Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-05-19

People Who Call to See Commissioner
and What They Say.

! The hands Of the electric clock had lust
passed the $50 mark when Commissioner
Douglass came to the District building. At that
time there were just eight persons waiting to
/ speak to him. Changing his street coat for
light Office coat he took his seat at the large
| desk and was ready to begin work. His first
interview was with an aged Italian woman.
She wanted her husband pardoued from the
work house, where he had been sent for six
| months for being an habitual drunkard. She
had been seeking to accomplish this for several
! days and called this morning to learn the Com
| missioner's decision.
superintendent Stoutenburgh reports ad-
| yersely on your husbands application for par
don" says Mr.. Douglass 1T seems he is an
old offender. What do you think about it?''
! My husban very goOda man. Somatme
ne getta hts: He no can helpa that, replies
the woman in q masculine voice.
NJ, ne should stop drinking whisky" responds
Mr. Douglass. II guess that's what gives him
hts. Ii will give him worse than that if he
doesn't let it alone. But my good woman"
continues the Commissioner, Il guess he had
better stay where he is. He can have all the
| hts he wants there. Besides if 1 were to let
him out he might kill you
! The woman realizing by this time that her
worser half would have to serve his term
turned to MIR. Douglass and gave him tongue
| flashing.
POLITICS IN 1T.
Then came a colored woman. She wanted to
wash the towels used by the employees in the
building. but some one else already had the
job. She went off grumbling: Oats jest de
| way. Dey gibs de washin an ironin' to dimmi-
Gratis what keeps laundries and ieabs us pub
licans out in de cold. Ise gwine to complain to
de 'publicans of dis city"
LIQUOR CASE.
II understand you turned me DOWN." said
| the next caller
What's that" queried the Commissioner.
de papers say you give my license de go
by" was the rejoinder. The speaker was a
liquor dealer whose application had been re-
jected.
on, yes, understand" said Mr.. Douglass.
well, what about it?"
Deere amt nothin bout it, an nothin' de
matter wild it-see. I'm hard workin man
an got family to support. an want you to
give me my liquor license-see."
This was said in bulldozing fashion, but Mr..
Douglass il not disturbed. Lets see; what's
your name?" queried the Commissioner.
"Oh yes, | remember, you were convicted
OF selling on Sunday-then there are already
four licensed saloons in your square. l am
through with your case for good"
The mans manner changed entirely; he was
no longer bully, but as meek as a lamb. He
begged for reconsideration of his case, but
MT Douglass was firm, and the man reverted
10 MS original manner and went away swearing.
HE WANTED PLACE.
Three visitors so far and not pleasant word
yet Let's hear what this man has to say.
Good morning. sir. I'm an old soldier and
want position. / served faithfully in the last
campaign and am stanch republican. Any
thing, sir, to give me bread
My dear man." put in Mr.. Douglass, ''there
are over 800 applications on file for positions
under the District government and no vacan-
cies to fill
But see here. / have the endorsement of
over dozen Congressman" continued the
man, displaying batch of manuscript
so have the majority of the applicants, re-
piled Mr. Douglass
But I'm a republican and deserve recogni-
ton, persisted the man. You have demo-
Gratis here; turn them out as the other Com
missioners dic the republicans during Cleye
lands term"
Are you aware Of the fact that l am but one
third of the board of Commissioners and
powerless to do that even if | thought it best?"
That's the same old story; gOod-by," he
mumbled as he disappeared through the swing
ing door.
SIGNING VOUCHERS.
SIS you busy. Mr. Douglass?" The speaker
was Carter, the trusted messenger of the audi
tor, and he had thousand checks and
vouchers to be signed.
Mr.. Douglass set manfully to work and the
whistle on mill near by announced the mid
day hour before he had completed his task.
Hello! what's this? A delegation Of citizens
wanting more Improvements in their section.
They talk for three-quarters of an hour, pitch
ing into the Commissioners for not looking
more after their section. Mr.. Douglass begins
to think of the needs Of his inner man. He
changes his coat and walks briskly down the
steps and takes q seat in his carriage with a
satisfied air, as much as to say: I'm free for a
little while at least"
DELEGATION.
At 80 he is back again. He writes report
on railroad bill and then goes into the board
room to hear citizens who called in the interest
of or to protest against certain railroad bill
This takes up An nour or SO and when he comes
out OF the board room it is just o'clock
Sister of Charity is waiting for him and he
goes down in his pocket and hands her some
money.
BLESS you. SIR" she says, the first pleasant
words he has heard during the day; but he had
to pay for them. There's a lull now. The office
Is closed to the public and the Commissioner
breathes easier. He rejects several more liquor
applications and as there is nothing further to
do he quits work and drives home