Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-10-19
GOVERNMENT CLERKS.
Brief Resume Of the People who Oom-
pose the Government Service.
Civil Service Law Protects Most OF ihe"
The English System of Pensions i'
Government Employee
Special to The Gazette.

who know much about the soNein
service and the class of people who belong
to that I'm mense army known as govern
ment clerks. There rare some corre-
spondents who delight in belittliug the
usefulness of the government employe,
and many writers there are, be 1t said
with regret, who give the country at
large through the press wrong I'M
preston of the female government en-
ploye. The gentleman clerk is one apart
and distinct from the employe III busi-
ness ci.oles. / mean that he IL sui gen.
eris.
The term government CLERK does
not Imply in all instances that q man oo-
cupyiug position under the government
is therefore unfit for work outside his
calling. although there are many In
stances where the government employe
has become SO welded to his position
that g cannot break the shackles which
have bound him for go many years to the
stilted monotonous duties of his office. 1
have known many instances where the
mere position of a government clerkship
bas led to both fame and fortune. There
are many wealthy men to-day in wash
ineton who owe their position in society
aud their fortune TO the acquaintance
made through q government clerkshlp
with large claims which they success
fully
CARRIED THROUGH CONGRESS-.
The instance is fresh in my mind OF the
present partial owner of the Washington
Star, Mr.. S. II Kaufman. Twenty-Five
years ago Kaufman was $1,000 clerk in
the treasury department, in division
which then had charge of certain South
ern c.aims. Suddenly deciding one day
TO abandon the futility of working away
in the monotonous routine of govern
ment oiarkship he promptly resigned his
position took charge of certain claims
upon which he had been working, and
with tact and diplomacy put them
through congress, receiving for his labors
fee V hich was the nucleus of bis pres
eut fortune. Although coming to Wash
ingtor from GAINESVILLE, Ohio, poor
young man, Kaufman saw his opportu-
nifty and seized il.
The Washington Star was at that time
n small paper, controlled by ex-Mayor
Wallach and few friends. Kaufman
made oyertures for its purchase, and
with George c. Adams, then the Wash
ington correspondent of the New York
World (since deceased), and Crosby >.
Moves, the present edItor-in-chief of the
paper. they purchased the property,
pay e $40, 900 IN cash aud giving their
notes for the balance OF the purchase
money. The first years business under
the new management cleared up all the
notes. amounting to some $50 900, and
placed the paper upon a paying basis,
which IL has maintained ever since. 1t
Is said that last year Sl50, 900 net profit
was divided between Noyes, Kaufman
and the adams estate. This is only
ONE OF THE MANY INSTANCES
which might be recalled OF the luck
which strikes government clerk. There
are many successful lobbyists In WASH
ington to-day who began life with S75
per month clerkship in some department.
There are also men now engaged IN profit
able real estate business here who began
their career as government clerks.
Then, too, there is the other side of the
question, Certain 1t is that perhaps
half, IL not two thirds, of the men who
accept government positions rely mainly
upon The fact that their salary is assured
every thirty DAYS, that the government
cannot repudia:e its debts, and that
therefore, their bread and butter Is safe.
These men belong to the conservative
class who believe 10 the process of making
haste slowly, and are better con-
tent with the small stipend they
receive than to set sail upon
the sea of possibilities which every day
omen TO those possessing more specula-
tive minds.
There are many men of brains in the
washington departments, occupying po-
sltlons of responsibility and honor, who
prefer position TO wealth. In this class
may be placed the assistant secretaries
In the various departments, and the
chiefs OF bureaus not directly connected
with the department service, such as the
National Museum. the Smithsonian In
stitution, the Geological Survey, the
Coast Survey, the Revenue Marine Serv-
ice and the Fish Commission.
THE INFLUENCE OF WOMAN
upon departmental work may of course
be exerted for good or evil. 1t cannot
be denied that there are many bad
women 10 the government service. 1t il
equally true that there is n larger num-
Der OF good women whose influence upon
the young men with whom they are
associated is salutary. This class OF
women are widowed mothers, sisters,
and In many instances orphan girls.
Their home influences have been such q:
10 make them pursue honorable lives.
They are scrupulous in their attention Il
duty, and their influence in their home
life wherever il may be is of the best.
They devote their spare moments 10 the
care of friends, or to the reading oil
healthful literature. They pursue ar
even life without excitement, whose
compensation lies In the fact that they
are supporting or aiding to support ar
invalid family or afflicted relatives,
They draw their inspiration from theil
work, and are always smiling ant
happy, while bearing the burdens o.
sorrow and sickness.
ThAu we have the other GLASS of female
clerks who, bent upon having good
time, waste the moments in pleasure
going and pleasure-seeking; are Away
TO be found at the theatres or driviui
over the Washington boulevards will
some attentive, and it may De interested
male companions; patronizers of tn
swell restaurants, and in short may b
said to be true women OF the world. i
is happy fact, however, that this elias
Is in the minority, are fast becoming
weeded out Of the service. The tone o
the government service is improving
even though the government is prodi
giously growing every day. and its NEE
l.