be carried
| out to the letter.
Fourth Assistant Postmaster General
Maxwell, the gentleman who will WELD
| the axe made famous by Vice President
Stevenson, is on deck and already hard
at work. There are several thousand
designations Of fourth-class postmasters
Ou anu llltSt W Ill D6 ulSDOStu vi
before he begins the work of removing
Republican postmasters.
Speaking of postmasters, P. NJ. G. Bis
sell stated to a delegation of Missouri
congressman that the policy of the de-
partment concerning appointments had
been misrepresented by a certain class
Of newspapers. In the first place, it had
| been stated by these newspapers that
the recommendation of congressman
would count for nothing AS a refuta-
| ton of that statement the fact was point
ed out that not a single postmaster had
yet been appointed who did not have
| the endorsement of his congressman
While not disposed to ignore the con-
| gressmen, Mr.. Bissell said that question
| of who should be postmaster should, in
a measure at least, be decided by the
people of the locality, who were more
| directly interested than anyone else,
and that the wishes of the people when
| expressed, would certainly be consider.
ed in making the appointments. No
body is to be ignored; what the depart
ment wants is the cooperation of botf
the people and the congressman in the
selection of such postmasters as will in
crease the efficiency of the postal service.
| Mr.. Bissell also denounces as false the
statements that women and editors are
to be Disseminated against in the selec-
tion of postmasters. S.