South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1883-08-31
Letter from Washington.
From osr Regular Correspondent.
WAsHrNaIor. Dc 60 9,

mission is the avenue through which
appointment. to Government clerk.
ships are reached, there is no longer
, any use Tor the thousands OF writer
applications on file in the various de-
partments. Under the cid rules,
these documents accumulated very
rapidly. In the Interior Department,
alone, 1900 applications were placed
on tie within tho past two years =
These papers are now OF absolutely no
value, except "a cUriosities aud ce-tl-
lIcates OF character, which may be USE
iol IN securing positions elsewhere /:
and hence, the departments wish to
get nd OF them, SO that the space they
nil can be better used The Interior
Department has already begun return.
ing these papers to tie later appli-
cants, and any one having such doe
uments or file in that department can
have them for asking In many ca
scs these form quite voluminous and
Interesting budget, tle applications
being often accompanied By q nun.
Der oil letters OF recommendation from
business firms, congressman, senators,
and officials OF every grade The
Postothce department sold its accumu.
lated application in 1879 us waste pa.
per, and tho Postmaster General has
now under consideration similar
plan. to dispose Of tie nine or ten thou
sand applications that have come in
since the sale. The act OF March 8.
1881, authorizes him 'to sell as waste
paper, or otherwise dispose of the files
OF papers which have accumulated or
may hereafter accumulate, in the
Postoiiice Department that are not
needed in the transaction of current
business, and have no permanent val.
ne or historical interest," and TO turu
the proceeds into the Treasury.
a zealous antiquary might enter y
plea for these documents on the ground
ct historical interest," rs the collec,
ton would beinstructive material If
~ years hence for the student of our
times. The applications would show
very clearly the nature OF our civil
service for long period OF years, and
why charge was sonecessory and so
difficult to make, But they would be
OF the most value, perhaps, TO the au.
tograph.hunter, rs the signature Of al
most every public man Of note in our
history appears among the indorsers.
~ conspicuous exception is Col. Ben
ton, who, according 10 the appoint,
mcut clerks of both the Interior and
l'ostoiiicc Departments, never signed
a recommendation or Endorsement for
any opplican! for office. The appli-
cations might be held to possess a fur.
Their value rs curiosites O. literature.
| The department had set form. to be
sure, insisting on certain conditions OF
eligibility and requiring references.
bat candidates knew very well that
small attention was paid to the speciS
locations, SO That the important part ot
| most applications was the more O.
less imposing array OF influential
names that backed the petition. The
applicant WAS more apt 10 refer The
department to these gentlemen than
to furnish much autobiographical in
formation himself. Now ard then.
| however, he would indulge in long
and glowing accounts Of his life, gifts
and services, made nore piguant
sometimes By weird aud eccentric; tics
ofponmanship, spelling and grammar.
Glowing reports come from the
Yellowstone region concerning the
delights afforded the presidential par
ty. Undoubtedly, there is fine seen.
cry and good fishing, aud every re.
| qulrcmont for an enjoyable time. 1t
Is SAID that the President took aloug
IN bis private ear ak cases Of the best
champagne. three cases Of Rhine wine,
four gallons Of old bourbon wliislley
OF 1860, quantity OF fno cocnac
brandy. Bordeaux and other wines,
and four cases OF ApoIIinaris water.
Whether General Sheridan's commits.
sary department was a duplicate OF
this outfit, it is not stated: but when
It is understood that case ia two
dozen quart bottles, the average citi.
zen will estimate that the above in,
vcntory might, in case Of necessity be
sufficient for two The report that
the Yellowstone country is infested
with snakes had probably reached
| President Arthur before he started
and he no doubt felt the necessity Of
being provided with a supply of anti,
dote.
If the President reads tithe Of the
stuff sent 10 the press by the reporters
accompanying his party, he must he
nHuSea'ed TO absolute gangrenc. And
! OF what earthly moment is it to fifty
| millions Of people that Mr. Arthur eat
/ up at night and dnrncd place in his
! pants that days abrading with the
saddle lad worn through? II d not
| Pnll Sheridan and many better nan
zone the same? And has not the
! public occn told often enough to know
| 1t for fact that the fish of Yellow
! stone have lad their instructions 20
I nipb,o at iHc RESIDENTS hook and mo-
/ other! And is IL not Acknowledged
That The President i- fho host I,rso.