National Republican., 1888-04-01
BEER FOR THE CLERKS
CAN BE OBTAINED IN THE STATE, WAR
AND NAVY BUILDING.
Employees Complain of Being Packed
In Rooms Sardinc Fashion n--Two Res
taurants In Operation and Third To
he Established.

llulIS OH u CTR on lOc W HsnlDGtOn unu
Georgetown lire one evening OF the past
week, had his attention attracted by q con
yorsation, loud enough to be heard in any
part Of the car, between two gentlemen who
were seated opposite. y glance at their
faces led to the impression that they were
two departmental clerks about 10 years Of
age. One was complaining to the other Of
some trouble with his eyes and avcwcd that
they panied him 50 severely at night as to
make IT impossible for him to read and he
was seriously thinking of beginning TO use
glasses. His friend tried to laugh him out
oI the idea, and called his attention to the
fact that he wGs too young II man to wear
glasses unless his eyes had always troubled
him. "Nhy, you should not begin their use
for ten years yet said he In conclusion.
II know that replied the first speaker,
''und my eycsiglt was first class until our
division was moved into the new building
Estate, War, and Navy Departmental. We
gave UP our pleasant quarters where we
had plenty of room and light and now are
crowded together in small gloomy dens in
the fouith story. Many of the rooms have
only one window and arc so dark that when
we wish TO Get books and documents from
the files we either have to light match to
find what we wish or strain or eyes, and.
perhaps fOolislly, have often taken the lat
Ter course. There IL Il great deal of com
plant among the clerks thus situated anil
they have good grounds for It. Were all
the rooms in the building used for the best
Interests OF the government and there were
no better accommodations for Us we would
do our work with less grumbling, but al
though there two or three restaurants IN the
building now and occupying hand
sOmC, well lighted rooms on the lower floors.
lI Ia, In l,tt1
10 lie tcupied on the first OF the month by
a wcll-knOwn caterer. The clerks think It
II shame that they who are employed by the
government To do its work should crowded
into gloomy quarters on the top floors Of
the building, while such fine rooms arc
given over 10 the use Of outside parties for
their own gain aud that is not the worst
scne of the restaurant keepers. not sutisiicl
with free rent, light. and suitable lOca-
tion, furnish all kinds of drinks TO the
guests, and many n good ard efficient clerk
has teen ruined and lost his place on this
latter account alonc.'
The gentleman seemed to he in dead
earnest IN the matter and his deep indigna-
tion was thoroughly aroused. His words
gave chance for an investigation, and the
reporter took advantage of the first opppr-
irniiy to turn his attention in that direction.
On the two upper floors of that handsome
,diiiCe he found The clerks in quarters even
worse than those described by the complain
L ing clerk. with but very few exceptions
the rooms have only one window, and the
clerks naturally are seated as much In the
light as possible, thus relcgating the files,
books and OCumcnts to the dark or Dor
tiUns, and the necessity for the use OF
matches was mt once apparent. In some OF
the offices tie clerks were nUG crowded 10.
gcthcr, lut in the majority Of rooms they
were. Eighteen clerks were found in one
room which in Size could not have been more
than eighteen or twenty feet square. Slr.
dimes in Il hoN are not packed much closer.
Did their duties cOninc them To their desk
all the time it would be bad enough, but
when 1t is known that these clerks have IL
4 get up 10 search for necessary data for theig
| wOlk their crowded cOndit ion becomes more
/, annoying and unhealthy.
Satisfied with the correctness Uf the first
charge in the Weak-cyed clerks complaint,
and that his reasons therefor We're based on
! n ihm foundation, the reporter next turned
| his attention 10 the second charge, that %!
| the pumbcr and location of the restaurants
/ Here again the proof was moi wanting. The
| restaurants are there, the locations first
| class, and the rooms are large and well
| lighted. Inquiry developed the fact
That tllcy have been sufficient
TO supply the wants of those who patroHizc
| them, end there is no need for others, vet
| been assigned for another restaurant 10 be
7 oreEed soon Mas cOrrOhOrated by other en-
I ploycs, and the rooms were pointed out.
/ They are IN the fourth iiOor Of the building,
| short distance frC nj the main staircase and
| elevator, and are now being made ready
! Tor restaurant purposes, Norkmcn have
! hCCn putting IN Il fine ice chest and range.
| Both Of these articles, 1t is said, are put
: there at the expense of the government!
| The proprietor OF the new restaurant is 4
! well known caterer Of the city.
| In regard 10 the third aud fourth charges
| that drinks are served in the restaurants
| already established and that a number ol
| good clerks have been ruined thcrcby--;he
! reporter interviewed II number Of employees
! in the building. Many of them stated that
/ both charges we've correct, hut on being
pressed for their reasons acknowledged that
they had not seen The drinking going ON,
! lu that they knew number ot their lrl-
low clerks who had stated that they were
/ furnished with drinks IN These places at
thcir meals and lunches. One gentleman,
who Is in every way reliable, told the rc,
porter that there were clerks in the room
where he was employed who ate thcii
lunches NJ the restaurants every day and had
! frequently talked in the room of the kind
and quantity Of drinks that lad been fur
! miSh,l them.
The Fabcr-pusher decided to visit one OF
the restaurants and see Tor himself. lie did
not think II possible that those in chargt
would permit amy Intoxicating liquors L,
he sold in the building. hut us the charge,
had been mndc BY reliable parties hcdccmed
Il hest To he certain of the truth thereof.
The location of the nearest one was given
linn. aud he proceeded there, entered. and
seated himself at table. Ten tables wcr,
III the room, and although ii was moi
yet II O'Clock, and at least an hpul
before the time set for the clerks {,
eat their lunches around the majority of the
tables were seated clerks and Others. som,
of thon were eating, but the majority o
them were engaged in conversation. and III
their right hands could be seen suspicious
looking Bottles and glasses. At frequent
intervals the clerks would drink from th'
gasstS and have them again filled up. som,
of the clerks were young and others wer,
gray haired, and several Of them bore unmis
taxable symptoms of having taken on more
of load than was good for them.
by the time the reporter had finished hi
Inspection ut the room and its occupants
colorcd waiter approached him, aud he or
dCrcd n light rcpNst On being asked wha
he wished to have To drink, he inquire,
what they had, and was told "heor." liz
ordered glass, and il was undUnhtrdl,
beer The charges Ul the wcak-cyed rlcrl
were all correct
After finishing his lunch the reporter Up
preached the desk ut the hdy-cashicr I,
pay his bill. and engaged her In converse
tion. She said that although they lad tric,
ior u long time To get privilege 10 sci
liquor the request was not granted unit
within the past year, when they were lOl,
that they might handle beer. and both res
tauNnts in the building have the privi
lcgc, She did Eot know who II was thu
granted the request, but She believed II wa
the Secretary Of War, She had uudcrStoo,
that the new restaurant would furnish OthC
liquors, hut was not sure Of it, She does
good business, and has been enabled 10 sup
ply all that came, There was NO need q
another restaurant,
ENcursi"niStS from New England.