The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1848-12-30

PRoN THE FRKvcH OF PETIT sENS, OF eESEvA
Every administration in the world-wbeth-
er il be the executive Of the Stale, or cor.
poration board, or a committee, or an indi-
vidual "dressed in little brief authority"
has greater or less store OF dila.ory phra-
ses to which recourse is had for the purpose
OF answering urgent applications. putting
of the impatient, satisfying the clamorous.
and giving to all petitioners the impression
Of unceasing labor in their cause. At the
head Of these phrases for answering every
thing and everybody. the sentence surely de-
serves to be placed, "Your business is un-
der consideration" Admirable phrase ad-
mirable for the very vagueness Of its de6n-
iteness and the very de6niteness Of its vague
ness. Laconic, too as brief as could pos
sibIy be desired. 1t is eminently an ad-
ministrative phrase. Unparalleled in its
applicability, ii adapts itself to everything
furnishes foil reply in itself, or an admir-
able backing TO an objection or excuse
accounts for the most protracted delay in
any kind of business under the SUNS an
answer to every question, and the only an
swer TO some questions. All committee.
rooms echo with tall council chambers
resound with it. Ii is sentence, in short,
which should be engraved upon the thresh-
hold Of all government offices and the seats
Of all government officials, in order that,
should the latter be absent, and the former
closed, the anxious applicant need not call
again for the answer he will most assuredly
receive.
But the more closely we examine the full
bearing and import Of this combination OF
words. the more admirable il must appear
to Us. An individual inquiries, "How is my
business going on!'' and |, an official some
where or other, reply, alt is under eonsid-
Grafton" "Under consideration" Oh
serve the satisfactory ambiguousness Of the
words. Had said. "under my considera-
ton" or "under any ones consideration, I"
| should have reduced it at once to the val
ue Of the unit but now, not only am l in
eluded, but everybody else who works with
me: the entire body Of which am mem
Der, are clearly designated. There is moth
ing whatever to prevent your imagining the
heads Of government engaged in the matter;
the applicant, if a novice, Of course con-
cludes it at once TO be 30, and pictures to
himself the whole administration enrossed
by his memorial. employed upon the means
Of redressing his grievance, or granting his
petition. What can satisfy him If he be
not content with every wheel Of govern
ment turning for him. and for him alonel
Under consideration" You are not
left word to say: objection you can make
none. Had you been told. at has been
considered" you might naturally have ask
ed. "What was the decision?" Or had it
been said. at will be considered" you
might request, with all due humility, to be
informed at what period it was thought pos
sible it might come TO your turn to engage
the attention Of the body to whom your
business has been submitted. But i! is quite
another matter now. The words are. alt
is under consideration; that is to say, at
this very moment every effort is being made
to do you full justice. every energy is put
forth. every nerve strung in your behalf; the
attention of every one is riveled upon you,
and you alone. What more would Won
have! You stand. with open mouth, com
Pletely arrested, fixed to the spot by this
answer. unable to articulate more al the very
utmost than an "Ahp'-a little prolonged.
it may be-and you can but bow politely
and retire. as fully satisfied as your temper
ament or knowledge of the intrinsic value
of words permits you to be.
"UDder consideration. You NAV have
these words repeated to you for twenty years
successfully; but with what show of reason
can you complain Of the cool, cautious, de-
liberate inquiry into every circumstance of
your case, or Of the length Of time employ
ed in the investigation Of your business
What Is 1t you want! That it should abe
considered" Well, and have YOU not been
told that this is precisely what is doing!-I
You have absolutely nothing left to say. I'll
not completed sooner, it is because it is i'm
possible to proceed more rapidly in doing
the thing we'll. Surely you would not have
1t slurred over. And you cannot. in con.
science. require that your case should be
S'soict didu utUuyS.
Most valuable phrase What tiresome
what troublesome explana-
tons, what framing Of excuses. are spared
BY it to authorities in general, Officials
may slumber as sweeily on these few words,
as in an easy-chair. The phrase is the
very ottoman of power, the downy pillow
Of beaureaucracy. whence il may meet every
proposal Of ameliorstion, every expectation
81 Improvement. every desire for new order
81 things BY a few words-the true talisman
'f stats qno-"lt is under consideration.
And now that j. has been itself "under
consideration" who will not thank me for
having made this feeble effort to hold up a
phrase playing so important part in par.
proceedings to the enthusiastic
admiration and gratitude of those who make
lse OF it! write not for the ingrates who
ire unreasonable enough to feel Indignation
It It's being addressed to themselves. h