Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-09-12
THE BLUE BOOK.
A Volume in Which are Printed the
Names of Government Officials.
The Ohio Man Still Holding His Own
In the Various Depart
ments.

WASHINGTON, September ll.-There is a
work published biennially by the Govern
ment OF the United States which contains
little else than Names and there is ten
times more effort made by people to get
their names into this book than there is 10
get their names into the book of life. 1t is
the United States Official Register, com.
monty called the blue book. A few years
sgo one moderate sized volume answered
the purpose. In 1879 the work reached the
dimensions Of two thin volumes; theIedi.
tion OF lSSl consists Of two volumes, each
containing nearly 900 pages, The index
alone fills $50 pages, the names being ar.
ranged in four columns on page. One of
these two volumes is DEVOTED exclusively
to the postal service, though the employees
of the department in Washington are pro-
yided for in the other volume.
The register contains the name
of every person employed by the
Government, his or her birth place, resi-
dence, when appointed and salary. There
are over 100, 900 names in the two volumes,
but this does not mean, as is commonly
and incorrectly said that the civil service
contains 10000 offices. The register con.
tains the names Of all mail contractors and
Of all mechanics and labo.ers employed
under the army engineers, and other per
sons who can moi be called officers or clerks.
But tits
A Mighty Army OF the Servants OF a
Great Nation.
The last register, though dated July |,
1851, did not appear till year aud half
ago. 1t takes time to get up such cata-
logue as this. The next register will be
dated July |, 1883, aud the appointment
clerks in various departments are now
making up their lists of officers and EN-.
ployes connected with the service at that
date, or on July -. In some OF the depart.
ments the official census was taken rs a
matter OF convenience on the last day be-
fore the civil service law went into effect
In preparation for this general United
States register, a new register for th In
terror department has Just been prepared.
1t shows 1901 persons on the department
rolls, not including Indian police, as the
unabridged register does, bat on the
other hand not limited to the EN-
ployes in Washington. Just about one
fifth of the whole number are women -62l.
There are T2l men who served in the army
or the navy, and there are POI coiorel per-
sons, for complexion is shown in this de.
dicated in the last general one 1t is true
that the majority of the colored people
employed in the department are watch
men, janitors, messengers, packers, labor
ers, and charwomen, but ssventy-one are
clerks and cOpyists with salaries ranging
from S72O 10 81 500. The latter sun is re-
ceiyeG bv two men. one principal exam
liner in the p, n ,iCn Ctlce AMI the other
che Cf division in the land office. Four
aIc clerks at 81, 400, twenty-five are clerks
at Il lOO, twenty-five ara clerks at $1,000,
fourteen are copyists at 800, and fourteen
are copyists at S120.
While a large proportion of the women
are COpyists at 500, quite plumber are
clerks with salaries running up to Sl4OO,
aud st leest one Illinois lady gets 81 900.
How the states Share.
The following table shows the States
fron which 1901 officers and employees OF
the department were appointed: