The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1881-03-26

Dltce Seekers ddd H0tderS.-i no IiS dNu ohtS.
The Influential Malone does not Waste has
Patronage-I'rospect Of an Brtr" Session
(From regular CorrespondentJ
WASHINGTON d. c., March 81
BY TAR the larger portion of the crowd who
came here to the inauguration has departed,
but the business portion Of It remains and
clamors at the doors of the White House, and
at all the government Offices, for clerkship.
In the eye of the average meier do welr'
young man or young woman OF the United
States there is nothing under Heaven so dainty
sweet as government clerkshlp, and many OF
this class who have slight acquaintance with
the president or a member of his cabinet i'm
agine that In order to get the coveted place,
there Is nothing to do but to send up their
names, secure an interview and have the sltua.
for cabinet officer to get I'D Of them, and,
but for the fact that few of them have money
enough to take themselves or their experience
home, the city would see them no more. But
papers, memorials and influential basking, and
the chances are that room will be made for
them by the discharge of competent expert.
enccd clerks, who have less influence and
nothing to plead their cause but good record
of faithful work No one is better acquainted
with all the phases OF our civil service than
the President of the United States. Nor are
the Secretaries of State anu the Treasury want.
ing in most thorough knowledge Of all its
ms and outs. 1t would seem, IN a country
like ours, which has so many places, advan.
tages and opportunities for the enterprlsing
and industrious, that there would be less com.
petition for places of this kind. They would
seem to be anything but desirable. True, the
work is not heavy, and pay is lnfallib'e, but
the Damocles sword of removal ever hangs
over the occupant of office. He cannot, by
his utmost exertion add dollar to his salary,
and he must always see the incompetent favor.
ties of influential politicians promoted over
him. His associates in office are of a class
from whom he can form no high estimate OF
human nature. They have their places through
the doubtful merit of relationship to those in
power, or In return for political services rem
dered.
At present but few minor appointments are
being made, but some changes are inevitable
The friends of cabinet officers and Of lnfluen-
tlal senators must have places Just now II
looks as If Virginia would be a rival Of Ohio
in securing clerkships at the capital. The
Mother of Presidents has always, perhaps on
account of her proximity to Washington, had
a large number Of her daughters in govern.
ment offices; but 1t is well known that the
polite Malone will not waste his patronage
on women, but will place it where 1t will do
him most good politically. Perhaps before
this reaches you his political ally, Mr.. Riddle.
berger, will he made Sergeant-at-Arms of the
Senate, in which position he will be the re
cipient Of rich perqulsiies and the dispenser
of extensive patronage. Few public men, il
is thought, are in letter position 10 reward
their friends and punish their enemies than
Malone, of Virginia.
1t Is the opinion of the well-informed that
Congress will convene in extra session about
the 18th of May.