The south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1879-1883, 1883-05-15
SOUTH KENTUCKiAN
ADVERTISING RATE.
WASHINGTON LETTER.

WASHINGTON, d. c., May l3, 'S3.
1t is generally said that office hold
ers seldom die and never resign. This
is based upon pretty correct observa-
tion, but there are exceptions to this
like other rules. Not to mention the
deaths that have occurred among of
ficers Of the government during a few
months past there have been quite a
number of surprises caused by resig-
nations. In the Patent Office they
have been especially numerous. But
the reason of it is, in nearly all cases,
that the information gained by few
years service on the inside is believ-
ed to be the most valuable on the out
side, and the Patent Office experts re-
signs because he thinks he can make
more money by going into business
on his own hook. A principal exam
iner in the class of electricity has just
slept out for the season. When he
took charge Of the class of electricity
it formed subdivision of the philos-
optical class. Now it is the largest
class in the Office, employing the
greatest number of assistants. 1t has
grown so fast that even with the in
crease in its working force none of
the applications of electricity have
been assigned to other classes. There
have been more applications for pat
ents filed in that class during the past
two years than there have been pat
ents granted relating to electricity in
the whole previous history Of the Of
flee.
But the greatest surprise of the
season was created by Commissioner
of Internal Revenue Raum when he
so suddenly retired. It's a pretty
cold day when an Office holder draw
ing 5000 salary lets go of his own
accord. Yet it is no doubt true that
Mr.. Raum resigned because he ex-
poets to make more money as attor-
ncy for the settlement Of accounts
and claims before the department.
Recent Legislation causes SO many
changes, and there will be so much of
this kind of business to do, that the
opportunity is really unusual, and
man like Raum, who has been at the
head of the bureau and knows all the
workings of it, as well as many of the
litigants, must certainly have
chance. So he, like others, leaves the
government service at a time when
he thinks the knowledge gained in it
will be most useful to him. Though
his administration of the Office he
held has been fairly satisfactory, in
other respects he has been severely
criticised for not ccasing to be Wig
orous politician when he became
commissioner. Much of his time in
1880 and 1882 was spent away from
his post of duty in fruitless CAM
paign for the governorship of Illinois
first and subsequently for the seat Of
Judge Davis in the United States
senate. Both places were too big for
him, and he never at any time stood
chance of success. lie would have
shown better qualities fol. statesman
ship by remaining here and attend
ing properly to the duties of his Of
flee.
If the future of our civil service
commission may be judged by that
body's recent selection of chief exam
liner the outlook is promising. Never
was a more outfit and ridiculous ap
pointment made. The announcement
of the name of Klein caused broad
smile all over Washington where this
cheeky snob is known. He not only
! lacks the ability of qualifications for
the place but has been for years ma
chine man and the tool of machine
men-a hanger on to the skirts of
public men whom he cultivates and
flatters and forces himself upon. His
appointment was procured by an ar
ray of political 'infuentce" securrd
in this way, and is not very ausplc-
ious opening for body created to
do away with "infuence" in the civil
service. This man selected to man.
age the examination Of applicants
could not himself pass an examina-
ton for an ordinary clerkship. AT
this writing for his commission to oe
| signed, the unfavorable reception of
! his nomination having led to some
hesitation at headquarters.
Col. Thomas Ochiltree, of Texas, Is
, prominent citizen, and his name is
! frequently in the papers. His politi-
cal influence is doubtless large in
some quarters, but am grieved that
it does not prevail in all the executive
! departments of government. A re-
cent incident was very touching. Col.
Ochiltree had been appealed to by a
personal friend to prevent the issue
of an order ina certain department
Il will not say which one. The Or
der had been prepared by a subordi-
nate officer, when Col. Ochiltree ap-
peared on the scene and demanded
that ~ ha xy;ihhald UAs Won are