Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1894-11-09
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Written and compiled for the HERALD.

o. tue campaign, now gone 10 JON
the has-Leens, an investigation
made Ivy your correspondentshows
that an unusually small Number OF
the v0t, rs Temporarily residing in
Washington (nostly Government
employes) went home to vote
Tuere is .lWals a marked falling
of III number Of members OF the
admins tration who 90 home TO
vote at The inst Congressional
el. cllOn alter The inauguration OF a
new administration, and this year
w.sio exception to he rule. Fow
% he republican Office holders went
home to vote, for the very good
reason they were afraid leir do
Ing so might jeopardize thei r
positions. That was expected; it
was Just a repetition OF the non-
action of the democratic office
holders at the first Congressional
election during the Harrison ad
ministratlon. Is 1t the great sur
prise lay in the fact that so few
democrats went home to vote. 1t
has usually been assumed by the
Office holder of the same political
faith as the administration that
gong home to vote and work tor
the party added to his chances
for getting promoted and other
wise favored by his suDerlcrs in
Office. and there Is no doubt that
as rule it has been the correct
assumption. But this year the
idea became prevalent among
Government employees very early
in the campaign that President
Cleveland was Indifferent to The
result and that a democrat Who
went home to vote was jast as apt
to do himself harm as good, and a
little more soft The happened 20 be
a new Yorker. Now, the average
Office holders predominating idea
is how to remain IN Office, and be
doesn't hesitate to spend money
upon anything that will help him
do 1t; but when 1t came to spend
ing money to 60 home and vote
with the knowledge that It was as
likely to hurt as to help him, he
begged to be excused. That's
WHY the number who went home
to vote was not as large as the
party bosses expected it TO be.
The Treasury statement fer OFT.
Is not a very SATISFACTORY one,
showing, as it does, that tile DnO
lie debt increased more than
$4,000 600 during that month
IL was great disappointment to
the administration, although the
falling off in receipts is explained
as only tamporarilr, b. T.eaSnr5
officials. 1t will 6e remembered
that It was stated by the opponents
of duty on shgir, al | lnco De
tax, th It the tariff bill Wolld raise
all The money needed by the
Government with those two items
left odt. Perhaps it will, but the
experience OF the Treasury depart
ment up to this ii ne IN Ikes it look
as though ali the mon'y that Will
come from those Two sous ccs- only
a trllle has been pad as duty OIL
sugar, owing to the fact that the
sugar trust accumulated a largo
surplus stock of raw sugar when
1t could be brought in free, aud the
income tax will not be collcctaOle
until next year-will Do needed to
meet the necessary expenses OF tue
J Government.
Although the smallpox scare ha'
died ont around town Secretary
Hoke Smi,h hal enough Of it left
on Saturday to give the employe'
of the Interior department "A bali
holiday, in order hat the depart
ment bulding might be agar
thoroughly fumi gated. 5 cretary
/ Smith has also remained away
from all tue Cabinet meetings hel(
since Mr.. OlevelanI'S return tC
Washington, because of his belle
that he "stood a chance" to taxi
the disease from one Of the EN-
ploA Is of the department.
Tuere is considerable rejoicing
among the low grade officials o
the Government, because OF MI
Oleveland's order extending TIL
civil service rules TO neatly al
classes of employees, except those
engaged in mlnu il labor. The
exte lsion takes IN a large nam
Der of cOpyists ani clerks whose
compensation is less than S9JO
Iycar-the prevlDus llmit-ls vel
AZ the Waterman and 'ssengers
1t pleasts those already in ofiic
but isnut likely to please To-
Congress nen when they get bac'
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