The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1883-05-10
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From Our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, D.. c.,
MAY Z, 1881

1t is generally said that office
holders seldom die and never resign.
This common 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 officers of
the government during few months
past, there have been quite q num-
Der of surprises caused by resigna-
tions. In the Patent Office they
have been especially numerous. But
the reason of it is, in nearly all cases,
that the information gained by a few
years service On the inside is believ-
ed to be most valuable on the out
side, and the Patent Office expert re-
signs because he thinks he can make
more money by going into business
on his own hook. A principal ex-
aminer 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 philosophical 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 increase in its working force
none of the applications of electrici-
ty have been assigned to other class
es. There have bee more applica
tions for patents filed in that class
during the past two years than there
had been patents granted relating to
electricity in the whole previous his
tory of the office.
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 a $4,000 salary let's go of his own
accord. Yet it is nc doubt true that
Mr.. Raum resigned because he ex-
poets 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 he so much
of this kind of business to do, that
the opportunity is really unusual,
and a man like Raum, who has been
at the head Of the bureau and knows
all the workings of it, as well as
many of tie litigants, must certain
ly have q chance. So he, like others,
leaves the government service at q
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 sat-
isfactory, in other respects he has
been severely criticised for not ceas.
ing TO be n vigorous politician when
he became commissioner. Much of
his time in 1880 and 1882 was spent
away from his post of duty in a fruit
less campaign for the governorship
of Illinois first and subsequently for
the seal of Judge Davis in the Unit
ed States senate. Both places were
too big for him, and he never at any
time stood a chance of success. He
would have shown better qualities
for craftsmanship by remaining here
and attending properly to the duties
of his office.
If the future of cur civil service
commission may be judged by that
body's recent selection of chief ex
aminer the outlook is not promising.
Never was a more unfit and ridicu-
lous appointment made. The an
nouncement of the name of Klein
caused a Iroad smile all Owe Wash
ington where this cheeky snob is
known. He not only lacks the abil-