The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-05-09
THE GAUGER'S TICKLER.
An Enterprising Reporter Discovers a
New Government Office,
And After an Interesting Colloquy,
Which Develops Much History,
Writes It Up.

Dag before Yesterday an attache Of morn.
ing paper making his rounds entered the
Collectors office in the Postoffice building,
and approached the desk at which one Of the
deputies was engaged in his duties. Ga the
deek was lying blank inderzed in large,
black letters: "Repert OF the Gauger's
Ticker" and as the eyes OF the reporter fell
upon 1t he smiled with that grim satisfaction
which characterizes the fraternity when an
item is Unexpectedly fouad lying around
loosely for want of q taker. For the benefit
of the public it should be stated that the
"Gsueer's Ticker" is record of the number
ofesllons Of spirits gauged each day, and when
q report is made at the end OF each month
it ia called 1.-The report of the Gauger's Tick
Ter" because made up from the original sheet
designated a "tickler" The name is also in
use among merchants and bankers to desig-
nate q book in which is kept a registry of
notes and debts After cycling the report for
o short time, the following conversation took
place between the Deputy and the reporter:
"Humph," said the reporter, "that is an
office that never heard of before"
'0h, it's been established long time"
said the Deputy.
1.-THE Gauger's Ticker" repeated the re-
porter, slowly. what are the Tickler's
duties."
"Well, you see" said the Deputy, BoT ap-
prec;ating the joke, "tbe Office originated a
long time ago, and is one The Democrats
have fought persistenily for twenty years,
on the ground that 1t was unnecessary. It is
really the only office under the Government
that is pure sinecure. the Ticker being en-
poyed only during the warm weather, bat
getting yearly salary"
'But what ere his dutiesP'
His duties are TO afford the Geuger means
Of recreation during the warm season, whsn
that official IS suffering from ennui, more e.
pecislly Just after dinner, when the Gauger
hiss eaten heartily of onions and lettucs and
is inclined rather to sleep than to work. He
is called a Ticker for tSe reason that be
may, in extreme cages, tickle the Gsuger
with q straw, bat generally bis privileges
extend no further than telling q funny
anecdoe TO keep him awake"
Something after the style OF the kings
jester" said the reporter, who was better
up" in English history than in Govern
ment blanks.
That's it exactly" said the Deputy, "snd
tho office no doubt originated from the c1s-
tom of the old English kings to keep Jester
Away near to amuse them. But the name
was changed, you know. and the Tickler was
attached to the Office of Gaugsr, because that
Official mss really less to do than any other
man in The revenue service, and therefore
needs TO be amused and kept awake"
what Ia the Ticklors salaryf'
"Abeut 81 200. You will bs safe In put
ting is at that, anyway"
Thus posted upon the ne7ly-discovsrei
Government officials duties, the reporter left,
and Yesterday morning the following item
appeared In the paper which he represents;
GAUGER's TICKER.
One officer under the Collector OF Internal Rev
enue omitted yeSterday-that OF Gauger'g
Ticker the salary OF which Is 81, 200-well worth
looking after.