Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1891-06-11

and there are one hundred and eighteen
clerks employed as assistants, making
q total of three hundred and thirty-six
employees who seldom if ever are seen in
Washington. There are also three in
spectors, four examiners of surveys,
seven examiners of swamp lands,
thirty special agents to examine fraudu-
lent entries, twenty-seven inspectors
Of timber depredations and seven Gus
todians of abandoned military reserva-
tions; a total Of seventy additional en-
ployes, making a grand total of four
hundred and fOrty-four officials in the
field who are seldom if ever seen by the
commissioner, yet all are under his di-
rection and supervision. You may well
imagine that it requires great deal of
executive ability to properly manage
such an army, keep them well disci-
plined and prevent improper action on
their part in every case.
There are upwards of two hundred
and fifty employees on duty in the gen.
era1 land office under the supervision Of
the commissioner, deputy commissioner
and chief clerk. There are law clerks,
law examiners, a receiving clerk, and
chiefs of subordinate divisions, to whom
various duties are assigned, and the en-
tire working force is SO arranged that
the tremendous and growing business
is transacted smoothly and expeditions
~. Owing to the present rules, how
ever, there are thousands of contest
cases pending, and the work of the Of
flee is nearly two years in arrears, in
some particulars. There is and has
been for years a crowded condition of
affairs, and relief cannot be had until
congress shall provide separate build
ing for this office alone.
One room in the general land Office Is
set apart for the use of attorneys who
practice before the Office, and their
name is legion. Almost every settler is
obliged to employ an attorney to look
after his interests here before final pat
ent to his homestead is issued. In addi-
ton to their personal appeals for action
in many cases these attorneys file not
less than seven hundred letters each
week, calling upon the Office for writ
ten statements concerning the condi-
ton of pending cases. These letters
are forwarded by the attorneys to their
clients and great part of their work is
done in what is called ''the attorneys
room" A clerk is detailed especially
to receive cards of request from daily
accredited attorneys for permission to
personally examine papers in important
cases. These papers are official and
cannot be taken from the department,
but they may be examined in the attor-
neys' room in the presence of the clerk
in charge, and hence it is almost impos-
sible for any attorney to absent-minded-
~ carry any papers away with him.
Copies of papers, however, are often
furnished attorneys by the clerk in
| charge.
Commissioner Carter is the youngest
man ever honored with appointment to
this position. He is only thirty-seven
years Of age, and being of an exceedingly
fair complexion, with light hair and
beard, he looks even younger. Although
| Of a nervous temperament, given te
| quickness, alertness and promptness Of
decision, he possesses at the same time
a deliberative quality of mind which
prevents him from iI-advised conclu
sions and decisions. He is a lawyer
and his training has developed a judicia
intellectual bias which will prove valu
| able in the administration of his Office
| where everything is based upon statute
ry law. Gifted with sunny, Cheerful
disposition he easily makes friends, ant
even in this city where politicians dwell
he has friends who hold him in higl
esteem regardless of differences upo1
| national topics. SMITH d. Fry.