Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-07-09


An impression seems to be getting abroad
that President Harrison is devoting his entire
time to the consideration of the distribution of
Offices. 1t is assumed that when he IL not re-
ceiving and talking with Office seekers he ID
hard at work looking at the papers filed BY
them in support of their claims for recogni-
ton.
Some newspapers have gravely reminded the
President editorially that there were public
matters demanding his attention, and that il is
his duty to look to these instead Of giving his
time to the distribution Of small offices. These
things bring smile of contempt to General
Harrison's face.
1T IS SILLY TO ASSUME
that the President sits up nights over applica-
ton papers, or that he troubles himself about
all the small appointments in the service. The
fact is, as any one who takes the trouble NAV
ascertain, that the President devotes only Q
small portion Of his time to ofice-seekers. His
many working hours of the day are devoted to
public duties of importance to the whole coun-
try. One hour each day for five days of the
week is all the time he gives to ofice-seekers
Nay, less than this, for it is O great mistake to
assume that all the Senators and Representa-
ives and other public men who call ON the
President in his private Office between IL and
~ O'Clock from Tuesday to Saturday have no
business except that relating to appointments.
Much OF this time is spent in comforting upon
public matters. The question Of an extra
session of Congress, which has been conferred
upon great deal, and
MATTERS OF IMPORTANCE TO THE WHOLE
COUNTRY,
or to sections of it, occupy often goodly part
OF the ''ofice-seekers'" hour, incorrectly so
called. When Senators and Representatives
have been talking with the President of mat
tiers OF vastly more importance which they did
not want made public they have silently per-
mltted the impression that they were after
offices. 1t has become common to ascribe this
purpose to every visit
The office seekers perhaps fondly imagine the
President, after the visiting hour is over. sit
ing at his desk porting over the letters and pc
tltlons and Endorsements that have been thrust
upon him, and in an agony of doubt and sus-
and.so, who wants an Office. They may picture
public affairs set aside to await the solution of
these problems Of patronage.
IMPORTANT PUBLIC MATTERS DEMANDING ArTEN-
TON.
Now, for fact, the President gets to work at
O'Clock in the morning, and, except during q
short while for meals and few minutes every
other day to shake hands with the public, is
busy from that hour until 10, the earliest and
until usually ii 80 o'clock at night. Out of this
days work the only time he gives to Office
seekers is between IL and IL, and, as said
before, only part of this do they get The
rest OF the time is devoted to public bust
ness. II it were not the neglect
would soon become apparent. The Sa-
moan matter, the Haytian affair, the question
OF calling an extra session Of Congress, are
things that everybody knows about that have
occupied considerable of the Presidents atten-
ton. While the Samoan matter has been set
tied and an extra session of Congress practi-
cally decided on, the Haytian affairs still calls
for attention. The civil-service law and the
organizing OF the commission has required at
tention.
BUT THESE ARE BY NO MEANS ALL
the public questions the President has been oc-
cupied with. There are questions of finances
and general public policy coming over from
the Treasury. They have not been neglected
From the Department of Justice have come
many matters that he has been obliged to de-
vote time to, some of them involving life or
death. From the Interior department. also.
many important public matters have claimed
his attention. There is not depart
presenting public matters for his consideration.
The question of appointments is thrust upon
him and must get attention. The importuni-
ties after Office annoy him. Some appoint
ments are Of public Importance and all that,
but it is not so that the President is occupied
only by the distribution of patronage He
gives an average of about twelve hours each
day, except Sunday, to public business, and
less than one hour each for five days, or less
than five hours per week, to listening to the
plants Of Office seekers.