National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-10-01
OFFICIAL BEATS
Views of Clerk on the Subject of Official
Honor in the Payment of Debts.

Views of Clerk on the Subject of Official
Honor in the Payment of Debts.
WASHINGTON, ID. O., Sept. 30, 1916.
To the Editor Of the National Republican:
Sir: Free Inquirer" in late issue OF your
valuable paper, asks several very pertinent ques-
lions as to the power delegated or guaranteed to
heads of bureaus and chief clerks. He fails, how
ever, to PROFOUND some questions in regard to the
privileke and duty that class persons to which,
it seems, he belongs, and which to all well-mear-
ing Government employees, as well as to all bust
ness uen who may have dealings with them, are
of equal importance.
Admitting that neither the head of depart
ment, head Of q bureau, nor the chief clerk has
any right to interfere in the disposition of clerks
salary will this fact entitle the clerk to evade, in
such manner as he chooses, or for such length OF
time ss he may elect, the payment Of debts which
he may contract? Must the butcher and grocer
and several other creditors" patiently wait for
to carry on their business because, forsooth, the
debtor holds q political Office" the salary for
man n
he holds this political office the right to invest In
important and profitable real estate" and
neglect the payment Of other lust debts?
IA Free Inquirer seems to have entirely over
looked the fact that there are any questions to be
asked that would bear on the duty Of the debtor
in this matter. If he has the right to defer for
six months the payment Of his grocery bill, why
has be not the right to withhold payment for FIVE
other opportunities for specializing with q pros
pect of gain, indulgence in which might preclude
The possibility of settling "that little bil during
this generation.
1t is greatly to be regretted that there are
others in this city beside "a Free Inquirer" or
his champion real estate purchaser, whose reply
to the above questions would DO Affirmative, for
on this account tho Government employees, as q
class, are treated with considerable distrust.
partments who hold their obligations sacred, and
who do not feel privileged to invest In important
and profitable real estate" any portion Of the
money Justly due to the butcher, grocer, or any
other creditor, and this class have reason to re-
gret with "a Sufferer in yesterdays issue, that
there is not more OF this "otflcial intermeddle-
someness' exercised not in the disposition Of sais-
ries, but in the disposition of the places held by
any and all who feel that they have right to
contract debts which they arc not able and will
These heads of departments and bureaus have,
or Should have, some voice as to the character Of
men employed under them, and for the credit Of
the department, bureau, and the honest men
composing the same, they should feel II incum-
bent upon themselves to zee that none but honest
men are retained.
Yours respectfully, CLERK.
What Boarding Housekeepsr says-A Lit
tie Narrative.
TO the Editor of the National Republican:
SIR: "Official acknowledgements Is a'sood
thing for boarding housekespers. trust you will
permit to state few facts and the public be OF
liberty to say what is right. Some time ago
special agent Of the Post Once Department, get
ting salary OF about goo per annum, stopped
at my house. He left on the fourth of q month,
owing $50. balance OF the previous month and
the four days. He admitted that the bill was
correct, but said he would not pay It. He was
sued, and Judgment obtained, but as his pay
could net be attached he laughed at me. The
attention Of the Department was called to the
facts and word sent to Mr.. Special Agent to
state the facts in the case. He then replied: 1t
is q case of blackmail. The law permits the at
tachment OF pay of mechanics. servants, &c, 70
the extent Of the amount due. Why shall there
not be law providing that Government en-
ployees' pay could be treated in the same man.
ner and compel the dishonest to pay their hon
est debts? Tho honest ones would thus get rid
OF being suspected simply because they are Gov
eminent employees. A.