Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-02-21
THEY WE'RE CLERKS YEARS AGO.
More About the Department service in the
Forties.

ruE OLD NAk AND NAVY pEPkRTNENrs-WHkr
rEr PrSsioS oyFIcr WAS FIFTY WARS 400
wELL-KSowS NAMES THAT wrRE ONCE ATTACHED
TO TEE GOVERNMENT PAY ROLLS.
THE VETERAN CLERK OF THE FoRTIEs.
l. Who had previously given some reminis-
cences Of the departments in his young DAYS.
remarked 70 . STAR reporter: II have not told
You Of the moius operandi of getting an
appointment in those days, have II There
was then no such civil service As now, and
when an administration changed there was
rush made for places, and the greater the
rush the more insecure were those in the
governmental harness. Influence then was re-
CURED to retain q place As well as to obtain
one. That was the rule, but in few instances
persons With nothing to recommend them but
brass or cheek obtained positions. and some
times retained them for years. I re-
call one old man now who. having
followed the drum as member Of
the old Jackson Democratic Association
through the Polk campaign, determined that he
must have place in the treasury. Making an
application and waiting week for an appoint
ment which did not come he took another tack.
MI walker, the Secretary. lived then on Penn
syivanla avenue near 10th street and frequently
walked 10 the Office. The old democrat was
~ AehS uliulIk OUT NAhtf COlfrt
and at once laid siege to him. stopping him on
the street as he entered the building and as he
ieit In fact, the Secretary found IL impossi-
bleto escape him. Finally Mr.. Walker asked
what position he desired. Anything Mr.. Sec
Rotary; any place I'll accept with thanks was
his reply. Will YOU promise never 20 bother
me aghinf asked the Secretary. i will, was
the eager response. Then the Secretary di-
rected his appointment a messenger and he
served as such for years. Lsborers, watchmens
mental positions and were frequently stepping
stones TO higher positions. The watchmens
berths. although paying but 1855 per annum.
were looked upon as plums, particularly by
those whose daily avocations were not inter
rupted by the performance of duty as watch
men. Some who served as such subsequently
worked themselves TO higher positions, few
as high a. the head of bureau.
A FAMOUS PIGEON MATCH.
II forgot TO tell You when speaking Of the
treasury building that there was once fine
shooting on 18th street. The pigeons fairly
took possession Of the portico and disigured
the 'front.' The superintendent was at loss
how TO abate a nuisance. He finally obtained
from the corporate authorities a suspension Of
the Law against shooting in the street and per-
mits were granted clerks and others 20 diminish
the number OF pigeons. The consequence was
that for some weeks every dav before o'clock
In the morning the treasury pigeons were pep
peteu flSSon PIE became great dish 10 look
al, but not to eat, for the larger number Of the
birds were SO tough that il was almost beyond
belief that they had been killed by shot. The
sport was, however, enjoyable. Those clerks
who had had practice in bringing down night
hawks on the hill at 18th street and Massachu-
setts avenue and other parts of the city geper-
ally were OF the most service to the govern
ment In killing of the pigeons. About this
time 1t was customary to say when a clerk was
absent that he was shooting pigeons, or if Of a
bibuious disposition he was after swailows-of
liquor.
THE OLD WAR DEPARTMENT.
81 have told you something OF the State and
Treasury" continued the veteran quill driver,
now let us take glance at the War Depart
ment A new iron fence had been placed in
front OF the Presidents and the War Depart
ment set on a dwarf wall, and Lafayette
Square had been slightly improved by the set
ting out OF a few trees and fenced with post
and rail. There were then no statues in the
square. The grass grew luxuriantly and good
hay was made and sold, and money was appropri-
ated In addition 10 the amount received for hay
cut therefrom. The War Department was then
the northwest executive building and early in
the century had contained not only the
bureaus closely connected with the army, but
Others, the pension Office. Indian bureau and
bounty land Office. Gov. Marcy was at the
time speak, 1876 the Secretary. Lieut.. Col.
Samuel Cooper was his assistant sdjutant gem
eral and Archibald Campbell chief clerk. In
the Office proper there were six clerks but one
OF whom, Mr.. John ID. McPherson. now O we'll
known lawyer Of this city, survives. The In
dian bureau was in the east end of the second
story, with eleven clerks and two messengers
The gallery OF Indian portraits had a short time
before been removed TO the patent Office, and
is now in the Smithsonian. On the first floor
Majo General Winfield Scott had his Office, and
IN an adjoining room were his aids-de-camp.
clerk and messenger. Near by was the adjutant
general, Roger Jones' with his assistants seven
clerks and a messenger. and also Gen. L. s.
Jesup, quartermaster general, with six clerks
and messenger. Gen. Scott then lived on
18th street opposite the treasury, Gen. Jesup
on near 18th, about on the site OF the Lans-
burgh building. and Gen. Roger Jones on 9Th
street between ID and L streets northwest.
The Office of second auditor was on the first
floor. the duties being closely allied with the
accounts OF the department. Gen. John NJ
McCalla was the head, with Josiah +. Polk
chief clerk and twenty other clerks and mes
senger. Among the clerks was the late Hon. W.
II. English of Indiana, democratic candidate
for Vice President ON the Hancock ticket. then
earning u 400 per year and living on Pennsyl-
vania avenue near 18th street. Even at this
day, and in time of peace, the quarters were too
small for the business of the department and
on the west side of 18th street several three
story brick dwellings were in use by the
bureaus Of the department.
THE PENSION BUREAU.
1.-The pension bureau was then presided over
By Jas. L. Edwards. with G. W. Crump chief
clerk, and twelve clerks and two messengers.
Among these were the late French s. Evans,
VIM. Gordon and Charles Hibbs. and think
that of the sixteen all are dead. This Office OF
that day stands in greater contrast with the
present than is the case with that of any
other bureau of the government. the total
number of employees having increased till over
100 are now employed for each one at that
time. Small as the number was then the
force occupied all the rooms excepting two in
two three-story buildings. The typographical
engineers occupied two rooms in one of these
buildings Col. j. j. Albert, then residing on
between 20th and 21st, being at the head with
four clerks and two messengers. Among this
number was the late J. Goldsborough Bruf
The ordnance bureau occupied the third floor
of building on 18th ut. Lieut.. Col. q. Talcott
was in charge with seven clerks and q messen-
ger, and of these but one, n. Adler, is living.
Gen. George Gibson. with six clerks aud a
messenger, comprising the subsistence bureau.
occupied the rooms over the Typographical
engineers.
"Gen. Nathan Towson was the psymaster gen.
ersl, who was located on 18th street. had seven
clerks and a messenger. The medical burea 4,
which OF late years had grown 10 be one Of the
largest, then loca ted on q street above Nth
ThOs. Lawson was surgeon general with Sur
geon II. L. Heiskell assistant, two clerks and a
messenger.
Up FROM THE RANKS.
while many Of the clerks Of this department
were from civil life and had by political iniu-
Al