Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1891-07-09
PRIVATE SECRETARY RYAN

d cases tier upon tier in a seemingly in
extricable chaos of confusion. Wooden
partitions disfgure the handsome cor
ridors and the clerks are less comfort
ably situated than in any other public
office. There is a tremendous amount
of business transacted by the various
bureaus of the great department and
every employe is kept busy during Of
fee hours, while quite a number of
them remain after the department
closes, every day, or else return at night
to continue or complete some special
work. The chiefs of divisions, heads of
bureaus, as well as assistant secretaries,
and the secretary too, spend more time
and energy in the furtherance Of the de-
partment business than any of the sub
ordinate clerks in the civil service.
The recently appointed commissioner of
the general land Office, Mr.. Carter, of
Montana, is devoting a great deal of
time and strength to the duties of his
responsible position. He is an organ
izer and hard worker; but has already
discovered that his office is hampered
for room. 1t is exceedingly discourag-
ing and saps the vim and vigor Of pub
lie official to find himself handicapped
by the parsiinonious congress of a
wealthy and liberal people.
One of the most important positions
in the department, and at the same
time one of the most unpretentious, is
that of private secretary to the secre
tary of the interior. Visitors pass and
repass the little ante-room adjoining
the office Of the secretary giving it only
. casual glance. yet it is the working
room of one of the most important
functionaries Of the department. Secre-
tary Noble recently said to me: IF it
were not for the civil service law
would not be able to transact any
business here at all The seekers after
office are SO numerous and so well rec
commended that they almost take the
department by storm" And yet nu-
merors as they are the secretary sees but
comparatively few of them. The ante
room of the private secretary is daily
thronged with visitors of both sexes
and all classes, each individual having
some matter of Importance to
himself or herself. which they desire to
bring to the personal attention of the
secretary; and in a ma ority Of cases
they are after appointments to Office.
The private secretary listens to their
tales of woe, gives them good advice,
asks them to call again, or tells them
that they need not call again as the
secretary will not see them; or, to the
favored few he opens the door and
ushers them into the presence of the
cabinet minister. Many of these call
ers have business which they can better
transact with the assistant secretaries
or heads of bureaus; and the private
secretary directs them in the proper
channel and diSmiSSeS them.
MIR. William F. Ryan. who is at pres
ent acting as private secretary to Secre-
tary Noble, seems to be especially
adapted to the duties of his position. He
has a suave, polished manner, keen in
sight into character, wide acquaintance
and tireless devotion to duty. as well as
loyalty and fidelity in marked degree.
! have known him for long time but
never spent much time in his room un-
til to-day, when his work appeared as a
revelation to me. Probably very few
persons in this city realize the amount
and character of intelligent endeavor
which is daily put forth by this private
secretary. He receives each caller po-
litely, gently, ascertains the name, resi-.
dence and object Of each individual and
disposes of them all with the ability OF
born diplomat It matters not whether