South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1883-05-11
letter from Washington.
from Or aey.,ar Corre,po.,sa..
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1t is generally said that Office hold
crs seldom die and never resign
This common idea is based upon
protty correct observation, but Their.
ere exceptions 20 this like all Other
rcles. No. to mention the death:
that have occurred among officers OF
the government during u few mon Tia:
past, there have been quite IL numbe,
OF surprises caused by designations -
L. zoe Patent Office they have been
especially numerous. Bat the rca.
son OF it Is, in nearly all cases, thai
the Information gained By few years
service OF the inside il believed to be
most valuable on the outside, and the
Patent Office EXPERT resigns because
he thinks he can make more money
by going into business on lis own
book. n principal examiner in the
class OF electricity has Just stepped
ont tor th.3 reason. When he too,S
charge Of the class Of electricity j,
formed y subdivision OF the ph;loso
phicai class. Now il is the largest
class III the Office, employing the great
est Number of assistants. 1t has
grown So fat that even With the in.
crease in its working force none OF
the applications of electricity have
been assigned 10 other classes. There
have been more Applications for pat.
ents aled in that class during the past
two years than there had been patents
granted relating 20 electricity in the
whole previous history OF the Office.
Bat the greatest surprise OF the sea-
con was created by Commissioner of
Internal Revenue Raum wien he 60
suddenly retired. It's a pretty cold
day when an Office holder drawing n
$1,000 SALARY lets 60 oil his own accord.
Ic' tits no doubt true that NJ. Raum
resigned because he expects to make
more money as attorney for the set
Element OF accounts and claims before
the department Recent legislation
CAUSES 80 many changes. and there
VAL be so .nucn OF tins kind OF bust.
ncss to 90, that the opportunity is real
~ unusual, and Il man Ike Ranm.
who has been IL the head OF the bu-
reau and knows all the workings OF K.
Is Well rs Iauuy 81! the iitigInts, must
certainly haze chance. 30 he. like
others, leaves the government ser
wee at II Time when he thinks the
knowledge gained N It will be most
useful to aim. Though his admins-
tratlon Of the Office he held hts been
tairly satisfactory, IN OTHER respects he
has been severely criticised Tor no,
ceasirg TO be a vigorous politician
when lie became commissioner.
Much OF his time in 1889 and 1892
was spent away from his post OF duty
IN alrii'less campaign for the govern.
orship OF Illinois hrst and subsequent
" Tor TIE scat of Judge Davis IN tue
United States senate. Both llnces
were too big for him, aud be never
at any time stood II chance olsuccess.
lie would have shown better Qualities
inr craftsmanship BY remaining here
and attending properly 10 the dutic:
OF his Office.
Ii the future of our civil service
commission may be judged by that
body's recent selection OF chief exam
liner The outlook is not promising. Ne.
yer was more unfit Il ridiculous ap.
pointment made. The announce.
ment OF tie name Of Kiem caused y
Jroad smile all over Washington
where the cheeky snob is known He
not only lacks Tie ability and qu..lifi
cations for the place but has been for
yeas It machine man aud the tool Of
nachIne inen--a hanger on to the
sltlIts OF public men whom he cult
Yates and tlatter| and forces himself
upon. Its appointment WAS pr0cur.
ed by an array Oi political influence
secured III this way, and is not very
auSpcious opening for a body created
to do away with Influence in tie CT :
vli service. This maa selected TO
manage tie examination OF applicants
could not himseIfpa pass an examination
Tor an ordinary clcrkship. Atthis writ
ing he IS still waiting tor his commits.
sion to be signci, the uulavorlble re.
ception OF his nomination having led
to some hesitation al Headquarters.
Colonel Thomas Ochillrce. OF Texas
Is a prominent cil;z III, and bis name is
:requcntIy IN the papers. uispoilical
influence Is dolbtIes3 Large in some
quarters, but / am grievcd tina; it docs
moi prevail in all the executive de.
partnents OF the government. Are,
cent incident was very touching -.
Colonel Ochitrcc bad been uppcaled
TO by personal friend 10 prevent the
issue OF an order in y certain depart.
ment--l will not say which one. The
order had been prepared by snLor.
dinatc officer, whcn Colonel Ochllrec
appeared on the scene and demanded
that 1t be withheld. AS YOU arc u
member OF Congress said the olliccr
i VIII consent TO consider the ones-
ten again, and will submit it TO the
secretary Colonel OchiIiroc wen,
away thinking that his friend was All
right, and the department officer wen
/ to the secretary .tpI TOLL bi,, ot,,,,,