The Russellville Democrat., 1882-07-20
The Office Broker.

The Office BrOker.
 \ special from Washington City 10 the New Orleans Times Democrat throws the following ray of light on the methods resorted to by the office broker It is source of wonder to many people who visit Washington, and to q good many who live here, how certain men who are always seen about the first-class hotels make 2 living. These men have no visible means of support, and yet they always appear to have plenty of money and they certainly always dress well and live on the best that the market affords. The truth is these men are office brokers. There are not very many of them, and they are, therefore. able to do a very thriving trade. They keep up a cer tain show of intimacy with heads of departments, with Senators and even with the President. They let nc opportunity slip to create the i'm pressIon that they have wonderful amount of influence with those who exerclse q controlling influence in the direction of public matters There is Q good supply of office seek CTS in Washington all the time These office seekers are the prey oi the office brokers, A man arriyes in the city from distant State seeking an appointment, he almost always finds obstacles in his way. There are other applicants for the same place, or the President or the head of the department within whose jul risdiction the office sought is moves slowly, and the office-seeker begins to despair of success. Then the office broker comes to the front. He boasts of his influence with the ap. pointing power, and asserts his abil- ity 70 secure the desired appoint ment in short order. As q rule, these office brokers have no influence whatever; they have only a vast amount of assurance and facility for lylng that is simply marvellous. It is astonishing, however, how many innocents they entrap into paying them handsome fee. As rule they get something ID advance, but if their client happens 10 DC appoint ed, and he is often appointed with out any aid from the broker, then the broker comes in for a big fee. He claims all the credit for the ap pointment and demands a good round sum for his alleged services. These office brokers sell their alleged infiu- ence with Senators Tn the same way. They sometimes resort to 'blackmail and threaten to defeat the confrma- tion ot an appolntee If they are not paid q certain sum. Such threats are often effective and the harrassed ofllce-seeker Is blackmailed out of 6 handsome sum. There is good req son to believe, however, that there is q class of office seekers who are rec oguized by the administration and who dc a legitimate business. They are men who have occupied promi nent political positions, but who arc now poor and out of office. The ad ministration cannot very well give them an office of profit and impor tance. because such offices are re served for those who continue tt wield political influence. They gen. eraily reside in Democratic States and the administrator allows them to dictate the appointments of their States, with the understanding that they charge certain per cent. of the salaries of the offices filled on their recommendation. One case of this kind came to light very lately in Missouri.
 The public officers of the country supply the wants of a good many be sides those who fill them