The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-10-17
THE ERA OF REFORM.
Cheese-Par!ng Economy in the Land Office
Operations of Watchdog Chenowith.

Cheese-Par!ng Economy in the Land Office
Operations of Watchdog Chenowith.
Washington Special
Economy of very violent character has
| struck the General Land Office, and the clerks
believe that Chief Clerk Walker imported it
from Illinois. Nothing can be got except on
requisition. When the soap is out there must
be regular requistion drawn for another
cake, and the same is true if pens or paper are
wanted. When box of pens is asked for
dozen are issued, and when a dozen sheets of
paper are called for two OF three are issued A
dozen pens will last good while in private
practice, and, according to the commonly-re-
ceived belief, it takes government clerk good
while to spoil two or three sheets of paper, but
the new system is very different from any that
has ever prevailed, and very different from the
system in any other bureau of the Interior De-
partment. In regard to soap the clerks decline
to make requisitions ard furnish their own soap
AS the acquisitions can only be made on Mon
days 1t Is sometimes very inconvenient to have
| supplies doled out III homeopathic quantities
| for If the supply is exhausted on Thursday
there is no way of renewing it till the next Mon
| day. a.
| The ambitious First Auditor, who is making a
| great reputation as a watchdog OF the Treasury,
has given to the press some of the Civil-service
Commissioners travelling expense accounts
| whereupon much mirth has been caused by Mr.
Eaton's thirst for ginger ale and lemonade. and
| DR.. Gregorys indulgence-at government ex-
| pense-ln whole section of a sleeping-car, in
| stead of single BERTH 1t is perfectly right 10
! compel these gentlemen to pay for their drinks
| and newspapers out of their own pockets. but a
writer on one of the local papers is excited be-
| cause the Civil-service Commission has expended
part of its contingent fund in the purchase of
| algebras and arithmetics He exclaims in hor-
ror: 1T would be interesting for the Commits
| sion to explain what was done with these books
| Is 1t possible that the question makers over
| there have had to study up such matters as med
! icine and mathematics in order to formulate
queries for the applicants for government po-
sitions?'
| Well, it is not only possible. but probable. and
| not at all strange or improper. The Commission
| lately had to examine lot Of applicants for ap-
polntments to medical examinerships in the Pen
sion Ofnce, and 1T has had TO examine lot of APP
pllcants for examiners positions in the Patent
| Office where a considerable knowledge of rnathe
mates and the sciences was required 1t is not
at all wonderful if the persons who conducted
the examinations needed to consult some appro-
| pirate reference books to aid them in preparing
| questions, or In judging of the answers By the
way, there Is one Civil service Commissioner who
| draws no salary from the government and whose
name never appears In the papers Mrs Dor
man b. Eaton is a lady of strong and cultivated
| mind and many accomplishments. She is thor
oughly devoted to her husband and to ciyil-ser
| ice reform, and many time when Mr. Eaton
was on the point Of succumbing to the slines and
| arrows of outrageous fortune, unfriendly news.
papers and contemptuous and hostile politicians
Mrs Eatons faith in him and in the cause of
clvlEserVice reform have been needed to stmu-
late him to keep up the fight His resignation
is evidence that Mrs Eaton believes the reform
is fairly on its feet, and is not only going to
stand, but to march onward