News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1888-04-26
FROM WASHINGTON.
w AsHINGToN, ID. e
April 20, 1888.

WASHINGTON, ID. c.,
April 20, 1888.
In connection with some current
methods of Departmental discipline
there is a narrative extant of one Of
the Auditors, who, being Southern
man and a gentleman, and having
formely owned slaves whom he was
wont to treat with humanity, some
what fails to tackle kindly to the
application of penitentiary discipline
to gentlemen and ladies', whose only
crime is the necessity which compels
them to serve the Government for a
living. On several occasions when
clerks in his office, by reason of
delayed train or snow blockade of
the street-cars, a stopped watch or
sick child at home, have been as much
as a whole minute late, and accord
ingly brought to book by the Yigilant
doorkeeper, the Auditor has been
observed to chafe considerably. At
last an exceptionally faithful and
efficient clerk who frequently per-
formed hours of overwork, of course
without any credit, was stopped re-
ported, and hailed before the author
tiles for three minutes hardness.
Then the Auditor rose in his wrath
and said that it was time an example |
was made. A court of inquiry was
organized in due form of law. The
delinquent clerk, the reporting door
keeper, the conductor, brakeman, en-
gineer and fireman of the suburban
train whose lateness had caused this
serious loss to the Government, were
all properly summoned, examined,
cross-examined, and their testimony
reduced to writing by a Department
stenographer. After due delibera-
ton the court decided that two min
utes absence was unavoidable by
reason of the delay of the train. The
remaining minute, it was adjudged,
was chargable to the clerk himself,
and ordered to be deducted from his
annual leave. The court further re-
ported the expense of the injury to
the Government, counting time of
employers, stationery, etc., at be-
tween three and four hundred dollars.
The grief over the probable failure
of many measures on the House cal
endar, on account of the time lost in
flibustering, is not unmingled with
satisfaction. A number of special
orders, of course, lost their day, but
this is not all. There are many
measures on the calendar not provided
for that have been cut out of what
was otherwise good chance of get
ting a special assignment. Many
members think that as a matter of
politics, it is just as well that too
many bills should not pass during the
session just before a presidential
session. These men are just as well
with things as they are, and
will be content that there should be a
Tree debate on the tariff, with an
occasional let-up to give opportunity
for an appropriation bill to go through.
Captain Sam Donaldson, who con-
ducts the House restaurant, is the one
man at the Capitol who has not been
heard to grewl over the deadlock. He
has been kept constantly busy and
has prefted much. Donaldson would
not feel disgruntled if the House
should remain in continuous session
six months. So long as the laborers
In the pie factories do not strike, and
the flow OF tactical fluid keeps up, the
restaurant can stand the strain and
the hungry legislators can be fed. 1t
is noticed that pie and milk are much
more popular among members of the
House than terrapin and champagne.
Congressman Martin, of Texas,
who was accused of blowing out the
gas when he first came to Washing
ton, is the constant butt of the jokers
10 the House. After the all night
session on Wednesday morning Mr..
Mason of Chicago, met him and con-
graduated him on his escape. Martin
laid he did not understand, when
Mason said: "Why, it is reported ]
That you wanted drink of ice water
and that you could not find a glass ,
that you caught the muzzle of a Bah i
cock fire extinguisher and turned the
zap. 1t was reported further that Won
lad been blown down three flights of
stairs" sits one of them news
paper les" said Mr.. Martin and he =
lid not appreciate the laughter of C
lis associates. 9
The variable weather of the past C
fortnight has had the effect of giving 5
severe cold to Kay, the big st. 9,
bernard who has wholly supplanted \