Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-01-03
NATIONAL CAPITAL.
THE MISTAKES OF THE PERSISTENT
oFFlCE-SEEKER.
Not Good Policy to Hug Washington Too
Cicse-The Signal Service
Personal.
from Our Regular Correspondent. |

wAsHrvaTos, January at has been
noticeable fact that during the Cleveland
Administration and the present Harrison
rtgime that few applicants for positions
have been successful who remained around
Washington. In 1885 there was an appli-
cant for the position of Supervising Archi-
tect of the Treasury. At one time he had
excellent prospects, and bis papers would
have been made out but for his
persistency. He hung around the White
House and visited the Treasury so often
that the President and Secretary began to
get tired OF seeing him. They concluded
TO hold the matter up while, aud still
that man remained here. Then the Presi-
dent and Secretary concluded that il he
could remain in Washington SO many
months on an uncertainty his standing at
home "a an architect could not be so high
RI had been reprcseted by the Senators
and Representatives who recommended
him for appointment.
ANOTHER NAN.
The consequence was that another man
was appointed Supervising Architect. and
the western applicant who remained here
more than six months worrying and boring
tho officials and the congressman had to
pack up his traps and go home. Major
Freret, OF New Orleans, who was the Su-
pervising Architect during Cleveland's adj
ministration. made but one visit to WASH
ington before he received the appointment
and then he remained only couple Of
days.
ANY number of instances of this kind
could be given to show that a seeker after
position under the Government damages
his chances by remaining too long in WASH
ington. The responsible people who rule
the affairs of Government become tired of
seeing them here. Any. man. whether he
is after a large or small place, cannot
amount to very much at home if he has no
business or profession, and certainly his
success in any calling must be poor indeed
If he can afford 70 hang around Washington
hotels and boarding houses for six months
or q year hoping TO get Government
place. One of, the most experienced con-
gressmen said the other day that he had
noticed for ten years that all applicant Tor
position always damaged his chances by
remaining in Washington more than few
days.
HORDE OF oFFIcE-sEEKERs.
Since the 4th of March there has been
horde OF oiice-seekers here from Maryland,
Virginia, West Virginia. and North Caro-
lima. Most of them can hope to get moth
ing but messeugers' places, as they are
hardly qualified to go INTO the consular
service. or to be chiefs of divisions in the
departments. and ordinary clerkships they
cannot hope to obtain unless they pass the
civil-servlce examinations. 1t is doubtful
if one in five could pass the examina-
ton, and those who get through
this mill will become gray-haired before
they are certified owing 10 the number
ahead of them on the lists of the commits
sion. Just how some of those southern
Republicans who have renamed here can
pay expenses is a deep mystery. In hot
weather and cold, brisk times and dull,
they are always about. and they make 1t
lively and interesting for the Republican
congressman.
SIGNAL SERVICE.
The friends of General Greedy, head of
the Signal-Service Bureau. are already at
work hard trying to prevent the proposed
transfer Of that bureau from the War TO
the Agricultural Department. This change
was proposed in the last Congress, but 1t
was not made. Now the President recon-
mends it.
The Republican leaders of the House are
sending out letters to all of their members
who are likely to be late in returning 70
Washington urging them to be on hand
Monday as the narrow majority Will make
it impossible for the House TO proceed I'M
less a quorum can DO secured az the start.
Three Republicans in the present House
are in such bad condition physically that
their services cannot be relied on. These
are Messrs. Kelley of Pennsylvania. VIII
Der of New York. and Browne of Indiana.
G.. @. Cox and wife, of Roanoke, Va, are
at the Ebbitt
Miss Annie Sayres and Miss Esther Sayres,
Of Max Meadows. Va, and Eugene GrissOm,
Of Raleigh, n. c., are at the Metropolitan.