The Evening critic., 1883-06-11
SIGNING OFFICIAL PAPERS,
The Tons and Tons OF Papers signed
Tint the SIguer Never reads.

Washington Letter in Pittsburg Dispatch.
I was talking with Assistant Secretary Of the
Treasury New the other day about tho signing
OF public papers. In every one OF the depart.
ments here the labor OF signing routine letters
and papers Is beyond ordinary comprehension.
This labor falls chiefly upon assistant secre-
taries and chiefs OF bureaus, and Is about the
same IN all public oflces. The number OF public
documents, papere, ETC., that are piled upon
the desk OF one OF the officials 10 sometimes
enormous. Now, under the law II is supposed
that the 0iIlcial who Ankles his signature 10
public paper knows what he is doing. Tech
nically, no Is responsible In each case. Really,
there Is no responsibility. The custom or law
which compels him 70 assume the responst-
bility is mere "bosh."
every day In the year as could possibly read
II had never lost day. Except In cases In
yolying money, do not pretend 70 read them.
] know no more and can know no more Of their
contents than the man In the moon. II Is all
can do 10 glance over the subject matter OF
letters and documents involving money; even
this examination is cursory. In the matter of
letters, 30 many Of them are signed every day
am unable even to make a cursory examlua-
ssrs Sn yet me aw SGnIss me Ss 70 sgp tnese @
all the public offlces OF the Government. Tho
most cen do Is 70 see that tho initials OF n
trusted CLERK are anixed 10 the document: II
are signing"
,what remedy would you suggest for such
~ do not know what could be done. only
think some remedy should be applied; that
somebody should be responsible by law In
sponsibliity which would bo in fact as well as
In name. SO far as rontine work Is concerned,
IL would be Just rs well TO lot the trusted
clerks and others Sign tho papers and be ro.
sponsible for the contents, reserylng those Of
q higher end, such as money warrants, con-
tracts, ETC., TO those OF more responsible posi-
lions. Most OF this Is routine work, and could
bo discharged ma well by clerk as by an as
sistant secretary or Cabinet officer"
'The subject was brought TO my mind the
q I..,. ga I'm flnA gft IA Ga.
ond Assistant Postmaster.General. Mr.. Elmer
was engaged In the process OF affixing his
initials or signature 70 a bushelbasket full OF
documents. / asked him what they were.
Postal contracts said he; fines, forfeitures,
etc. l watched him for 1vo minutes, and
during that time he got through remarkable
much as he could do TO blot and remove the
documents as fast rs signed. These papers
were all In Jackets and none OF them were
opened or examined. How could help but
think about the famous Endorsement OF
Thomas J. Brady?
"Do this Brady" is tho most familiar feature
in the pending celebrated Star-Route trials.
What under heavens Is there In this process
II signing postal contracts, fines and for
feitures, etc, 70 protect a man In the position
Of Second Assistant Postmaster General? This
process IS not an annual one. tits every three
months, and for three or four weeks. Every
day during that time stacks and stacks OF
these important papers are signed and hurried
away into the archives OF the office and the
pockets OF contractors. The fines and for
feiturcB Tor neglecting 10 carry according TO
contract amount TO from 100000 to $500. 900
| per annum. What does the Assistant Post
master.General know about the contents
Of these papers and contracts. We're he
five differents individuals, having ten
| hands and living forty.eight hours out OF
every day in the year, no could not read and
| handle and comprehend half OF tho documents
| no signs every year. II is tho verlest farce
| To sit there and sec him do II for Ave minutes
| Is enough to awaken sympathy oven for Brady
| in the predicament ho fnds himself. 1t Is moi
| the fault Of tho Second Assistant Postmaster
| General, or general this or general that, It is
| the tault of the absurd law which originated
| when the Government was small and work In
| significant, and which is still In effect, al
| though tho work has doubled and quadrupled
| in volume.
| ut was only fow years ago that the Presi
dent was relieved OF tho responsibility o
| signing land patents by the. e.passago OF law
| appointing q clerk for TINT especial purpose
| There Is an executive clerk appointed undel
that law who Ankles the Presidents signatur,
| to all the land patents. Among these arc very
| important patents involving thousands o
| acres OF land, mineral lands aud millions an(
| that law giving the President this clerk tn,
labor OF afIixing tho Presidents signature was
enough TO break down tho ordinary executive
"There would appear to be no reason WIN
| some clerks could not be provided for by law
10 nfIlx the signatures OF important officials u
| public documents, OF tho routine kind. Thes
| clerkscOuld be made responsible to the OH
| cials themselves, and occupying confden
| tiAl relation, tho responsibility, though mp
parently delegated 10 tho clerk would, In fact
remain In the person Of the oflcial."