Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1881-11-17
Washington Scandals.

scandals. Scarcely has one died ont
before another is brought TO light.
the last comes from the Govern
ment Printing Office where a dis
charged foreman wresks his ven
gcance by telling a story of de-
bsnchery and infarny that caps the
climax of iniquity. It's very atrocity
will make it hard to believe, even
coming from a city which has the
unenviable reputation that Wash
ington has. We quote the story as
told by the reporter who conversed
with the discharged foreman
Mr.. Defrees, the present public
printer, has dismissed his foreman,
Mr.. Oyster, because he learned
that Oyster was candidate for his
place Since Oyster has been dis
missed he has Threatened to expose
some of the inside workings Of this
great government machine. Among
other things Mr.. Oyster charges
gross immortality in the place, and
says that old women are kept upon
the payroll to act as PROGRESSES
for some OF the subordinate officials.
In answer to u general question
upon the subject, Mr.. Oyster said
that " several of these old crones
were at cue time holding positions
when work was scarce, and the pay
correspondingly small. Their pro-
motion to more lucrative position
was the result Of an understanding
with several foremon that they
would aid them in their nctaricus
scheme TO debauch certain OF the
female employees. The methods
employed are substantially these ::
The old women's tenure Of office
depends on the fidelity with winch
they discharge their trust. 4 young
girl or woman. OF Il more mature
age, is working OH piece-work.
This is distributed to SO many that
instances are not wanting where a
| days wages at times amounts only
10 10 or Is cents. Believing, and
not without reason, that the old
: women have friends at court, the
girls apply through them for more
work. OF course, that means bet
ter pay than the starvation prices
at which they have been Iaboring.
with the crattiness and knowledge
OF human nature which these tiends
! possess the inhocents arc led on,
step by step, until, finally, when
their minds have been fully pre-
, pared for some great sacrifice they
must make, in order 70 sechre the
coveted boon, they are told plump
i ly that it can be obtained orily al
} the price OF their virtue. For the
t credit of the lady dyemployces and the
, tair name of womanhood in gcuer-
: al, the insulting proposal is gener-
, ally spurned with indignation
! Still, there are executions, hu
whether they are so from inheren
, badness or because the girls are
: driven to accept through force Q
g circumstances [ cannot say. 4
d woman who has family depend
e ing npon her for support, Or ;
c ycnng girl, penniless and friend
3 less, who accepts these degradin:
: pr. posals, does SO, l believe, ia
d more as a matter Of stern necessl''
: than from lewdness of character
e I on remember Becky Sharp's ia
: vorite maxim slt's very easy to b
d honest on five thousand a year
@ But if ws have no charity for thes
IS poor creatures, what pnnishmcn
n should be meted out to these sconr
: Grels who CRAFTY their Inst at tn
d expense of their victims %
If " Why not expose these men b
If publishing their names q
IS cit is possible l will do SO earl
n next week For the present yo
+ must he satisfied with a recital {
a the facts
: Mr.. Oyster said in conclusio
I that to such an extent had unbrl
IS died license been carried, that dur
"a ing the noon hour, when most {
% the employees are absent at dinne
'c = certain foreman and his mistre:
J' secrete themselves half an hour :
ie a time IN one of the many CROOK
ol and crannies of the establishment
IN while the procUrcss stands guar>
!e 1t is a burning disgrace and out
ls rage that such practices should b
al permitted in government depart
es ment, but the gentleman with whol
+ the reporter talked not only affirm
l. the truth of what has been s.
e, down, but claims that the halt ii;
l. not yet been told.
,g
)n
The nresilent Of the Penrsyiyan