The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1883-04-21
Our Washington Letter.

Our Washington Letter.
tFRoM OUR REGULAR CoRREsPoHDKNT.1 |
WASHINGTON, D. c., April IA. 1883.
In conversation with prominent off,
Ger of the Post Office Department to-day |
1 was informed that Mr.. Hatton is not
overjoyed at the appointment Of Gresham
as his chief. This is not 1T all improba.
BILE. He would not have refused the
place himself, knowing his own fitness
SO well and considering his warm attach
ment to the principles of the civil service
reform. But next to being Postmaster
General dejure, he would not object to
being Postmaster General defncto as be
was under the late Mr.. Howe. 1t is plain
he cannot be this under Judge Gresham.
That gentleman has way of doing
things himself and not by deputy which
would be very discouraging indeed TO an
officer of Mr.. Hatton's talent, and attain.
ment. 1t would have been safe to pre-.
dict from the first that HIATT IN would not
dole out Gresham. and now It turns out
10 have been developed on the first day
after the appointments,
The defense in the Slar-route trial in
this city Was conGnued throughout last
week. On Thursday, H. M. Vaile, one
ofthe defendants, took the stand and de.
MED the allegations contained in the in
dictmout. On Friday the cross eIamin.
alton of Vaile was concluded and John
W. Dorsey, the brother OF StepheH W..
took the stand. On Saturday John W.
Dorsey's testimony was completed, and
the court adjourned until Monday. the
9th. Since then Miner has been on the
stand and yesterday the defense closed
their testimony.
President Arthur has been accused Of
strayiug away from the Stalwart fold, but
his appointment OF Judge Gresham to
the Cabinet proves that he is straying
back again into the Grant fofd.s Senator
Harrison, Assistant Secretary New, Com.
missioner Dudley. aud Congressman
Brown were all against Gresham's ap-
pointment from their State, but Grant
was for him and that seems To- have set.
tied it. '.'.
The government clerks are beginning
to consider themselves proper objects OF
compassion. Every day sees them sub
jected to some new indignity or misery
To-day an order has been issued which
puts a stop to one of their most cherished
privileges. 1t has been the habit when a
clerk has been discharged 20 give q
months leave Of absence on an imaginary
new year Of service, and to date his re-
signation SO that it should take effect on
the day the leave ended. Practically Of
course this was giving removed clerks
one months salary. Under the new rule
however, this practice will be done away
with. Under strict legislation OF the last
session, the question of annual and sick
leaves is now regulated by law instead of
at the discretion Of heads of departments,
and the law specifies that in the event of
q resignation, the clerks will only be al
lowed as much time as would make up
the regular thirty days allowance in each
year authorized by law. II, therefore, n
clerk has taken his thirty days leave
within year be gets no extra time when
removal comes. In spite Of this general
complaint among the clerks and their
fear that their lot will be worse before it
is better. there are few designations hand.
ed in as the days slip by. In some di-
rection, however, the Government finds
1t difficult to retain the services of frst-
rate clerks. 10 the Patent Office, for in
stance, the clerks look upon their stay in
the department as little more than a pre-.
liminary step to setting up in business
for themselves. 1t Is exceedingly i'm
Portant to patent attorney, claim agent
or inventor to haYe that practical know
ledge Of machinery of Office which ex-
perience Of a clerk alone will give,
Hence it is common custom for bright
young men to stay in the Patent Office
or other technical bureaus of the Govern.
msnt until they have served an appren-
ticeship, aud then to launch out for
themselves. To-day, for instance, one OF
the most accomplished examiners in the
Patent Office announced his intention of
resigning, no doubt to engage in outside
practice before the department, or to be-
come connected with some mechanical
concern. where his knowledge Of Office
methods will be valuable. AUGvsr.