The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1875-09-10

ihs Subordinate Omcials.
Correspondence OF the Detroit Free Press.
WASHINGTON, ID. c., August 10. -
The principal part Of the Government
of the United States left i'm Washington
just now consists of the public build
ings. To be sure, there is a goodly
number Of clerks scattered here and
there throughout the departments But
the President is gone, the members OF
/ the Cabinet are gone, and gone are
dozens of the heads of bureaus and hun
dreds upon hundreds of their subordi-
mates. In fine, the Government is hav-
ing its annual attack Of "goneness, y
and, though il may be hard TO believe
it, the patient is in more debilitated
condition than at other seasons of the
year. This summer period of absentee
ism is worthier topic of true political
/ reformers than il is made to be. IT.
extent and deleterious effects are per-
haps not generally and thoroughly APP
preciated. 1t has grown rapidly, though
quietly, during the last ten years, and
is much more injurious to the civil SER
vice than is commonly supposed. The
movements and whereabouts of the
President and the Cabinet officers are
continually reported, So that the coun-
try knows where they are, though il
may not know what they are doing in
the line Of their official business; but
little or no note whatever is made of the
movements and whereabouts of hun
dreds of heads Of bureaus and their ia
vored subordinates, who, especially al
this season, are taking pleasure trips to
all parts Of the country and Of Europe
at the expense of the Government and
the people. There is deal going on
behind the scenes i'm these departments
that never sees the light. A favorite
pastime of certain class of officials and
clerks, at this season, is the planning Of
expeditions ON which 10 be sent nominal
" to look after some Greatly unimpor-
anti department business, but in reality
4 10 seek pleasure and a "good time,
while the Government pays their bills i.
! And is il thing 10 be wondered at ?
4 Consider moment. Passing through
\ the hands of the chiefs of bureaux
deputies and clerks, come the accounts
/ Of Gen. Babcock and Others for ex-
penses incurred i'm going 10 visit the
President AT Long Branch or elsewhere
I and the accounts of officials running
I hither and thither hunting up members
\ of the Cabinet, and accounts Of a like
nature more numerous than the moons
of Methusaleh. The head Of bureau
has desire 10 spend some of the sum
mer weeks on the Pacific slope he
scrapes up some triiling item Of Govern.
ment business that could be readily and
properly transacted by mails, and he
strides across the continent on n pleas
ure excursion at Government expense
Or, If he prefers 10 90 in different di-
rection, he conjures up something OF a
similar character and for a similar pur-
pose, and he spends couple of months
| in making trip 10 Europe. A well
known official in the Treasury, who has
been there for thirty years, has made
his summer voyage across the Atlantic
almost every year since 1860. Once
I during the administration of President
Pierce, this same officer had packed hi.
trunk and made his preparations for a
European trip he went to the White
House rs matter of courtesy to bid the
President good-by for the summer; he
mentioned his proposed voyage. MIR
Pierce politely but firmly remarked
.'Mr. It, / hardly think this il
advisable. do not myself feel at lib.
erty to be absent from the city any
length Of time. The people expect
every official to do his duty; and of
ficials cannot do their duty by running
away from il. do not approve of your
proposed voyage. Mr.. r un
packed his trunk and remained in Wash
ington that summer. How would Mr.
Pierce's words sound put into the mouth
of President Grant? ''As sounding
brass, or tinkling cymbal.n
Tens Of thousands of dollars are be
ing spent this very month by Officials
and clerks roaming over the country
ostensibly on department business thai
calls for no such personal attention
The term ssfavored clerks" was USED
above. A clerk who has strong Con
gressional backing is in the way of be
inc favored BY the chiefs of bureau,
and even higher officers and il j. note.
worthy that il is usually only clerks o.
this class that are detailed on the roy
ing pleasure expeditions. II j. won
derful, the extent TO which Congress
ional influence is carried. As an II
lustration; After scheming persuasion
and wire-pulIing for few weeks re
Gently, Michigan clerk prevailed upon
the proper authorities of the interior
Department to send him West through
Minnesota, the Territories, California
and elsewhere to look after the Indi
ans. lie got his papers and instruc
tions. lie is clerk in the Treasury
Department, and though entitled regu
larry 10 his annual thirty days leave o