Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-01-21
THE THREE CLASSES OF GOVERN
MENT CLERKS,
The ''ShOrts,', tho tsStationaries', and
the tsROunderS,ss

In the lingo of the departments, the people
who hold places under the government in Wash
ingtOn are divided into three classes. One
class is known as the "shorts, another as ''sta-
tionary." and the other as FOUNDERS" The
first only remain in Office very short time; the
second keep their places for years, and the last
are in place off and on.
TO BECOME A STATIONARY,
it is necessary for clerk to have kept his posi-
ton at least five years. There are great many
more stationary clerks than is generally sup
posed While changes are always being made,
the great number of places in the departments
are occupied by "statiOnaries."
THE SHORT"
generally has term of about year. and often
it is cut down to a very few days. The ''round-
err is. however the unique character of the
department rolls. The male specimen of the
rounder is by far the most numerous; in fact,
there are only few we-known female
FOUNDERS" The male rounder is generally
about forty or fifty years OF age. There are
some of them who have. reached theiR three
score and ten. Most of them have been in
almost every department in the city, and many
have run the gamut OF nearly all the bureaus
THE FOUNDER
is not good clerk. He often is addicted to
vinous and intoxicating fluids. He lost the
first place he had by either his unftness gin,
or because it was wanted for some one else
He then took the first step in the career of a
rOunder. He went to work to get another
place. He went at it systematically and with a
determination to win. Rebuffs soon became
what he expected, and finally success attended
him. From that place he has been removed
a q nj tho fpbt for MI ole -horo
He is always hard up. At least half of the time
he is out of place. He then lives on credit The
salary OF the next place that he drops into is
taken up by paying his debts-what he calls
"burying dead horses" He dresses seedly and
does not indulge in hot lunches but eats his
cold roll and butter. But he seems to enjoy
life pretty well. He is never down-hearted;
is always full of jokes. His "reminiscences of
rounder experiences are amusing People who
have business in the several departments will
sometimes miss face familiar to them by their
frequent visits to a certain room. In short
time they will see that face in another depart
ment. The rOunder has made another fight.
He has been turned out once more and once
more has caught on" There is clerk in one
department, who. in sixteen years service under
the government, has been removed from place
ten times. About salary the rounderi is never very
particular. He does not ask for 81, 200 or
Sl.6OO position. He only wants any kind of a
place. He never gets more than 81 200 year.
ne IS generally on temporary roll at between
$500 and 5000. Very often he will take place
as labOrer and is glad to get watchmans bill
let In the course Of many years of picking a
living here and there on the government, some
OF them have managed to become acquainted
with members of Congress who, when the time
for the FOUNDERS removal comes with it's usual
regularity, are called upon to help him get
another place. 1t does not surprise the rounder
to get bounced. He really expects it; he would
feel lonesome if ne was kept in one place longer
than a twelvemonth.
THE FEMALE FOUNDER.
as just said, is not SO numerous as her male
prototype. She is just as mercurial. however
and just as persistent. She often brings tears
to her aid in cunning for new place, and gen.
orally has more or less children to support She
is of a new growth comparatively. ''six years
ago" said an old stationary of the Treasury de-
partment. II did not know single rounder Of
the opposite sex. | can now count twelve to
my certain knowledge; of course there are many
more OF them"