The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1883-08-30
WASHINGTON r 7
From Our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, D.. c.,
Aup. 81 1SS3(

WASHINGTON, D.. c.,
Aug, 81, 1885,
Now that the Civil Service Com
mission is the avenue through which
appointment to Government clerk
ships are reached, there is no longer
any use for the thousands of written
applications on file in the various de-
partments. Under the old rules. these
documents accumulated very rapidly.
In the Interior Department alone, u,
GOO applications we're placed on file
within the past two years. These pa
pers are now of absolutely no value,
except as curiosities and certificates of
character, which may be useful in Sc
curing positions elsewhere and hence
the departments wish to get rid of
them, SO that the space they fill can be
better used. The Interior Department
has already begun returning these pa
pers to the later applicants, and any
one having such documents OH file
in that department a have them for
the asking. In many cases these form
quite a voluminous and interesting
budget, the applications being often
accompanied by n number of letters OF
recommendation from business firms,
congressman, senator's, and officials
of every grade. The Postofice de-
partment sold its accumulated appli-
cations in 1876 as waste paper, and the
Postmaster General has now under
consideration q similar plan to dis
pose of the nine or ten thousand appli-
cations that have come in since the
sale. The act Of March 8, 1881, au-
thorizes him "to sell as waste paper,
or otherwise dispose of the files ofpa-
pers which have accumulated or may
hereafter accumulate, in the Postofice
Department that are not needed i'll the
transaction of currant business, and
have no permanent value or historical
interest" and to turn the proceeds in
to the Treasury.
A jealous antiquity might enter
plea for these documents on the ground
of "historical interest,"" as the collec'
tion would be instructive material fiji
ty years hence for the student of oul
times. The applications would show
very clearly the nature of our civi
service for a long period of years, ant
why a change was so necessary ant
so difficult to make. But they would
be of the most value, perhaps, to thu
autograph-hunter, as the signature O
almost every public man Of note il
our history appears among the in
dorsers. A conspicuous exception il
Col. Benton, who, according to TIT
appointment clerks of both the Int
rior and Postofice Departments, neve,
signed a recommendation or indorse
ment for any applicant for office. Th,
applications might be held TO posses
a further value as curiosities of litera
ture. The department had q set form
to be sure, insisting on certain condi
tions of eligibility and requiring re
~ferences, but candidates know yer,
well that small attention was paid t,
the specifications, so that the impor
tant part of most applications was III
more or less imposing array of infiu
entail names that backed the petition
The applicant was more apt to refe
the department to these gentlemel
than to furnish much photographer
information himself. Now and then
however, he would indulge in Ion
and glowing accounts of his life, gift
and services, made moro piquan
sometimes by weird and eccentrici
ties ofpenmanship, spelling and gram
Glowing reports come from the Vel
lowstone region concerning the de
lights afforded the Presidential party
Undoubtedly, there is fine scener
and good fishing, and every require
ment for an enjoyable time. tits sal
that the President took along in hi
private car six cases of the best cham
payne, three cases of Rhine wine, fou
gallons of old Bourbon whisky Z
1860, a quantity of fine cognac bran
dy, Bordeaux and other wines, an
four cases of Apoilinaris water
Whether General Sheridau's commits
sary department was n duplicate c
this outfit, it is not stated; but whe
it is Understood that a cease" is tw
dozen quart bottles, the average cit
zen will estimate that the above in
Vcntory might, i'll case of necessity
be sufficient for two. The report tina
the Yellowstone country is infeste'
with snake, had probably reache
President Arthur before he started
and he no doubt felt the necessity G
being provided with a supply of al
titode.
If the President reads q 1.-THE O.. tn
stuff sent to the press by the reporter
accompanying his party, he must b
~nauseated to absolute gangrenc. An
of what earthly moment is it to fit
millions of people that Mr.. Arthu
sat up at night, and darned u place i
his pants that a days abrading wit
the saddle had worn through? Ha
not Phil Sheridan and many a bette
man done the same? And has nc
the public been told often enough t
know it for q fact that the fish of tn
: Yellowstone have had their instruc
tons to nibble at the Presidents hoo
and no other? And is it not acknowl
edged that the President is the bes
horseman in the party, not eXceptin
the Indian guides who have speI
their lives upon horseback? VIII
~iterate and reiterate all these infinite
sinai details day after day, when w
know that the President is first i
; rod, first in pickle, and first in tn
hearts of theAborigines? Is this a
A.