The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1876-02-01
Tuesday. February !. 1876.
The Fate of an InsoIent Clerk.
CHICAGO Times Special Telegram.

The faJe or an AnSolenb SloIh,
Chicago Times Special Telegram.
WASHINGTON, JAM 30.-Among other
fixtures the present congress found ready to
its hand on coming into power was jour
nal clerk named Barclay, who had held
the place since he was appointed, nearly
20 years ago, by Democratic congress
Each succeeding congress has left him ur-
disturbed, not because he was invaluable
or not to be replaced, but because being
in he had the hang of things" and his
retention saved some passing annoyance.
In his day he was a capable, and may have
been faithful, officer, but that day must
have passed may year ago, but it was
understood that the veteran should not be
removed if he could make shift to do his
work. Itw soon discovered, however,
that the work for which Barclay was paid
was done by an assistant whose recompense
was just So, 500 session out of the COVER
ment purse. As reduction of expendi-
lures has been determined upon, Clerk
Adams, on consultation, decided to cut
down the force and cause Mr.. Barclay to
perform the duties for which ne was paid.
He at the same time was constraluci by
party pressure to give the second place,
which was not to be abolished, to party
nominee. Hearing of this mediCated
change, Barclay, conspicuously under the
influence of liquor, wrote an insoleDt note
of resignation to the clerk, stating, in effect,
as his two cronies we're to be dismissed,
one through the abolition of his Office and
the other through partisanship, he could
anticipate the fate in store for himself and
resign instanter This written he betook
himself to the clerk S room, and it is cred.
itably attested he was in state of such
maudlin intoxication that he could not dis
tinguish between himself and congress.
He asked an astounded mem Der:
Where's your forty fourth congress
now?' fourishing his infammatory resig
nation in the face of the trembling mem.
bers, who began to realize that the fabric
of legislation was falling about their ears.
Presuming upon his part, anu fatuously
believing himself indispensable, he handed
the note to Mr.. Adams, never dreaming
that it would be accepted. Adams, q
choleric Kentuckian, quick to anger, ac-
cepted the resignation at once, and im-
mediately selected the most available man
he could find to fill the bewildered Bar
clay's place. Under ordinary crcumstan
ces the business would have enoed here
Not so in this case A howl of mingled
wrath and defamation has gone up through
party pressure, and from the information
through Independent presses, Barclay is
represented as martyr of politlcalism
and the clerk ferocious foe to civil-ser
vice proprieties. The other side of the
story, however, more than justifes Adams
acceptance of the insolently rendered res
ignation. He declares that Barclay no
only neglected the business Of clerk fol
which he was paid, but that greater
part of his time was passed in an ante
chamber Of the hall with conyiyial friend.
in drink. So notorious had this become
that the attention Of the speaker had beer
called to it, and al order had been ISSUED
forbidding liquor in the house wing of tn,
capitol. Furthermore, MIR. Kerr received
no aid whatever from Mr. Barclay, as tina
gentleman had not been in his place three
consecutive hours during the two month!
OF the session. Assuming upon his long
service, Barclay not only neglected hi
work, but assured his two assistants tina
be would not permit them to be interferet
with and in this spirit sent his tipsey def
ance to the clerk. Astounded by the read
acceptance Of his withdrawal, the discOm
flied Barclay began at once with his friend
to make complaint and demand his rer
the Republicans readily fell into the spiri
OF the thing. and a petition signed by 10
members is to be presented to the clerk tt
morrow, asking his reinstatement Whe
this came to Speaker kerr's ears, he decla
ed that ifso unfit man were restored'to til
place he would refuse him permission on th
floor. Adams has no notion Of restorin
this model relic of Republican civil servic
RI no rNIa NH t,a1 p D..
either by age, industry, or habits to hol(
chicago Times Editorial.
The melancholy mistake made by Nj
Barclay, the ancient jourual clerk of til
house of representatives, when he petulan
ly resigned his position the other Ca, ia
excited the intensest sympathy u II
Republican members, Any event Nhc
has the effect or a tendency to remoI
barnacles. is always deplored on thai sic
Of the house. Mr.. Barclay, it seems, h;
held a sort of sinecure for years, an a
sistant having performed about all Il
duties of the place In the prevalent di
pensation of retrenchment, it happene
that it was proposed to give Mr. Barcla
an opportunity to do little toward carr
ing his salary. All the instincts of tt
barnacle revolted at this, and the old f
low Indignantly sent in his resignation
couched in terms little short of downrigl
insolcnce. 1t was accepted with promp
less which astonished no less than it pal
ed him. Now the sympathetic Republ
cans have signed a petition requestir
Barclays reinstatement; but there is
sad certainty that it will be of no aya
He might have remained, if he would, b,
to replace him, now that he has shake
himself off, is something not to be though
OF. He is in position precisely like til;
into which the impetuous Spinner precip
tated himself, when he resigned ii
United States treasurship for the twentiet
and last time, and was unexpected
awakened to the amazing discovery TIL
the country could get along without hin
The case is warning to barnacles. The
should never open their mouths to abu
the body on which they feed, for SO the
may lose their grip aud never regain it.