American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-08-01

at the session of 1867, and again at that OF
1878. r@
On the 7th March, 1888, the Senate, ON mo-
tion of Mr.. Wright, of New York, passed re-
solution calling on the heads of Departments to
report:
l. The number Of clerks in each Department
and Bureau. n8 osa
T. The rates Of compensation and the number
OF each rate IN each Department and Bureau.
g. The Classification Of the clerks according
to the character Of their labor, care and respon-
sibiity, qualifications required, relative value
of the services of each class, inequalities Of
compensation amongst clerks of same class, and
clerks differently paid, performing substantially
| the same kind OF service.
4. Such changes and improvements of class
lhcation in reference to compensation as JUS
tice to the clerks and the interest of the public
service required. All this to be done after
consulting together and comparing duties, so
as to secure equality, not only among the clerks
Of each Department. but Of all, including the
Bureaus. Reports were again made by the
heads of all the Departments, recommending
the passage of the bill, from their personal
knowledge Of the duties performed by the clerks,
and the expenses OF living in Washington. This
effort and all this labor were as fuitless as be-
fore. Alas we well remember the hopes that
hung upon this BILL and their disappointment
the fireside discussions; the relief from debt to
follow the children to be clad or sent to school;
the confidence in its passage; the many visits
in wet, in cold, and dark, to urge, to argue and
explain; but all to no purpose. The bill was
not voted doun-it was never called up but
died, and, for all that appears, without foe,
and without friend
In January, 1889, resolution was intro
duced in the House of Representatives to pro-
hiblt clerks from acting as agents in the prose-
cution OF claims before the Department or Con-
gress, but it was not acted on, for the reason,
it was presumed, that the practice was already
prohibited, as it respects clerks in the Depart
ments, and had no existence in them, nor pro-
badly in Congress.
On the 18th June, 1841, select committee
was raised upon the subject of retrenchment in
the expenses of Government. Mr.. Gilmer, the
chairman, made u minute and thorough exami-
nation in many branches, if not every branch,
of the public service, including the clerks in the
Departments, and submitted report, contain
ing 24O pages, on the 23d May, 1912. Under
resolution Of the 9th January, the Committee
of Ways and Means entered upon an inyestiga-
ton of the compensation and duties of the
clerks, and, through Mr.. Joseph K. Ingersoll,
made report, embracing Ia pages, on the
I'd of March, l843-so that two committees of
the House were engaged contemporaneously
upon this business. A vast amount of valuable
| information, including reports from the depart
ments and other officers Of Government, accom-
! panied each report. Mr.. Gimer proposed to
establish Board for the preliminary exami-
| nation of clerks, and to restrict appointments
| to the lowest grade Of salaries, and to such per-
| sons as had duly passed an examination before
such Board. MIR. lngersoll reported two bills
one to classify the clerks and regulate their sal
aries, which was never acted upon, but died
upon the calendar; and the other, providing
for an equalization of the duties, for n more
yigilant supervision, for reports, &C., which be-
came law on the 9th August, 1872
On the 7th December, 1S45, resolution was
adopted directing the Committee on the Judi
ciary to inquire into the expedency of report
ing bill for a proportional distribution of these
appointments amongst the several States and
Territories, and for rendering the incumbents
ineligible after certain periods.
And, lastly, on the 3d Of February, 1S48, Mr.
Mckay, from the Committee Of Ways and Means.
reported a bill in the House regulating the
appointment of clerks in the Executive Depart
ments and for other purposes" the material
provisions of which We're preliminary examina-
ton of candidates; appointment on probation
for one year; promotions from the lower to the
next higher grade transfer Of duties and clerks
from office to office; hours of attendance and
deduction for absence; the higher salaries to
the more important duties; and reports of the
names of clerks chargeabe with arrear in their
business. The 9th section authorized the Pre-
sident TO appoint Board for the examinati on
of all the clerks then in office, and provided for
the discharge of all whom such Board should
report TO be incompetent, inattentive or other
wise disqualified by their habits; and this pro-
vision doubtless prevented the bill from becom-
ing law, as the Presidential election was til en-
about to take place, and it was supposed to be
designed to furnish the successful party, which
ever it might prove, with a pretext for whole
sale removals, without mourning the odium oi
prescription. But, independently of this sus
picious feature, the bin was harsh in its gene
raj spirit and character. 1t exacted much, anC
gave nothing in return.
The MASTER AND SLAVE. We have receptl,
been told an incident that occurred a few week
since, In the town of ---, State of - MIR
- mad endorsed note for 81 900 for
friend who died, and he was called upon for tn
money. Having no other means he was com
pelled to dispose of negro slave--a favorit
young man-worth that sum. He told Cudjo
OF his necessity; whereupon the faithful bo,
ADVISED adv his master to put him up at rattle
100 chances, at $40 each and Cudior carried
the subscription list around to those to whom
he preferred to be sold, 80 as to secure himsel
an acceptable master. A gentleman purchased
a chance and presented it to Cudjor; and wher
the rattle came off, Cudjor threw the highest
and OF course won himself. But he said he die
not want to be free, if he was sure of q gooc
master; and forthwith proposed to rattle of
himself again, il the same subscribers would
take chances. Sixty only agreed; but Cudjol
said he was not worth more than $500, ano
that he would stand at that price. He pocketed
the 5000 of course His old master took 0
chance, and had the good luck to win him back
at which Cudjor was exceedingly pleased, brag-
ging that himself and his master had made
$1,000 by 1.-The easiest work he ever did ms S
! master told him he was free but he SAID,
don't want to be freer than am, and VIII '''
with YOU"