davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-03-05

who have sure thing on their nomination
and election year after year, and these
generally speaking, are persons who do moi
need the money. Usually the salary is al.
most eaten up in campaign expenses,
political assessments, and so forth, so that
very often even those who are not in af1uent
circumstances are forced to pay considerable
portion of their expenses in Washington out
of their own pockets.
SALARIES OF THE SMALL FRY.
Down in the departments offices below
that of the Cabinet are not accompanied by
large salaries as general thing, but they
average we'll. All kinds of employees in the
departments are better paid than similar
employees In private business. As few of
the offices are such as to attract applicants
to fill them on account of the honor alone,
we must assume that most of the incumbents
are there for the salaries, small as these
are.
The First Assistant Secretary of State
only has S4 800 year, though he often acts
in the place of the Secretary. The assistant
secretaries in all of the departments are
paid at about the same figure. Next come
the chief clerks and the chiefs of divisions,
whose salaries range from 81, 800 down to
81 800. Below these are the clerks and
messengers of the classified service, whose
salaries extend from S72O SS46, 5000, 81, 900,
81 200, 81 400 81 600, 81, 800, 81, 900 and up
ward, though there are only few who are
upward"
The private secretary of the President has
for years received only the small salary of
s., 250, but since he has become an official
who bears the blunt of the onslaughts on
the President by an immensely increased
number of visitors, the pay has been
thought too small, and in the Executive
Appropriation bill passed few days ago
the salary was increased to $1,000.
MORE SALARIES.
Some of the higher salaries of the depart
ments and of Congress, about which little is
known by the general public, will be Of
interest. The Director Of the Mint receives
81, 800; the Supervising Surgeon General,
$4,000; General Superintendent of the Life
Saving Service, $4,000; Chief of the
Bureau of Engraving and Printing,
4,500; First and Second Controller of the
Treasury, and the Controller OF the Cur
rency, 5000 each; Register of the Treasury,
1000; Superintendent Of the Coast and
Geodetic Survey, $1,000; Commissioner Of
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-03-05
The Plan of the City.

To the stranger, the plan of the city of
Washington is exceedingly interesting, but
exceedingly confusing. One would think
that place whose streets run mainly at
right angles, and which are Iettered and
numbered so that'one always knows which
way to go to reach certain point, must Of
necessity be easy to traverse. But the fact
that there are four sections" of the city,
divided by North Capitol, East Capitol and
South capitol streets, and ''the Mall' on
the west, and that half of the streets traverse
two sections and the other half the other two
sections, and the further fact that the many
avenues, named for the States ofthe Union,
cross the squares made by the east and west
and north and south streets at all sorts of
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-03-05

E588SSN NlN NNNyIy9 strike your eye when
'$S>>r--E ES-~feI you are yet miles
away, as you arise to the tops of the hills in
your progress, or look far along unobstructed
valleys.
They are the two landmarks of the city
most marked in their contrast, the one the
pencil-like shaft of the Washington Monu-
ment and the other the graceful, airy, al
most unearthly. dome of the Capitol. Miles
away. in the country, at almost every turn,
the top of the monument Will meet the
vision, and only at rarer intervals the less
exalted dome, but always atfording a sense
of relief after the other, as suggestion that
somebody who at some time lived in the city
had higher idea of art than was exhibited
by barbarian Egyptians in the construction
of their obelisks.
AN INAPPRoPRIATE MEMORIAL.
Seeing this shaft afar, before other OBJ
jects divert the mind from its eontempla-
tion, one is led to wonder what mind con-
ceived that its form was the most appro-
pirate memorial for the father of his coun-
try" when the same amount expended in
this useless and uncanny shaft would have
erected a fine library building, an art gal
lery, or have gone far toward the endow-
ment of great national university. This
landmark, visible at so long range, is useful
for only one thing, and that is so much that
one can almost forgive the misconception.
For from its windows, near the top, glorious
views are to be had, hardly finer, to be sure,
than from the dome of the Capitol, but with
the immeasurable addition that in one of
the views is included the dome itself, which,
of course, is lost to the landscape while it is
under ones feet
Come though you may to the Capitol
thousand times you will never tire of this
dome. 1t is such boon to Washington as
the matchless one of st. Peters is to Rome.
With the one exception of st. Peters it is
the grandest dome of the universe, sur
mounting gracefully that long and piIlared
pile, which, with all its imperfections, is
one of the most imposing edifces of the
world.
THE BEAUTIFUL CAPITOL
Seen a thousand times and it is ALWAYS
new. 1t has more phases than the moon. A
page OF poetry would not describe its subtitle
changes, with the varying light, and once
seen by rail- or highway, from suburban
hills or down suburban valleys, it is never
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-03-05

owned, by the poor. black and white. These
shanties are often owned by rich men, or by
spectators, who are holding the property
for higher price. They care little in re-
gard TO the character of the persons to
whom they rent their novels, il they get
enough rental to cover the taxes, which, it
is quite we'll known, are usually made very
light upon land held by spectators. But
the streets are filling up rapidly.
The poor are being compelled to ssmove
on" the shanties are disappearing. and
within five years, at the present rate of
building, every street west and north will
be solidly built up with dwellings. nearly
every one of which is distinct in arcbiteet.
ure from every other; the long lines of ash-
and maple, and tulip, and other trees. viii
have reached maturity, the "porkin1's
which fronts the dwellings, on nearly evsrv
street, from to 80 feet in width. viii
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-03-05
Official Life In Wnshinrfnn.

Doubtless one of the most fascinating
features OF Washington official life to the
general reader would be the ordinary,
everyday conduct of incumbents of Office,
from high to low, but this also would re-
quire volume to describe adequately. 1t
is is difficult to reach, moreover. It is
only after years of daily contact that one
is fitted to proceed with any elaboration in
this field of description, The daily routine
of life, especially of the higher officials, is
not open to the continual inspection of the
curious. I am inclined to think that the
person who writes the 'great American
novel; founded on official life must be one
who has occupied the position of private
secretary to every official who is allowed
such an assistant, and who has been en-
ploye for time in every division of every
one of the departments, or else a newspaper
writer who absorbs a universal knowledge
by intuition almost from very limited
contact.
AN EXCLUSIVE EXECUTIVE.
Presidents were once much more easily
reached by all sorts of people than, they
are now. We have grown SO numerous as
a people, while the President is no more
numerous than he was hundred years ago,
that the demands on him and other high
officials are ten fold greater than they were
40 or so years ago. The line must be drawn
somewhere, and it is drawn at the room of
the private secretary of the President.
All may penetrate to that outer sanctuary,
but he or she must be important, indeed, to
get farther toward the sacred room where
sits the chief executive. The private sec
retary "sizes up caller at a glance, and
unless he be man of very large political,
business or social proportions, or unless his
mission is SO important as to sink the ques-
tion of his own obscurity, he can get no
further.
So great is the pressure to see the Presi-
dent that even the private secretary is
forced to assume exclusiveness to some ex-
tent, and therefore the watch dogs of the
various entrances to the Office rooms of the
executive mansion are also keen of scent
and know at sight one who has business Of
enough Importance to warrant his admis-
sion, and visitors are often peremptorily
stopped by them with the information that
neither the President nor his secretary is in,
or that they are engaged. Usually, how
ever, the visitor may penetrate the room of
the secretary.
NOT A HAPPY LOT.
If any one imagines that the lot of the
President is a happy one let him sit for a
half day, during Office hours, in that inner
room where the President transacts hisof-
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-03-05

life, fast and fascinating, magnet that is
constantly growing stronger and stronger,
drawing the wealth and genius and bril-
lance Of the country to itself, as we'll as its
more sinister qualities, witches brewing
of intrigue, romance, tragedy, luxury, pur-
ity, honesty, corruption, the den of the lob
byist, the haven of the schemer, the hope
Gated, the butt of the cynic, the joy os the
pessimlst.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-03-05

true to the life Of certain individuals that
they were at once recognized by all who were
familiar with the personality of high politi-
cal circles Of that day, and that is possibly
the reason why the author has never per
mitted his or her name to be identified with
the work. 1t is shrewdly supposed that the
writer was member of the society depicted.
There are many persons yet resident in this
city who are peculiarly anxious 10 learn the
identity of the authorof Democracy"
PROMINENT JOURNALISTS.
Among newspaper writers there are q
number who have made some reputation in
literary circles Sub Rosa, a very bright,
though somewhat hastily written, and de-
cidedly realistic, novel of Washington life.
was the work some years ago OF Mr.. Charles
T. Murray, the then correspondent OF THE
DISPATCH. Mr.. George Kennan, famous
by reason of his remarkable papers on life
in Russia, and his experiences there, is .
conspicuous figure in literary circles and
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-03-05

forgotten, but always awaited with an
slmost tremor of anxiety, to know what
new beauty it will present to the eye and the
Imagination.
Washington is surrounded by hills. Not
long ranges, nor high peaks, but gentle
promontories, few hundred feet above the
comparatively fat point between the Poto-
mac and Anaeostia rivers, on which most
of the city is built. From scores of these
points of vantage the city seems spread out
at ones feet, and after the first range OF
promontories is exhausted, and one pene-
trates back miles into the country, the
peaks rise higher, and ever little higher,
and the city continues to come into view
now and again in a magical sort of way
which suggests its determination that the
eyes of the country shall always be brought
back to this central point.
A BIRDsEYE VIEW.
Particularly fine views are to be had from
the Soldiers Home, from Fort Myer, from
Arlington, from Georgetown Heights, from
St. Elizabeth's Asylum, and from dozen
points down the river on both the Virginia
and Maryland shores. Coming up the
river on one of the many steamers which
ply there for the pleasure of the residents
and visitors at the Capitol; miles away the
monument and the dome stand out in relief
against the sky, and as one nears the city
the whites and grays of the Capitol, the Ex-
ecutive Mansion, and the War, State, Navy
and Treasury Departments stand out dis
tinct from the otherwise crushed awberry
tone of the city, their vast piles indicating
infallibly the business of great nation.
One would know without telling that it was
the capital city of a population of many
millions
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-03-05
vi.
Washington Literature and Art.

Possibly it may be pleasing to turn from
these sordid considerations to the more
aesthetic phase of capital life. There is as
yet no literature of Washington as there is
of London and Paris. We are too young
for that. Literary interest does not center
here. Periodicals and books are published
in New York and Boston, and where the
carcass is there will the vultures gather.
National political life does center here,
however, and social life will soon, and the
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-03-05
Governmen. omcial. and Their Salaries.

Government Omciais and Their Salaries.
But who are the department officials and
what 90 they get? All, yes, what do they
get? The Importance of all things is meas
ured by the money value attached to them.
And it must be confessed that with most
officials the salary attached to their offices
is the important consideration. Few of the
Federal offices are filled by men or women
who merely seek the honor of the place.
For instance, an official of the depart
ments was recently promoted to much
higher position than he had previously
occupied, through the resignation of one
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-03-05

Internal Revenue, S., 600; Treasurer, s, 900;
Supervising Architect, "a 500: Commissioner
OF customs, "a, 900; Professor of Meteorology
In the Signal Office, S4, 200; the First, Sec
ond and Third Assistants in the Postoffice
Department, 81, 900 each; First and Second
Assistant Secretaries Of the Interior De-
Partment, y, 800 and S4 900; Commissioners
OF Patents and of Pensions, 5000 each;
Lana commissioner and Indian Commits
sioner, s., 900 each; Commissioner of Rail-
roads, s4,5O0; Director of the Geological
Survey, $1,000; Commissioner of Labor.
5000; the Interstate Commerce Commits
sioners receive 81, 500 each.
GOOD JOBS.
The Solicitor General receives 81, 900 and
the assistants 5000 and $4,000; several
solicitors of the various departments re-
ceive 81, 500 each; the Chief Justice of the
Supreme Bench receives $40, 500, and the
eight Associate Justices $40, 900 each, and
their terms are for life; the Clerk of the Su-
preme Court has Sc, 900; Fish Commissioner,
$4,000; the Speaker of the House of Repre-
sentatives receives the same pay as a Cab
met officer, $4,000; the Secretary of the Sem
ate receives larger salary than the Sena-
tors, or Sc, 1896; the official reporter of the
senatorial debates gets 80, 900 year, and
out of this sum pays his assistants; the Off
clal stenographer of the House gets a salary
of $4,000, and four assistants get $1,000
each; committee stenographers usually get
/ y, 900 when constantly employed; on other
committees the reporters are paid by the
piece; Librarian Spofford gets 81, 900; the
Architect of the Capitol, 81 500; the Chief
of the Government Printing Office gets
81, 500, and besides number of we'll paid
clerks there are in that office over 1000
pOr7 fOre md 1okba -
one OF the most populous of the public
offices.
TAKE YOUR CHOICE.
These are some of the best paying Of ffiees,
cited for the purpose of enabling the reader
to choose which he will have. Of course
there are many offices throughout the States
which pay very nicely, but those who want
them are usually we'll informed as to the
salaries of those within their reach. For
instance, there Is the Pittsburg postofice,
which is worth about $4,000 year, and the
one at Allegheny 5000; special treasury
of Internal Revenue, 81, 500; Surveyor of
the Port, $3.50 and fees and commissions;
Surgeon of Marine Hospital at Pittsburg,
81, 800; Inspector of Hulls, $4,000, and In
spector of Boilers, $1,000: Pension Agent,
$4,000; Circuit Judges receive $4,000; Dis
trict Judges, 81, 900; United States District
Attorney, 5000 and fees; Assistant District
Attorneys about 81, 500; United States Mar
shall, 5000 and fees; and clerks, commits
sioners and registers in bankruptcy, fees
alone.
The electoral messengers, who fetch to the
capital the certificates of the official votes of
the various States, get twenty-five cents
mile, one way, from the place of meeting of
the electors.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-03-05
TUESDAY. MARCH 5, 1889.

tion to hundreds of women, nearly all Of
whom are mothers oil families, and is Of it
self one Of the important departments Of
labor in the National Capital.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-03-05

fetal business. He goes through q volnmi-
nous mail, though it is only small portion
of that which is addressed to him-com-
munications which are thought by the pri-
vate secretary to be Of sufficient
Importance to turn over to him.
Then there are questions from
every department to pass upon for the Presi-
dent is primarily responsible for the con-
duct of every Office filled by his appoint
ment, and heads Of departments are con-
stantly appealing to him for advice. These,
with members of Congress and other visitors,
who come to ask for Office for constituents,
to talk of thousand different things, to
pay friendly calls, added to the demands of
social life, receptions, special and general,
dinners. and so forth, and such attention as
every one desires to give to private, domes-
tic and personal affairs as makes life worth
living, suggest that the Office of President
is one of the most, undesirable within the
gift of the people. Yet there are several
excellent gentlemen in the country who are
suspected of harboring anxiety to occupy
this position.
1t is the one place of all others in the
service of the people in which the occupant
is harassed, bounded, slandered, belied, be-
yond the possibility of endurance, one
would think, yet there is suspicion that
no one to whom the position were offered
would refuse it.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-03-05
A CABINET OFFICERS TRIALS.

On lesser scale the heads of departments
and bureaus are subject to ineursions such
as those which invade the Presidents sane
tum, and they are obliged in turnto build
about themselves Chinese wall tn exclude
those who would for trivial purposes con-
sumo their time. Very frequently it hap
pens that Cabinet officer is more exclusive
than the President himself. To some of the
Cabinet officers of the present administra-
ton, access has been almost impossible, ex-
cept in the case of very few high officials,
influential politicians, and foreign diplo-
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-03-05
AN ELIGIBLE PARTI.

This DEPRESSION is for the purpose of illus
trating the character of the leadership OF the
purely political circle. The aristocracy of
the army and navy cannot indulge in such
lavish outlay, but they go into the most ex.
elusive assemblies and give to them that
dash of military life that is so dear to the
society of every country. A Washington
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-03-05

If any one imagines that the lot of the
President is a happy one let him sit for q
half day, during Office hours, in that inner
room where the President transacts hisof-
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-03-05
The First View Of Washington.

AP P RO ACH the
capital city of the
United States, from
what point you will,
there are two land
m arks which will
strike your eye when
- ,s1oe
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-04-20
AT GREATLY CUT PRICES.

Our stock is LARGE sud we must move Il. 10 do .,
quickly We have put the knife prices u Il the hit
We mention few of the harains hut you must come
and look 20 fUy appreciate the opportunity offered TO
buy hrst-class goods ~ cut rates:
Best All-Nool Full Extra Surar TnrraiDs Coz sv,rl
Best c. c. Pull ENtrs Super Ingrains. 50c a yAr,i
Tapestry Brussels, best makes. 5ac yard
Body Brussels, best makes Al yard.
Best MoQuette Carpets. 81 -.
Best quality Smyrna Mats regular price Al % cut
20 al 25.
Best quality Smyrna Russ regular price 81, Gu, to
Best quality Smyrna RUGS. regular prics:s4 cut 70
Best quality Smyrna Russ, regular price 80. cut to
1895.
Jaranese Rugs all Sizes few 9Hl We will close out
at $3.50.
scrimm. o5c. yard, Pougce Drapery. i5c. HAS,
socks. Pc.
Solid Walnut sideboard. Marble Ton sl1.50
Imitation Mahogany Sideboald. 1880
Natural Cherry Finished Sideboard. $3.50.
Antique Oak Sdeboard. s.O
Antique Sideboard. s22 80.
Solid Oak Sidebaard sos
these Sidehoards are cut in prices from O. 80
ne pest solid Antique Oak Chamber suit IN the
On all Chamber Suits oxar a., 81 NJ 60.
over 800, We Will give a discount OF \ , perreat
One silk Plush suit, pieces, cherry Frames. $50
one SIX Plush Suit. pieces, spring o,iseS StD
one Crushed Plush suit, ; pieces. sac
One Crushed Plush suit, Eioces sti5
Wen sell any Porteres OF heavy Curtains an s,rk
al cost and hang them free o. charge
Great bargains in our Lace Curtain Department
We sell the cheapest GOOD Refrl.trat,r M, "a.
market, and guarantee them.
Baby Carriages at all prices
The best and cheapest line Of Maitnes We have ever
shown.
Loose Covers cut and made to order on short po,ice
II You want more than your moneys worth com.
and u.s.
These prices are for cash on or before delivery
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-04-20

The number Of possible victims of the bullet
III Oklahoma is somewhat diminished by the
Tavages worked by swollen streams which the
settlers coIld not ford If all the reports are
true. there must have been a good many deaths
by drowning TO open the tragic record of the
eolony's infancy. The worst is yet to be
looked for. when the whisky wagons begin
their travels. and settlers of naturally peaceful
dispositions are wrought to an artificial frenzy
IN defence of rights which are supposed to be
threatened. or to the assertion of authority
which does not belong to them.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-04-20

The window-glass workers in the Pittsburg
district have done wise thing in cooperating
with their employers to get skilled labor from
Europe in order to open new works. The men
already in this country had plenty of work,
and. instead of acting on the dog-in-the-
manager policy. they lent such aid as their labor
unions could to procure impOrtations of fresh
blood where 1t was needed. They properly
reasoned that every extension Of the trade as a
whole meant the opening Of new markets and
the growth Of demand which would work
eventually 10 the advantage of all.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-04-20

The death of ex-IOstmast6r Pearson. follow
ing 50 promptly upon his retirement from office
val be attributed by some to his disappoint-
neut al the failure of the President to name
him for another term. There is good reason.
however. to believe that this had little or
nothing to DO with the case Mr.. Pearson was
IA very sick man before the Presidents decision
was reached. His physician had been urging
him 10 cease work and take a vacation. but he
did not feel like leaving his affairs in the hands
Of other people as long as he vas at all able to
take care OF them himself. When he wa7 finally
ordered IN peremptOry manner to go home
and 90 to bed and stay there. he was probably
too far a victim Of disease to have any reasona-
bic hope of getting upon his feet again.