Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1885-07-02
WASHINGTON Letter.

Washington, June 81, 1900.
The Office seekers have begun again
to "bob up scrcnely about the depart
ments and hotel Hobbies. The near ap-
proach of the new fiscal year has given
them new interest in life, and be-
tween now and the lst Of july there
will be heavy pressure brought to
hear upon the unfortunate dispensers
of Government places. One of the cam
didates who were here for the post Of
flee inspector examination came to Civ.
il Service Commissioner Thomas after
the examination and said: II am Il
good deal afraid that vii. not be ap-
pointed. | am only twenty four years
old, and I am of the opinion that the
authorities may conclude that they
want some one Of little more business
experience. l think while | am here
I'll take the Departmental examination
also" what are you now engaged
att" asked the Commissioner. 81 am
superintendent of a union school in an
Illinois town of 1000 inhabitants. |
got $500 per year for eight months
time, and have some other business in
tcrcsts there" "Thcn why in the
world do you want to get INTO the De-
partments here" asked the Commits
soner. "You should remember that
out of 5000 clerks there are only 3S5
heads of divisions and high salaricd
people; that there are great many
bright people struggling for these pla-
ces, and some have been waiting for
promotion for long time. on would
have to start at 5000 and wait long
time before you got any more. The
young man considered this good advice
and returned to his home to take ny
the rod again.
This reminds me Of the remark Of
Solicitor General GooNe, made a few
evenings ago. that there WAS wonder
full increase in the number Of people in
this country who desire to obtain some
position where they are comparatively
secure and where they are certain Of
receiving fixed income, even though
it muy not be large. All this is con
trary to the spirit of repubIicanism and
contrary to the independent American
way Of wrestling a livelihood out Of the
possibilities Of ones surroundings. 1t
makes machines of men who might be
independent.
1t is astonishing how some men have
come here and simply set seige to the
appointing power aud been determined
10 get something. There is n charm
about life here that takes a strong hold
Of men from the interior and they feel
willing to do almost anything if they
can stay. know one man who came
more than six weeks ago. He started
IN at Wizards at five dollars per day.
He seemed to have considerable mon
ey and was smoking good cigars. The
next time | called for him he was at
the Harris House. From there he
went to "a cheap boarding house on
Tenth street, and finally he has gone
home on a ''pass,' leaving Il months
board unpaid. lie worked hard. HIS
expectations fell with his condition.
He started in as an applicant fora con-
sulship, and finally WAS willing to take
a position as guard at the Treasury
But he got nothing
asked the Presidents door keeper.
who, by the way, has held the same po-
stion since 1869, if there were any diff
ference between the crowds this Year
and when other Presidents had been
!nanSuratcd. lie replled that tor tie
first two months there was no percep.i-
bl. difference, but the crowds had kept
up longer than usual, and that there
seemed to be no indication Of any let
up. lie says the only difference he
can see between now and the beginning
is that there are not nearly 50 many
Senators ard Representatives as at first
They have mostly put in their recon-
Inendatlons and gone home.
The President has way Of sometimes
surprising even those Of his own house
hold in his Off ia! acts, and there were
a4sn'or u >t.ir;-al ,.-r'2 S.,4flay