Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-03-25

First -class clerks. 200 per annum
CferkS. ............. l.WU DO.
Messengers. :::.::.:::::.::.: $40 do.
W ate .................. e do.
LduoIcIS -...........- OOO. 90.
The examining force shall be paid as follows:
Principal examiners. G., 600 per annum
Examiners of fourth class . 1,SOO do
Examiners of third class. 800. 1000 do.
Examiners of second class. l40O do
Examiners detailed as special
examiners in the field. ..... 1,400 do.
Examiners of first class. 800. 1900 do
The persons needed for the work of this office
may be divided into two classes viz:
LIST. The clerical or mechanical force. For
merely mechanical clerical work, requiring
primarily, good moral character, good penman-
ship, and a reasonable degree of accuracy in
photography and syntax, young men and ladies
may be considered in the selection of persons to
be appointed; but the proportion of this class
to the whole number to be employed should not
exceed One-third, for the reason that mere me-
chanical clerical work can be pressed and accel-
Grated 10y good management. This class in
cludes labOrers watchmen, messengers copyists
and clerks. in the selection of which eX-Union
soldiers, their sons, widows or daughters should
be given the preference. other things being
nearly equal.
2. The examining force. those who are to do
the real work of the Office viz. settle claims for
pensions, must exercise sound discretion and
form ripe and well-cOnsidered judgments An
unripe youth. who has seen little of the world,
knows little or nothing of the habits of the peo-
pie or methods of public business. save that
| which he has learned in the books and which he
has knowledge Of only as abstract theories, al
though he may pass brilliant examination in
orthOgIaphy, syntax and pros0dy. mathematics
classical literature, science, art, geography and
other branches of learning, is totally unfit for
this class Of work.
For this, the real work before Us, two-thirds
of all the force you provide should be men of
character and good habits. who have settled
down to the real work of iife-if possible those
who have fought for the nations lfe-who are
ripe in years and experience, of capacity and
education sufficient to enable them to discover
the legal points involved, properly weigh and
apply the testimony az well as determine the
kind and amount required to sustain a declara-
ton and to reach an intelligent and Just judg-
ment. Let this class be men who are fully inn
pressed with the peculiar character of this par
ttcular work, and who will care more to speedily
get ante-mOrtem pensions to the veterans who
Tor years have been languishing with diseases
| or wounds, and have been kept waiting SO long
for their rights, rather than calculate how long
| they can make their own employment to last.
Who so fit in this respect, for this work, as ex-
Union soldiers? Let this class be composed,
too, solely OF those who have vote somewhere.
and who have interest enough in the
| welfare Of their nation and state to vote at
every election; and other things being equal or
| nearly so, republicans should be preferred. But
they shOul0 Oe OlVlded amongst the states and
| territories In proportion to the vote each casts
| to the whole vote of the country, taking into
consideration the distribution Of those now en-
| plOyed, and in my judgment the republican vote
| should be the basis, inasmuch as this is repub-
lican administration. allowing the democratic
vote as the basis whenever the pendulum shall
swing the other way. and the administration
| pass into democratic hands.
have made calculation which shows. LIST
| the full quota Of the whole force to each state
and territory; I'd, the number now in the Office
charged to each state; Sd, the number each will
be entitled to-, and have attached copy thereof
to this letter. Very respectfully,
WIN. W. DUDLEY, Commissioner