Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1860-11-22
Office Holders and Office Seekers.

(
The incoming of New Administration on
the Fourth of March next, will produce a
change in the employment Of several thous-
! and persons. Those who are now holding Of
4 fees and receiving salaries as appontees Of
/ President Buchanan and his subfuucticnaries
will be removed, and others will take their
! places Under the Administration of President
] Lincoln. The number of persons who thus
/ change occupations will be double that of all
/ the appointees for where one gets out, an
/ other comes in and for every Office two per-
I sons must change their mode Of life
I This considerable change in the business of
SO large number of individuals will have
considerable effect on the country. Of the re-
tiring aPpojntees many doubtless left lucrative
empIoyments and good professions for the
surer and perhaps more easily earned support
Of a Government Office Many talented
young men who bad Just commenced, or who
were about undertaking the practice of pro-
iessions, trades and business occupations, have
given up their prospects in this direction for
the temporarily superior advantages Of a lu-
crati7e and unlaborions appointment. Most
Of these are now united, from four years
time spent in an entirely different occupation.
for taking up successfully their intended pro.
ies$ioa or business
With many; the golden opportunity that
would have secured them a high position, or
perhaps wealth, by steady perseverance and
honest industry, has been lost 10 the pursuit
Of temporary ease and certain fair income
for four years The condition Of numbers Of
those who are EoW throwa ont Of employment
must be melancholy. They have enjoyed
competency for slight Services during the past
Presidential term but their bright. youthful
prospects are in many cases now bIighted
! good and sure salary has, in many in
stances, induced habits OF life that have IN
fitted the outgoing Federal appointee to
struggle with the difficulties of life in the cir
cumstauces which fell to his lot Some may
have saved Of their income sufficient for their
maintenance until they can get employment
and others may have enough with which to
commence business b-t this must be the case
with comparatively few. Providence is lot
usual with those who are living on Govern
meut .b0un.ies, and the National Capital in
daces habits Of living that require all the sal
arr @. federal Office holder 4 majority Of
the dismissed app9iutees will leave their DO,
siti0Ds with quite as small pecuuiar- means
as they entered them. Tae habits Of extra7a-
Eance aud high living Induced in many cases,
val, be q serioGs barrier % tie success Of Z
large number Q. the retiring Office holders.
II those who contemplate seeking Offices
Uals- tie new Administration viii but serious
II regard the case Of many Of their p-sdecsss-
orS. we presume they will not be 50 anxious
for Government positions We suspect, how
ever, that such considerations VII have little
.frrIs rr.+ lra
Four years seems to them q long while. and
TO be sure Of G good salary for tha, length Of
tine is the extent Of their psoyident CGlcu.a-
tons. Bu: let them reflect that this period
viii soon pass. aud then consider the case or
those now retiring, bat who, four years ago.
were animated by the same motives as them
salves-
The Office seekers are in general to be more
pitiel than the retiring Office ho,ders. The
former are animated by the mos. lively hopes.
aud many of them feel certain of the accom-
gl.>hmeut Of their desires, yet probably no,
more than one fifth can succeed Four fiths.
then, are doomed 10 bitter disappointment
Far more melancholy is their case than that
Of the outgoing app0iatee, who has the salts
faction Of having enjoyed his tenor Of Office
and bis SALARY, and whose expiring term was
known certainty, aud, therefore, lot G dis
appointment: Many depend upon pretended
friends. whom they have assisted iu getting
Office. to aid their plans IN many eases this
reliance viii pro7e vain. for deceit and dupIi-
city are often characteristic Of Politicians
Heart burainCs aud nisanthropic reflections
will resalI. How maGy at this time
VIZ. ind TO lie H.: us2 te:-zy"
Government appointments, Congress should
pass law greatly decreasing tie salaries Of
the Federal under officers If the salary was
not greater-aud it should be little less than
usual for such services Ia private business re-
Ia.i5ns-.here would be fewer and less ardent
seekers for such posts, get there would be 10
difficulty in finding enough TO I'LL them. TIE
certainty Of q Government appCiutmeat for
four years and its regular salary, would be q
sufic.eu. inducemeut. Such : law should be
pasSei al the TerT next session Of Congress