Litchfield enquirer., 1871-03-09
WASHINGTON CLERKS, 1s5O-7O
NOW AND TWENTY YEARS AGO


 GREAT CHANGES IN MANNERS AND HABITS.
 Clerks are very much like other people, but the character of the force in the Wash. ington departments has greatly changed since--well, say since the eos came in.
 Before then the work was simple, reduc- ed to rules, and so classified that everything could be done according to precedent; and the force was more than ample in all it's branches. Then usages obtained and abuses arose, of which but the traditions remain now. Most clerks then were young bloods who had been provided for" Then the phrase, now so often quoted, arose, II had to work to get this. why should work now"
 The official duties of each, if quickly done, would leave much time for idling, or they could be strung out throug h the day. Then smoking in the offices was constant practice, and 8 remnant of the habit now remains in high places. Then secretaries and bureau heads had sideboards in their offices, and it was thought no sin for the clerk to take his leven- 'clock,er from his flask on file with the records. Leaves of absence were numerous and long. and "my member" could always get an extension of leave for 'sprobable cause" for his pyoteqe When one member of Congress broke the nose of the Superintendent of the Census in his own office. and another shot waiter at the breakfast table at Willard's, and a third killed man in the open street, you can hardly be surprised that occasional s'shindies" took place among the clerks. The government clerks had abundant lei- sure, with scant means of utilizing their spare time.
 Then there were no Young Mems Chris tian Association rooms. no book clubs, no lectures. no circulating libraries, no church sociables; none of the many clubsg socie- ties, classes and the like of the present day; but there were plenty of billiard sa- looms, faro banks, euchre clubs, hops, par ties and balls. The boys made their ap- pointments to meet each other at hotels, bar-rooms and similar places "fghting the tiger" was not an unusual pastime, and hence aching heads, red eyes and shaking hands were often found in the various offices.
 In those days there were many boarding houses and but few homes. Most clerks were bachelors or grass-widowers. The annual leave of absense became necessary, that clerks might not be forgotton at their homes. Wives, sisters and mothers often came to Washington, but it was as ladies visit West Point relatives. Washington had but few small buildings: hence house. keeping was undesirable to people of small means as it was impracticable Few clerks struck root here; they did not wish, nor did they expect. to stay longer than their immediate political friends remained in power, and frequently they were forced by circumstances to retire, or were taken away by their friends before that time arrived. because of the bad habits they had acquir- cd here. - a
 Now things are greatly changed. With the war came an immense increase of new business. The force was so much changed that it's character altered. With new men came new methods. x Old usages were swept away by necessity. The work was reorganized to meet the ernerQen- cies.1 New bureaus were created. and crowded by clerks direct from private life, who cut red tape in the most ruthless man.