The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1883-02-25
GETTING INTO THE TREASURY.
Amusing Way In Which an Enterpris-
ing BaitimOrean Does Business After
IIAmrR

10 the Editor Of The Sunday Rerdld
SIR: Your witty correspondent, "Squid," +"
gives ludcrous detail OF the unsuccessful attempts
of several influential people to gain entrance to the
Treasury Department after clock in the afternoon
being politely turned away by ga model doorkeeper
As belong the " Never et Left Club ~ will tell
you how worked the Treasury doorkeepes last week
in the interest of friend from Baltimore, who was
compelled to the head of certain division, after
the doors had closed TO the public In time TO catch
the Potomac 4: 30 train for Baltimore.
Col. A., of Baltimore, is an influential gentleman
and a story teller of gifts, and while politician
of shrewdness he gives to Masonry and mankind the
bulk Of his social generosity. We met at the brokers'
Office of Mr.. W., on street, and the genial
Colonel desired 90 at to the Treasury Depart
ment and see Col. j. II. H., with whom he had
pressing engagement. MIR. w. looked at his watch
and Informed Col A. that 1t would be impossible to
get into the Department. as was then after clock
when outsiders strictly excluded. Col A. replied
that he must see Col. II. AT all hazards.
l asked the Baltimore artist to gang with me, say
ing that would stake my cross and crown on our
successful entrance into the home of the new five
cent niCkle We rushed out of the brOker's Onice
iew up street. fabricated Just at the Bacchus
Bureau OF the Ehbtt House, and at fifteen minutes
OF three stood at the east door OF the Treasury solicit
Ing admlttance TO Col T., whose father had Just
died OF aPOplexy at Wards. the polite warder
| informed us that We could not get In the rules
would not permit, but we might leave card which
| lie wOnld hand TO Col. 7. AS he retired from his
labOriOus desk In the evening cleaning. | wlnked
| at my companion, and, with the air OF an injured
! senator said: - presume You would not object 10
take our card to Col. Webster, the chief clerk, who
delights 10 'smile with me personal friend. ~
The doorkeeper turned to his slender partner, who
nodded to our suggestion, and away Went the mes
senger 10 the purple quarters of the abbreviated
| Apollo. During tile absence OF the ebony courier
| walked to one side with Col. A., and suggested to
| him that, our play was on Webster to GarOm
| Col. n. a subject OF Important inquiry must
| be spoken OF when introduced him to
the chief clerk. To this end suggested to my
| companion wag to Inquire as TO the time the bonds
| embraced in the late iiteen- million call would have
| to be given up by the holders, and when interest
| would cease. He took the cue, with merry twinkle
IN hiseye, and as the messenger asked US to step
up wemarched up the winding stairs Rwlth tho air Of
| men who were about to negotiate a new syndicate
loan. Being ushered Into the sumptuous quarters OF
the genial ohical, shook hands, introduced my Bal
timOro friend, who bowed with the grace OF French
dancing master, adjusted lis speclacles took seat,
and launched at once Into dsquisitiOn on the ma
tOnal debt the reduction OF the interest the bonds
the time when the late call would mature, and the
date at which he would be compelled to give up his
| matured fives, and when interest would cease. When
the O. c. could catch his breath, he spread himself
over his patent-eather chair and attempted reply In
all the elegance OF his classic periods, rounding OF
| with the remark that he dld not know much about
| the late bond call bnt woud send us la Mr. Fletcher,
chief OF the Loan Division. who would give us all the
information required, and inform when holders OF
bonds were compelled 10 relinquish their accustomed
| interest. After the Colonel rayeled oil few yarns
| from his hank of Wit the ubiquitous desk bell was
rung, when tall, dyspeptic son OF Ham appeared,
and was instructed 10 show us to the chief OF The bond
room. We bowed ourselves out with the elegance OF
Turkish euniGhs, and followed the messenger the
| hnanclAl rendezvous OF hf. FLETCHER.
WIN my usual sdHg Jrofd took tho liberty OF in-
Producing Col. a. 10 the Chief, who greeted both
with plastic pOteness. Col. A. stated his business
In aOrd force yet with all the serious deneanOr OF
man who was abOnt 10 give up million Of the raled
bonds. Tile never owned bond In His life, and the
| only one he was Interested In the InatTi-
| m0nial bond The Chief remarked That Interest
would the called iyes ON the ls Of next May,
but that COL A. might keep The bonds as long AS he
pleased although stacks OF money were ready to pay
the principal we'll as the Interest. ooh A. replied
that was hard fate for man % give ~ the bonds
family for many years and, while tht ihef i0klngly
lntlmaed mat he might Keep the bands as l0B ~ he
wished " was serious matter 10 his orphan children
After long dissertation on the resumption OF spo-
ella payment and cruel blow against John Sherman,
who had forced innocent hondhoderst 10 take instead
Of per cent, the Baltimore patriot arose win dig
nihed men, aud with sigh Informed tile chief that
he would in few days send his lot Of called hyes 10
The department, take the cash. aud Invest In real
tatG IN the Monumental CitY. As we were about 10
depart Mr. Fletcher handed printed circular CIV
Ing detailed Information Of the numbers ana plates Of
tho called bonds stating that he would he very much
pleased II they were returned as snOn as possible, the
cash being ready on presentation Of the hyes. We
shook the hand " the Chief with sOrrOwful smile,
thanked him f0E Ihe line aud Information he had
given us, boltod LTODgb ne door mo tue winding
corridors, and with suppressed gigge, salked away
rapidly % the headquarters OF Col H., tho man We
were from the hrst endeayOrlng 10 tehOld.
our Oitcial raid was 80 lhdcrOES that COl could
not hold In any longer but told with embellishments
the tOtuOus winding Of an outside man In search Of a
clerical friend Ia The Treasury Department after 2
| O'Clock Ia tho afternoon, When C0ls. A. and r.
had finished their business We unanimously ad-
lOuTned from the financial halls Of Unce sam passed
out by the polite ioorkeepers, down Pennsylvania
avenue lingering on our way 20 the depot 10 discuss
the outrageous bond call over tho sparkling beauty Of
the iowing hosele! d.. A. j.