The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1883-02-17
Che Gbibcooux Sentinel.
LETTER..
From Our Regular Correspondent.

Washington, February Is, 1888
The Senate made such progress with
the tariff bill last week that those who
have been least hopeful of its passage
by this Congress have taken heart
again. On the democratic side of the
chamber the impression seems to pre-
vail tina: the Senate may pass the bill
by the last of this week. probably not
until the very last day of the week.
The stubborn contests that have mar
ked the committee of the whole on Ger
tain provisions will he renewed in the
Senate when the bill shall have been
reported back. The amendment place
ing lumber on the free list will, perhaps,
be opposed with even more vigor than
it was in committee. The iron sche
dule and the sundries also contains pro
visions which will lead to renewed de
bate, and cpon the whole, if the bill
gets through the Senate this week. no
doubt its friends will be satisfied.
The tariff debate in Congress shows
conclusively that local interests, after
all, exercise Il powerful influence upon
the minds aud votes of Congressman.
The tariff reformer who in 4 general
way declares himself in favor Of reduc
tions, halts when some production of
his own state is reached, and when it
m to a vote he is found on the side
of protection. as far as that production
or industry in which his constituents
are interested is concerned.
The ten or fifteen thousand Govern
ment clerks are having a hard time Of
it this winter. First came the civil ser
vice bill which proposes an examination
to weed ont the most i!literate Of them ::
then next Secretary Folger's rules
which required them to be at their
desks by nine o'clock, or to forfeit 4
part of their pay and lac. and worst a
bill has been formulated in Congress
which enacts that they must get to
work by $50 A. N. and work unit,
4.30 P. NJ. You may be sure there is
wailing and ohjurgation in the hearts
aud on the lips of thousands of salaried
employees, but nc designations have
yet occurred. No designations will &C
cur. The government work is far be
hind time at thousands of desks and it
is much better to have it expedited by
imposing additional hours on these
overpaid, painpered, idle clerks than
employing an additional force as has
been the custom CT the Republican par
ty. From $50 A. NJ. to 4.3D P. NJ
would not be considered an onerous
days work 10y several millions more
competent but not us we'll paid clerks
in the country. Business is disgrace
fully neglected especially in the US.
Patent Office. This Office is nct only
supported by the fees paid by inven
tors for Patents. but it yields a
large yearly surplas to the U.
S, Treasury. Yet it is not uncommon
for an inventor 10 have to wait from
two to six months before his invention
can be examined and passed upon.
Over ~onehandred Examiners are appoin
ted for this work and By proper indus
try anu attention to the duties for
which they are paid with the inventors
money, they could easily keep the work
up tc date. That this is far from i'm
possible is proved by some Few exami
ners who do it, andhave time to spare {;
but the majority. knowing weli' that
they hold their places by political ia
vor are, As a rule, idle and negiectful
spending the time during Office hours
reading the news papers. g%ossipping
and talking politics. The number Of
applications for patents last month
was greater than was ever made in any
previous month. tie receipts Of the Pa
tent Office amounting to over $4,000.
The Commissioner OF Patents has as
ked for an increase OF torpe and room,
but what is the use OF increasing his
force when lie cannot make those en-
ployed work more thar half their time !!
The Commissioner himself holds his
position rot from fitness but by politi
cal influence many of the Examiner.
under him have stronger political back
ing than he has, and feeling perfectly