The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1885-04-04
: CROPPING OFF HEADS
In the pepartments-Pitlful seenss-"Rs
formn Measures,

WAsutSoToS, D. O., April s.-Ths gem
eral understanding has been that after the
Senate adjourned the merry times in the
departments would begin. But the merry
times could hardly wait for the Senate TO
quit and get out Of the way, and SO the
merriment began at the room and in
the corridors about the office Of Civil
Service Reiosmer Higgins. Many Of the
female employees, who had been SO sud-
denly dismissed from the Bureau Of Print
ing and Engraving, gathered there in their
helplessness and distress TO zee II their
cases were absolutely hopeless. These
were the poor people who are without the
powerful Influence" that Is the a,se qua
non in such emergencies. Those who have
Influence" do not go there. They 90 to
their Influence" and the ainfuence''
goes to headquarters, and the discharged
one is quietly put back again. In fact, but
few Of this class are discharged, for the
chief Of a division, who has to make the
selections Of the victims for the official
guillotine, knows just what he is doing,
and selects those who are friendless or
without strong Influence" behind them.
Some whose Influence" has gone back
TO private life are picked out. For in
stance, a Senator or other high public
functionary secures the appointment Of
the daughter or sister OF some man who
has helped him to gain his official distinc.
ton as one Of the rewards for the political
work. While that official Is in power and
place she Is safe in her place and undfs-
turbed, But in process Of time and changes
in politics the official goes out OF power,
and his influence Is nothing then. She is
checked of as one to bedropped. 1t Is
not always question OF efficiency or in.
dustry. The chief OF the division must
look out or his own head, and his selec-
ton Of persons TO be dismissed must be
such as to give as little ofense as possible
10 those in power and over him. He
knows, for instance, that II he dismisses
Miss or Mrs. A., the Senator from her
State, or the Cabinet officer from her State
who counts among his strikers and work
ers her relatives, will go to the head OF the
department and there will be q row, and
lie, the chief, will get himself disliked. So
he picks out Miss or Mrs. 4 knowing, as
he does, that the influence that secured
her appointment has been retired to the
shades Of private life by the reyerses Of
politics. Thus 1t happens that those who
heed the places most are the ones most
likely 10 be discharged. The civil seryice
rules do away with the disagreeahle fea-
ture TO some extent, but not 10 a very con-
siderable one.
The scene about the Office Of Higgins
was q pitifpl one, but it was duplication
oi what has happened many, many times,
and what will happen many more times,
Women, pale and thin from their years
| Of close office work, leaned against the
wall and wept bitterly. Some appealed in
broken words ct entreaty and despair.
One Of the ladies' discharged from the Bu-
reau Of Printing and Engraving Is widow
who II the sole support Of an aged mether
and four small children. On her lace con
plainly be seen the signs OF the cruel dis
ease, consumption, that Is eating her poor
lungs sSay, She could get no encourage
ment, ior che had ns Influence" now,
and she went away the picture Of misery
and despair. This lady Is well known,
and her ease escited much sympathy, but
there we're pthefs seareeiy tsss pitifpl.
Persons Of Democratic influence viii
doubtless sooG be appointed 10 take their
places when Is suddenly disooyerea that
more hands are needed In the Bureau.
Tlese ere some Of the innocent victims
Of Magwampery. The i9sees in all de-
ps1tments Bfilbe cut down right and ieit
nov, aud oRployes Put qqt BY the hun:
Idreds, and even thousands. The excuse
will be they are not wanted, and the dis.
missals are in the cause Of economy and
reform things far which the Democratic
party hasalways been celebrated wheFeeef
and whenever II got into power vet It can
safely be predicted that one year from to-
day there will be more employees In the
government than there are now or ever
we're. rhe scratching around for places
now will be liyelier than over, lsr there
are thousands OF the small fry to dozens
of the big ones who have been after the
big plaeea. -