The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-07-14
Too Much Reform.


II is pretty bard to toll at this time In
which way nm effort will be made To cor
rect the OWL. Every one recognizes that
things nre highly unsatisfactory as they
now stand. Shall wo have more civil sery-
Ice or less Of it? The tendency appears 10
be I'm tho latter direction. There Is very
strong feeling that the application OF civil
service reform theories has been carried
too far. For some time IL has been under
stood that as soon as he could get around
To It the president would rescind In part
President Cleyeland's "blankct" civil
service order. Certain things he would
restore To their original status and then
apply the civil service reform theory as
soon ns some Of the Inconsistencies had
been eliminated.
Secretary of War A lger is already noted
as stickler for official etiquette and prop
er dress in government circles. Many for
eigners visiting Washington are surprised
at tho lack of dignity which Obtains In
presidential circles. They marvel that
thore Is no code Of attire for White House
visitors. The Only requirement of that
sort recognized here is that at evening re-
ceptions or at dinners evory gentleman
must wear dress coat. Even this Is not
always observed. have frequently seen
senators and mombsrs of the house, to say
nothing Of officials from the executive
branch Of the government, at the presi-
dents evening reception clad I'm ordinary
coat and waisicoat. Secretary Alger thinks
members of tho cabinet at least should set
an example az punGtiliousness In dress.
He says members OF tho ca binet should not
go into the presidents presence In linen or
crash suits or without gloves or wearing
any sort of an old hat. Some of Mr.. AL
gers cabinet colleagues laugh and joke
good deal az his expense because he has set
out as rofurmer in this particular, but
the doughty secretary of war takes their
chatting good raturcdly and holds his
ground.
Gray Suit at u Funeral.
General AlCCr and Secretary Gage are
the bost of friends, but the former was
very much shocEcd when the money mem
bor Of the cabinet appeared at Senator
Harris funeral i'm the senate chamber n
few days ago wearing a suit Of gray ma
terial Mr. GAGE was present In his OH
cial capacity. He had driven To the White
House and accompanied the president To
the capitol. ,.r. Algor thought this was
showing too littl, respect for the president
and the se@atr, 10 say nothing Of the dead
statesman Ar. Gueo explains that when
he left huue In tho morning ho forgot all
about the iuu, val, and, az he lives away
out at Clcsy base, some Eve miles from
his office, dil not have time TO go home
and chgul. r.4 iaimcnt.
~,udjor ',.a who has had more To do
with the 'scekCrs than any other son
at0r, Was i' ilo marble room one day
when 90, q. ,G of oolored applicant was
handed ...l iy page
"Itl hiU won't see him--won't SEQ
nnyrr'r I um tired out and nearly
dead. " c-llaNr,d the senator. The page
ttood stcrb riu Ito evidently knew sen
ntog Hanna aad his ways. The hoy stood
for a momsnt aud was rewarded by hear
Ing tho national chairman say:
"Oh, we'll, send him I'M II won't do
for inc Ca refuse % see the poor follows.
That's what am here for. I'll SEQ him.
WALTER WELLMAS.