New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-10-23
SOME RECENT MEASUREMENTS.
THE PRESIDENT LEARNS SOMETHING OF HIS OWN
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
ley TELEGRAPH TO rHE TRIBUNE.l


WASHINGTON, Oct. 22.-lt must be eXaspcrat-
ing to the President occasionally TO learn for the FIR 81
time through newspapers OF his dOng for he is
thought to be a man who does not like to be regarded
slow" The other morning, the latest story runs,
he with the lark and set out upon tour Of invest
igAti0n ascertain whether not the clerks mes
sengcrs and about the Executive Mansion
early risers and promptly at their posts OF dny and
also as story runs, he found that they aggard
Il pleasant told, however, that result the
abscncesm complained OF among the employees at tho
white House has ceased to exist"
The remarkable thing about this alr Is that accord
ing 10 Trustworthy information the first that the Presi
dent his private secretary, clerks and other employees
knew about it, they learned from the newspapers This
shows what wel-directed journalistic enterprise viii
accomplish
The President Is also informed in the same manner
that in the Treasury Department persons are on he roll
at round salaries ;" who do work whatever; that
similar things exists in the Post Office Depart
nent" that the same evil is rooted in TIE War and
Navy Departmental" and that the Interior Department.
I. notoriousy " sinner in this way" The author OF this
tale is careful to specify single case or 10 produce
AN u Of evidence In support Of the charge as TO either
OF the Departments. The heads Of tree Of those Depart
ments remarked to-day that they would be glad to have
the individuals pointed who drawing salaries for
which they render services.
It's probably true that among the 5000 or 5000 Gov
ernment employees in Washington there few who,
although efficient than the average, are retained ON
the rolls partly in consideration OF long and faithful
,rr ice and partly for other reasons In le PosOnte
Department for example, the chic! clerk IN the once 0t
the First Assistant Is the YenefdDe
James MARI Congress has provided that 20 long -
he holds this office he shall receive $500 year. 5000
more than the regular compensation Another clerk IN
the same Department has been In the postal service
more than half Il century. Probably neither OF these
men can 10 much work now rs younger men NouId 90
in their places. ,.,.-,..
In the Interior Department clerk recently died VINO
had been employed IN one Cr the bureaus nc"TN SKY
wears In another Department needy eltlc drsccnd-
ant of George WasngtOn's relative, appointed hOt
long ago was Understood at the solicitation o! Gehel
W : Hancock aud others who knew OF her ments and
necessities. In the War Department Is grand llece OF
KosctIsko It /, understood thae cX Governor Curtn
who is deeply interested in her welfare, secured ncr ap-
poiutment IL the Interior Department Is cnplo{ed9
great granddaughter Thomas Jefferson Her httle
salary supports her aged an int aid mother VINO Is the
last surviving grdndcd OF Jefferson IL Is p0SDe thas
i'm some OF these cases and perhaps In few Otbcr hke
eases the persons employed are not able to do - mncn
work for they receive ~ Others doi y" uey
rfor1n their duties the best Of their ability aud mono
VI them receives Al large salary.