The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1869-07-20
PALLADIUM CORRESPONDENCE.
Dull Times In WashingtOn..Cle-ks Dis
charged and Examination of Applicants
..Sue Murphy--Captured and Abandoned
PrOperty-.PatentO Office, &c.
eWAsHIKGToN, ID. c., July II, go.

eWAsHINGToN, ID. u, July II, '69
DULL TINES IN WASHINGTON.
Every body in Washington complains
of hard times, scarcity of employment,
owwages and high prices, with very
; little money floating about. .sa e
Government clerks have the easiest
times of any one else, at least so outsi-
j ders think, while in truth the poor fell
= lows are not sure of their bread from one
month to another. Office seekers who
have beer crowding each other almost
into the Potomac these few n onths past,
are becoming little fewer now since
Grant is about to go away for vaca--
ton. He ought to take the same pre-
caution that Commissioner Delano has
done, not let any person know where he
is going. He will surely be followed, if
he does not, by a host of patriotic gen.
tlemen, anxious of course to serve
their country for their country's good
One reason hard times are felt more
severely here than in most places is
that there are but few manufactures or
business enterprises, and the legal rate
of interest SO low that those who have
money invest it in Government bonds.
Had the substitute reported by Sena-
tor Vickers last session. to bill to
amend the usury law in the District of
Columbia, been acted upon favorably,
times might not have been quite so dull.
1t would not have changed the rate of
interest, which is six per cent, only in
special contracts, and then not TO ex-
coed eight per cent
The statutes of the different States,
regulating the interest on money loan
ed, has been considered a safeguard to
the poor. Usury or no usury- the laws
in the different States effecting the same
TO the contrary notwithstanding-whe
money is scarce, and in consequence
the need Of it is great, there are numer-
| Gus ways by which those VIII o have mon
ey to loan and are disposed to receive
| usury, are able to override the law. For
instance, you are allowed to buy note
| at whatever discount you and the seller
agree upon. It is well understood that
the most needy, yet the less able, are
the most anxious to make notes over to
a confidant to sell for them at discount
corresponding to their immediate pecu-
mary necessities. In fact the man who
wishes to save his property from being
sold by the Sheriff is compelled to fly
to heartless Money Broker for accom-
modations The law abiding man feels
| that he cannot afford to loan money at
the legal rate of interest when Uncle
Sam, from whom he needs no collateral,
will pay him more.
| Oh Beggars are getting to be very nu-
nerous, and are really something of a
| nuisance; especially as one doesn't
know whether he is giving to a worthy
object or not A little confidence man
the other day had very sad story to
/ tell visitor at the Metropolitan 'fath
! er dead, mother sick, children at home
starving-a penny, sir, if you please, to
1 help buy loaf of bread Instead Of a
penny, the kind hearted man bestowed
ten cent script, and he then thought
he would satisfy himself by following
the boy, and learn if he meant to COM
fort the starving family. He saw him
stop at peanut stand and change his
dime to pennies, and then turning round
to group of ragged urchins, pitching
| pennies, was Intercepted by them,
I Where did you raise the wind, johnny
He replied, Just fell upon grecny at
the Metropolitan row, boys. I'll pitch
I pennies with you all day.
One lady, a native of Virginia, form
erly wealthy and the owner of slaves, is
now making shirts at twenty five cents
! each, aud calico dresses at fifty cents.
She is mentioned only as one of a large
1 number in this city.
CLERKS DISCHARGED.
| There have been nearly three thous-
and clerks and employees in the differ
ent Departments here removed since
the 4th of last March, and about one
half of their places filed by new ap-
! pointees. But few of those removed
have been reinstated. The heads of the
Departments only lend deaf ear to the
piteous prayer of the unfortunates -
When once discharged there is but lit
tie hope of their ever getting back.
Washington City, July Is, 1869.
EXAMINATION OF APPLICANTS.
r. The examination Of applicants fol
Clerkships under the present admins
tration has been more severe than In
former times, and many, after remain
ing here months seeking office, and have
at last succeeded in getting assigned to
some Department., have been informed
by the examining board Of that Depart