The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1874-05-06

r. G. Phillips Relates his Experience
AaonR the Departments "a Wash.

II. T.. RoAA1tR0 Relates Ms Experience
Among the departments ss wash.
in9ton.
From a Washington Letter 70 the New
York Tribune
When I came here l did not know
how long my business would require
me to remain. As is my custom,
began business at once. Having but
one main object in view, sought the
proper department in company with
Mr.. Tyner and presented my case, first
having seen Senator's Morton and
Pratt, carrying with me letters and
being fully armed and equipped with
everything necessary to success. Our
papers were marked Special and
action was promised by the next
morning At that time We (Mr. Ty-
ner and ourself) called and was in
formed that the papers had been ex-
amined, that their former rejection
was an error, that there had been
misapprehension in the department,
&C., &c, and at once they were en-
dorsed for more than had been claim
ed. l came away from that place fully
satisfied and believed that on the next
day | would start home But the
matter had to be perfected at another
branch of the department. Calling
there the chief had gone west but the
matter would be considered by the
next day. The next day ''snag" was
struck. Our papers were outlawed by
one week. No new evidence could be
considered. The endorsement was
the equity view of the case" he had
to consider 1.-The legal view Much
of this sort of talk was listened to-
In reply to the question must we be
outlawed because a clerk in this de-
partment made mistake two years
ago?" only complacent smile was
obtained for an answer By sticking
obsiinately it was finally developed
that if the head of the department
would reconsider a decision made two
years ago, the case would be reopened.
Thither we went just in time to be too
late to see the head. Called promptly
the next day and had this reply from
the clerk: The Secretary is attend
ing a Cabinet meeting to- day" That
Cabinet meeting was long drawn out,
the Arkansas muddle, the finance bill
and other matters detaining the mem
bers until about the hour for closing
business for the day By waiting in
the ante-rocm during the last thirty
minutes of the Office hours, and by
the attention of a colored gentleman
who promised to inform us if the Sec
retary arrived, we obtained an inter
view during the last five minutes, but
the Secretary was absent minded; just
out of long Cabinet discussion he
could not get his mind on our busi-
ness. l think she saw i" at an inter
val of three seconds, SO he said, I
will consider the case and report to-
morrow" Tomorrow" we called.
The Secretary is attending the meet
ing of the Indian Commission to- day,
was the information obtained.
But l will not pursue the subject
iurther-I don't want to set the ex-
ample of profanity in the columns of
such good paper as the Tribune. and
| will not be able to avoid it if l pro-
ceed with the narration of all the in
fcrnal provoking delays. Two or
three times l was ready to leave for
the West, wishing every man holding
government Office in Washington
might go to Harper's Ferry, but, al
each time, encouraged by the pluck
and persistence of Mr.. Tyner, / was
induced to stay one day more. Now
I've got mad. / may have to go home
without securing the object of my Wis
it, but | shall come back and begin in
a new place.
knowing my cause is just l shall
contend for it until dooms day.
have no personal interest in it. 1t
don't make figs difference to me
whether it is decided one way or the
other. but there is only one right way
and l mean to secure that if | have to
hunt up the Secretary of the Depart
ment in the next world. But when
this matter is off my hands, if / can
possibly avoid it, will never come to
Washington on business my natural
life No man can be a Christian and
come here. One such trip as this with
all its provoking incidents, reduces a
man twenty pounds in flesh and drops
his character for morality more than
twenty notches. Durn Washington.