National Republican., 1883-03-30
THE MAN on THE AVENUE.
smnn rall. About nren nnd N1cn.ures.

Small Talk About Men and Measures.
In conversation on the subject Of depart
ment clerks the head of one of tho divisions
in the Treasury department said to mo:
The system of civil service now in force
under the government may be far short of
perfection. but it is certainly very good
system. There are about 2,1OO clerks
in the Treasury department proper.
There were about as many ten years
ago, and there are to-day over eight hundred
people employed in the department who were
on the rolls ton years ago. There arc ON an
average 05 voluntary retirements from the
Treasury department every year That
number ofmen or women are resigning to 20
into private business, into matrimony, or out
of politics or places dependent upon the
political complexion of an administration.
This leaves about $50 persons unaecounted
for and that number includes all the dismis-
sails for cause or for political reasons. In
truth, not 10 per cent. of the $50 have been
removed for political reasons or to make
room for favoritos' in the past ten years.
Removals are generally for neglect of duty,
incompetency, or some other good and
bounced in cold blood, and so long as they
attend to their business and do good work
clerks have very little cause to be afraid of
losing their positions. Hundreds in this de-
partment are experts in their several lines of
work, and no hostile administration would
dare to turn them out to make room for raw
hands, however hungry the raw hands might
be. ltwould be an experiment too hazardous
to be attempted. And then no administration
can change quicker than the average depart
mcnt clerk"
80
The occasional mention of the name of
Gen. James w. Denver, of Ohio and Wash
ington, as n possible democratic nominee for
president in 1884, brings an old friend to the
front with n few words in his behalf. "The
general" he said, would make popular
candidate, although he has been
so long out of public life that it might be
found necessary to introduce him to the last
generation or two and otherwise identify
him. A native of Virginia, he emigrated in
carly life to Ohio and removed from there to
Missouri. The gold fever caught him,
and he was one of the California pioneers.
While he was secretary of state in 1852 and
1858 lie became involved in quarrel with
Edward Gilbert, n member of congress and
editor, which terminated in duel and the
death of Gilbert. The general tried. by every
honorable means to avoid trouble, but hay
ing been challenged, he had to fight or quit the
country in digrace. Rifles were the weapons,
and so great was his reluctance to shed blood
bat ha N IN mi cfi Hrn ,.,;t
returning it, and then shot in the air. Gill
bert refused to bo placated, however and at
the next fire he fell, shot through the head.
This duel has been the one great regret of the
generals life. He was subsequently, sent to
congress, was appointed governorssof Kansas
by President Buchanan and then commissioner
Of Indian affairs. He was governor during
the most exciting period in the history OF
Kansas, and it was then that u party of his
friends wandered over to the foothills and
founded town on the Platte river which
they called Denver. That town is to-day the
wonderful capital of wonderful young state
Gen. Denver never set foot in the city that
was named after him until about year ago.
"But for chance mishap he would have
received the democratic nomination for the
presidency instead Of Horatio Seymour in
1868. The job was set up by o number of in.
nuential army friends, and itwould have gone
through whooping if it had been properly
handled. He was also mentioned prominently
in 1850 for the nomination.
"Gen. Denver is rich, and his father-in
law is richer. His real home is in Ohio, bu
ne spends much of his timo in Washington
He is one of the best book buyers in the
country, and has splendid library. Hi.
mind runs to history and bellies lettres."
80
J. Fenimore Cooper's constituency will hi