Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1885-11-19
AN A~uTocRATIc uEEN


How She Rules the Charwomen Of the
Treasury Building.
Any one who is accustomed to passing
along Fifteenth street between half past
three and four O'Clock every day, cannot
help but notice a number Of poorly dress
ed old women going in at the lower doors
of the Treasury. They always enter by
the cellar doors, and wander along the
gas-lit, close-smelling corridors until
they reach the end near the main north
and south corridors, where there is a
bench and some pegs on which to hang
their bonnets and shawls. These women
are the charwomen of the Treasury
some seventy-fve in all-who. after the
clerks and others leave the rooms, take
possession and clean up for the day. Very
few of the outside world know them, but
they work hard for their $15 per month,
and many have half a dozen or SO mouths
to feed and bodies to keep in health. One
would hardly think that the men who
drew thousands Of dollars yearly from
Uncle Sam would care If the poor women
had a great.grandfather who was a Re-
publican, or q grand-uncle who wa O
Democrat, but, nevertheless, il seems that
politics have descended even to their
ranks. Several months ago q new fore
woman to these charwomen was appoint
nd Gha 10 n rod hot DoD.An~k cnI 800
only Is ont herself, but has vigorously
set about to inquire into the politics Of
the old women beneath her. Now that
the annual reports are in order, this aris-
tocratic Democratic forelady Of the char
women has taken upon herself to write
reports about the force under her. These
documents are models Of diction, accura-
cy and Democratic principles. The re-
ports would startle one who is uninifiated
in the mystery. For instance: "Mrs.
Smith Is declared to be late five minutes,
and seems to be getting old" THAT l
hope before long to entirely clear the
ranks Of charwomen of the black Repub-
licans who now hold Office. l have dill
gently inquired into the politics Of Mrs.
Smith, and find that she has a brother in
Iowa who has voted the Republican tick
et." Anyone reading such a report
would think 1t a fairy tale. or a joke got
ten up to ridicule q well known officer:
but such is not the case. Reports such
as the above-a true copy-are the rule,
not exception.
Following the example Of the head of
the Treasury, the "forelady" has issued
an order that all charwomen late shall be
marked, and, what is worse, locked fifty
cents per offence. A few late marks make
u sad hole in the great salary of $15 per
month. Now, the charwomen allege that
the "forelady," or Queen Of the char
women" has a colored servant in her
own house, and when one is late, she
puts the colored woman to work in the
late comer's place. Finding that her re-
ports do not altogether get the black Re
publicans out fast enough, the 'forela-
dy" has adopted a plan Of changing them
about. Many of the charwomen have
been In the treasury for years, and have
worked in certain rooms ever since they
came here. They know exactly where to
replace books, papers, ETC., and often res
cue valuable papers which have fallen ia
the floor, and would otherwise be put in
the waste.paper baskets. Now, the
Queen of the charwomen has taken tc
changing the women, but she has beer
blocked in her little game; for the heads
of the departments have discovered the
ruse. and ordered her to replace the SAINT
charwomen to their rooms who have beer
there for years.
The 'forelady" is constantly on the
lookout for some complaint 10 Gust IRE
publican" charwoman. Not long ago she
bounced into, the room of a high ofioia
in the Treasury, and remarked: "How
are We to get rid of these abominable Re.
publican charwomen? Here / find on,
credited to Wyoming, and | can sweal
she has never seen Wyoming in all he,
life"
"Who are we?p asked the official.
"Why, the Democratic party, O
course" was the reply.
"Well, you'll have to 60 see the Presi
dent, then" was his rejoinder, as he turn
ed to his pile of papers he was signing.
The Democratic "forelady" bounced
out Of the room in q towering rage
Washington Cor. Baltimore american.