The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-05-09
SPRING 1T THE CApITAL.
AMOS Cummings Takes Turn at Describing II.

round their clerks, copying the list of
the postmasters In each district, paying
special attention to the date Of their
present appointment. The congress-
man thus learns when the term of office
OF each postmaster in his district ex-
pires. and is In shape for q future cam
.paign.
Last Of all. but not the least In impor-
lance, Is the department Of agricul-
ture. Here sits bluff and hearty James
Wilson, Of Iowa. He contrasts strongly
with his predecessor. Wilson would
never accept an office and say that he
believed that 1t was unconstitutiona
created. Office seekers give him little
annoyance. Book sewers and seed
packers are Of the past and not of the
present. All seeds are now packed and
shipped by contractors. Mr. Wilson
has begun his work in a systematic and
vigorous way. He Is earnest in his
endeavors to develop the beet sugar
industry, and is turning his thoughts
toward the prevention of hog cholera.
During his entire public life he has
managed and directed his own farm,
and has practical knowledge of all
the farmers needs and necessities He
believes in the distribution Of seeds.
and will gladly further the efforts Of
congress in this direction, instead of
hampe11ng them, as did Secretary Nor
ton. Every seed that Is distributed
under his direction will be seed worth
planting and outstanding. The old
soldiers are being gathered under his
wing and rapidly restored to their
former positions.
The departments are the little eddies
In which office seekers congregate
The great flood pours toward the
White house. The irruption has been
simply appalling. The president Is the
nd 1ov ,f< u.
bearing is always polite, and no one
leaves him without feeling that he has
been treated fairly and considerably.
congressman and senator's are here in
great abundance. They are the inter-
meddartes through whom offices are
sought and to whom the president
listens. If the horde Of office seekers
dent would simply be swept from his
feet and unable to do any business
whatever
The round Of the departments is a
weary round for the congressman. It
Is made all the more weary by the wall
OF civil service reform. One Of the
most prominent Of New York Repub-
lcans says that he does not really OBJ
tain per cent of the appointments
sought by him. This average I'M
doubtedly holds good, except in extreme
cases But there Is no end to the tide
of applicants. They pour into the city
with every train, their faces alight with
fond anticipations The same train
bears back scores Of men with DOWN
cast features-the army of the disap-
pointed.
Thus it is that spring opens in
Washington, nature and politics keep
ing pace in excitement and animation.
over all stands the robust If not ma
?est1c, inquire of Thomas B. Reed, rest
Ing Its hand upon the gavel of the
house. He treads the pathway Of des-
tiny unruf11ed by the murmurs Of his
political opponents and deaf to the
plaintive wailings Of the few partisans
who disagree with him. He will ap-
point the committees Of the house at
his own time and pleasure. When they
are appointed and legislation resumes
the usual channels, Washington will
arise reinvigorated. and the old times
may come again.
Amos J. CUMMINGS