National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1880-02-14
AN INFLUENTIAL PARSONAGE.
a wellISnown Attorneys New Business

On the second floor of the Webster Law
building. near the Police court, a pasteboard
sign announces that j. Parker Jordan Is an
attorney-at-law, Recently Mr.. Jordan has
branched out intoa now business. procuring
Offices under tho Government for applicants
who are willing to pay him II certain bonus"
Learning from one of his latest victims his
manner Of operating, q representative of TIE
NATIONAL REPUBLICAN called on tho office
broker yesterday afternoon. Upon entering
tho Office two colored and two white mon were
noticed. In response to an inquiry for "Mr.
Jordan an elderly, smooth faced parsonage,
wearing q pair Of blue goggles answered;
"Thats my namei what can do for you?'
"Can have few moments private con-
vcrsation with you, Mr.. Jordan Z"
" In n few moments sir !" then turning to
one of tho coorcd men, Come In the morn.
ing, and that abstract will be ready for you"
Tho lawyer then wrote letter filing two
pages Of noto-paper, ut the conclusion Of
which the other white man and the office boy
were requested TO leave the room and close
the door after them. AS soon as they had
complied with this request ihe of the goggles
began business with: well, sir, what can
do for you ~
"a am informed that you can get Govern
msnt position for such friends as you see fit
My name is George Ehrct / belong in New
Milford, SusQu6hanna county, Pn About
the expectation of getting a clerkslip in one
of the Departments. Thus fur have been
unsuccessful, when yesterday u friend ad.
visGd me to call on you, as you had influence
aud could help me-"
Lawyer Jordan, rubbing his hands and
hitching his chair closer to his visitor
Young man, you could not have selected Il
botter person than myself for this matter.
am Southern Republican, who has tho car
of the President and several Cabinet officers
General Grant, when he retired from the
White House, introduced me to President
Hayes, saying, This Is an old friend of mine,
Judge Jordan and any favors shown him will
be gratifying to me- Now, / have steadily
declined to accept an Office, proIoring TO de-
pend on my practice before the courts here;
but any time l want friend appointed to
office, all have to do is to ask for it, My in
fuenco is of the strongest kind. Can you
write q good haudW
Ehrct--"Yes, sir; pretty fair round hand
Jordan-"Thats good. Pretty fair at arith E
mctc, eh ?"
Ehrct-"Yes sir; in fact, you see have had
good common-school education, although
living In the country all my life"
Jordan-"What did you do?"
Ehret--"I WIS for long time clerk in II
store belonging to my uncle"
Jordan-"Well now, that's good to start
with. You have an honest, intelligent face
aud l will have no trouble in fixing you.
But you know some of the Secretaries leave all
the appointments TO their chief clerks and
the attcr's hands must be buttored."
Ehret-"Hands buLteIod What with {"
Jordan-"Why, with money, TO be suro. Or
else wine supper. Now, in the Interior Do
purtment, my friend there told me to-day
that there were two vacancies, ono at 800 u
month and the other at $75. They ARE to bo
filled tomorrow if SO desire, and II you have
/ Itnyi11 .
tho Department this evening, SOC the chief
clerk aud make all the arrangements for your
appointment. Tomorrow morning you can
go up with me aud bo introduced TO him, and
your papers will bo filed out not later than tho
goth of this month";"
Ehret-"lIow much money do you want
now"
Jordan-"Wcll, for $40 cash can bid for tho
$75 place, but give mo $50 and | will guamn-
tee tho 800 ono by the lst of March. Have
you any friends horeY
Ehret-"Yes, sir; brought letters to Sow
era business men mentioning the names of
II number of mythical porsonaGos), but they
can't spare timo to go around with me-"
Jordan--"rhese are all solid mou, and am
sure now that you are all right You see,
must not recommend any improper persons
for appointment, for anything wrong recois
on me- aud would have u tendency TO injure
me at tho Departments, Where are you liv-
ing p
Ehrot-"At the Mount Washington House.
on the Avenue"
Jordan--"Why, this Is not more than 300
yards from here. You go down there aud get
$l5 aud bring IL here this afternoon. 1t is
now halfpast l. l will wait here an hour and
a.half for you"
Ehrct-"I have about that amount, aud IL
you can guarantee mo place | will gladly
give IT TO you"
Jordan-"Thore Is no doubt in the case.
Bring me tho money, aud you will be at work
in little over a week, BY tho way, after you
are appointed l shall expect you to give me $50
out of your salary every month for ave months,
That is my fee in such cases. At tho end of
the fivo months you need not give mo any.
thing more, DOn't forgot to come back this
afternoon with the So"
Ehrot-" No, sir shall return In a few
minutes"
Jordan rising from his scat aud taking tho
vlstor by tho hand" There is another thing
l wish to say TO you Don't ever mention u
word of our conversation to anyone. IL would
not do for people TO learn what influence
have as It. Is secret between tho appointing
power and myself Good day. Don't forgot
shall wait for you.'
Aud he is still waiting,