New-York tribune., 1876-09-01
WASHINGTUN.
CONGREssMENs SERVANTS.

A LITTLE REVELATION AS TO HOW THE GOVERN
MEST TAKES CARE OF THEM DURING VACATION.
FRoM REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TBiBUSE'I
WASHINGTON, Aug. 31.-A singular practice on the
part ofcertain Senators and members Congress heh
in public confidence has just been developed IN con-
neetion with the discharges in the Treasury Depart
ment. There are employed in the department. ana
its several bureaus about hundred women, whose
duties are 10 sweep the rooms, dust the furniture,
clean the windows. scrub the marble Railways and
stoirs and 10 DO generally what Is called house
keeping about the department. These women are
organized under q lady of refinement and standing,
and the work alluded to has been brought TO per-
feet system. Much Of the work under this lady Is
not of mental character, and may with propnety
be done by ladies in reduced circumstances. Inc
practice has been to give these places to the WIDOWS
of soldiers with children or Others depending upon
them. The Appropriation bill largely reduced the
force and in selecting the persons for discharge aus
elimination was made against those whose eircumi-
stances appeared to be the best, without reference
to the influence which secured their appointment
II was in this way the habit of certain Congress
men was developed. 1t appears that for years
many members and Senator's who keep house in
Washington during the sittings of Congress have
been in the habit of securing the employment by the
Government, during the recess, of their domestlcs,
thus saving their wages and being sure they will be
on hand when housekeeping is resumed in the Fall.
In some cases. coachmen, cooks, chambermalds, and
even nurses have been provided for. The places in
the departments pay large salaries and the duties
are light Such situations are eagerly sought Dy
colored people and the whites OF the poorer class
and if they cannot he attained, the next best thg
is to 20 10 service with some influential Senator OF
member. At the end of the session of Congress the
Senator goes to one of the departments and has ms
coocbman mt upon the rolls he goes to another
department and obtains employment for his COOK, or
his man-servant, or for both. In one case one
department furnished employment for three servants
of Senator ut one time
These servants 10 not lose sight of their patrons
interests in the mean time, but take care OF their
houscs keep the moths ont of the furniture, NOW
the lawns watch the stables, and take care gener-
ally of the property left IN Washington. In some
cases demands have been made for the discharge Of
soldiers widows, to make place for the cooks, cham
b,rmaids and nurses of Senator's. Congressman
who are recognized as miOnaires are not above de-
mandiag that their servants shall be paid by the
Government and threatening those who may refuse
TO comply with their demands. One demanded that
not only his coachman but his coachmans wife
should be taken care of. The lady in charge of the
building refused TO employ the coachmans wife,
giving as a reason that she woald have to discharge
a soldiers widow to make place. The Senator be-
came very indignant, and threatened that he would
have the lady removed from her place The lady
then said, If you are willing il shall 30 to the
world that you demanded tho discharge of a soldiers
widow to mako room for your coachman's wife,
will make the change" The Senator then said IL
was not worth while to say anything more about Il.
In the changes to be made IN the Treasury some
of the servants of Congressman will be discharged