The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1889-07-13
Still Clamoring for Offices.
summer seise of the Department.

In spite of the civil service law, which was
designed to relieve to a large extent the pres
sure for official patronage, the clamor for
office has never been more loud than since the
Inauguration of the present administration.
Although the heat of summer is at its height,
Washington is yet full of people who came
early in March, and are still hanging on in
hope of final reward Republican Congress
men who ordinarily would have gone away for
the summer long ago are still kept here by
the opportunities of their office seeking CON
stituents, which reach them by every mail,
and cabinet officers have been compelled to
close their doors and see callers only by card
because the crowds of place hunters left them
no time to attend to public business.
TURNING TO THE CIvn SERVICE LAW.
A well known Congressman. speaking of
the state of affairs said: There Is still mach
room for civil service reform, and | and many
of my colleagues in the House would gladly
vote for any extension of the civil service law,
for there is scarcely a man among them who,
If he would express his real convictions,
would not tell you that official patronage was
source of weakness to him rather than
strength. The trouble with the civil service
law az present Is that 1t Is half way measure.
II either does not go far enough or il goes too
far. Is greatly reduces the number OF places
at the disposal OF the Executive. but al eou
centrateS aud iutensiheS the fight for the re-
naming offices. The entire civil service.
with the exception Of cabinet otflcOfS and their
immediate assistants, ought 10 be included
within ITS scope or II ought - b. done away
with entirely, and I DO nc. ihnk that the
country IS prepared for thaa Not only ought
the department clerks to - uHder Il, but the
many special agents OF all kinds and the con
sular service a. we'll Few people realize the
result that would be attained in building up
American commerce With all parts Of the
world, and especially with the South Amer
can nations, Il permanent corps az specially
trained ulrn ~ere sent out 10 look after our
interests in hsir Posis. instead Uf the men
vho are ~ present appointed either as re.
ward for party service OF 10 afford them Up-
pori8niiy for travel abroad.
sscRErtRr WINDOW TIRED ovT.
Secretary Windom has xrowa weary Of
bearing the same old story. day astcs day,
from ghe same people, aud be now proposes
10 DENY himself 10 callers except uPos the
presentation q visiting cards Nj. Window
has probably gjscn Up mose Of bis time to
Office seekers thsn any other member Of the
cabinet since the advent Of the present ad-
ministratou. aad IN tas asan;ime the routine
aork Of the department Aas confined % ac-
camniate 30 an alarming degree. The clerks
IA the appointment division say that they
have not had sufficient work TO keep the force
employed. simply because they have beeu
awaiting Instructions from tbe Secretary. On
the other hand. the Secretary SAYS he has nos
bad ume 10 look into the merits Of many Of
the pcadihG eases because so much 81 has
tiue j. taken up listening % she appeals Of
place hunters Secretary Windou's room is
a aelightfal retreat for the hungry patriots
3h0 gcg The cold shoulder elsewhere, aud u
- not unusual to scs the same persons there
daily sitting around in tbe comfortable chairs,
drinking eopogsly OF teeEaier from she
silver service near she doay. They Invariably
ask toe same questions and usually reserve
the sau3c answer, bat they show up again
next day aud cunsame from tusr 70 i've hours
81 the secretary time that Iaighi be devoted
20 dIsp0siag OF the very cases abe iutportgnlng
applicants ars individually Interested in.