Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1883-05-10
WASHINGTON LETTER.
LFrom our R.arIar co,r,.po.d.nt.1
WASHINGTON, ID.


WAsHISGroS, d. c., May 7th, isSa.
II is generally said that Office holders
seldom die and never resign. This COM
mon idea Is based upon pretty correct
observation, but there are exceptions to
this like all other rules. Not TO mention
the deaths that have occurred among Of
ficers OF the government during q few
months past, there have been quite q
number Of surprises caused by resigna-
tions. In the Patent Office they have
been especially numerous. But the rea-
son Of it is, in nearly all cases, that the
information gained by few years serv.
ice on the inside is believed 10 be most
valuable on the outside. ami the Patent
Office expert resigns because he thinks
he can make more money by going into
business on his own hook. A principal
examiner in the class of electricity has
just stepped out for this reason. When
he took charge of the class of electricity
it formed a subdivision of the philosophi-
cal class. Now it is the largest class in
the office, employing the greatest number
OF assistants. 1t has grown 80 fast that
even with the increase in its working
force none of the applications of.electric-
ity have been assigned to other classes.
There have been more applications for
patents filed in that class during the past
two years than there has been patents
granted relating to electricity in the
whole previous history of the Office.
But the greatest surprise of the season
was created by Commissioner of Internal
Revenue Raum when he 80 suddenly re-
tired, It's a pretty cold day when an
office holder drawing SO, 900 salary lets
go of his own accord. Yet it is no doubt
true that Mr.. Raum resigned because he
expects to make more money as attor.
ney 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 bu.
siness to do, that the opportunity is real
ly unusual, and man like Raum, who
has been at the head of the bureau and
knows all the workings of it, as we'll as
many of the litigants, must certainly
have chance. So be, like others, leaves
the government service ut a time when
he thinks the knowledge gained in it will
be most useful to him. Though his ad-
ministration of the Office he held has been
fairly satisfactory, in other respects he
has been severely criticised for not ceas
ing to be vigorous politician when he
became commissioner. Much of his time
in 1880 and 1882 was spent away from
his post of duty in fruitless campaign
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. He
would have shown better qualities for
craftsmanship by remaining here and at
tending properly to the duties of his
Office.
If the future of our civil service com.
mission may be judged by that body's
recent. selection of chief examiner the
outlook is not promising. Never was q
more unfit and ridiculous appointment
made. The announcement of the name
of Klein caused a broad smile all over
Washington where this cheeky snob is
known. He not only lacks the ability
and qualifications for the place but has
been for years machine man and the
tool of machine men-a hanger on to the
skirts of public men whom he cultivates
and fatters and forces himself upon. His
appointment was procured BY an array
Va polteiCdl luuuCuCC5 ocCuTeu III bIlls
way and is not a very auspicious open
ing for a body created to do away with
influence" in the civil service This
man selected to manage the examination
of applicants could not himself pass ar
examination for an ordinary clerksnlp
At this writing he is still waiting for hi
commission to be signed, the unfavora
BILE reception of his nomination having
led to some hesitation at headquarters.
Colonel Thomas Ochiltree, of Texas, i
a prominent citizen, and his name is fre
quently in the papers. His political in
finence is doubtless large in some quar-
ters, but 1 am grieved that it does no
prevail in all the executive department.
of the government. A recent inciden
was very touching. Colonel Ochiltre
had been appealed to by personal frien'
to prevent the issue of an order in a Ger
tain Department. will not say whicI
one. The order had been prepared by
subordinate officer, when Colonel Ochil
tree appeared on the scene and demande
that it be withheld. CAS- you are mem
ber of Congress, said the officer, II wi
consent to consider the question agair
and will submit it to the secretary" Co
onel Ochiltree went away thinking tha
his friend was all right, and the depart
ment officer went to the secretary and tol
him about the matter. When he hear
the name of the. Congressman he ejacU
lated, "What! Tom Ochiltree; Ochiltree
of Texas, is it? Issue that order at once.
and the order was issued the same day.
M PHoNo.