The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-08-22
Carter Works the Fat Frying Process
in the Departments at
F.. Washington.
Assessments for Campaign Fur
poses Will Be Paid When
ever Wanted.
The lCivil Service Rules Mako Collections
From Government Clerks Very
Delicate Matter. =.

visit to Washington last week, when all the
Dig republican chiefs were away has stirred
up much speculation and gossip, especially
IN tho departments. Old clerks who have
been In office during presidential cam
paiRns and new ones who have read about
tho big safes at republican headquarters
were not slow in declaring that he came over
70 hx the dividend to be declared and to ar
range for its collection. Chairman Carter's
calls At several of the departmsn snts and his
conferences with q number Of prominent
officials was sufficient to start all sorts of
reports. Chairman Carter, too, was In
clned to surround his movements with
mystery, and this fact only served to
strengthen the suspicion in the minds of
the clerks The civil-servioe circular warn
ing clerks against the payment of political
assessments has made the task of collecting
campaign fund q difficult and delicate
matter, and Chairman Carter has rscoR-
nizsd that any bungling in this work would
be fraught with serious results. Rather
than trust the mission to any one else. he
came over to Washington, it is said. to con-
Ter with the department chiefs on this sub
ject.
While here Carter went to his old Office
in the department of the interior to be pre-
senisd with $3.50 gold watch and chain.
There are about four hundred Gle rks in the
department and all had been asked to con-
tribute. Several rebslled against 5O-oent
assessment, bat the amount was raised and
the presentation took place. There was a
half holiday in the department.. and this
worth fho~,
said, 20 they didn't figure they were out
much. A chief of division made the pre-
sentation speech in tho presence of about
two hundred Of the clerks, and Carter re-
sponded, telling the clerks how excellently
the department had been managed by him :.
self. OF course they helped to make his
admlnistration success he ssid and they
all smiled and forgot about the 80. cent as
sessment.
After the ceremony was over two Of the
woman clerks standing alongside of Chair
man Carter asked if there was anything on
the watch. meaning an inscription. A tall,
thin, 81, 200 clerk. who was examining the
$3.50 watch. replied: II guess not. Ii was
paid for in cash." Everybody smiled, ex-
cept Chairman Carter, who was examining
Tue contents of blue envelope. some one
said It was check. but Chairman Carter
said it wasn't. He ought to know. The
Office for chat about How nice Mr.. Car
ter 10 looking" II wonder how he's get
ting alongp" II wonder il he will come
back in November?" and other subjects of
feminine interest. The men clerks went
out to smoke in the halls and half a dozen
found mueh amusement in watching the
colorsd lads shooting oraps'' on the gran
lte steps. No work was done in the big
white building after two o'clock.
During the afternoon Chairman Carter
had long conference with Gen. Michener
about Indiana politics. Michener is Harri.
sons personal representative during Gen.
News absence abroad, and Garter was
anxious to learn his views. Garter wants
to have the campaign opened in tho Hoosier
state without delay, and gave Michener
some points that set the Indiana lawyer to
thinking hard. Carter visited the war de-
partment later in the day and saw several
heads OF divisions in Secretary Elkins'
office, Elkins himself was not in town.
One of the clerks in the land office said
that a. soon as Carter left the building two
clerks were set TO work writing out list of
the clerks and their addresses. He had no
doubt that "contribution'' circular would
be sent out within the next week.
Chairman Carter was not in particularly
talkative mood. He said in general way
that he thought the prospects of republican
success were good. and that New York
would be carried by the republicans by 30
OOO majority. He thought PlatA would be
brought into line shortly. He said Platt
would not 60 on the committee, but he
would take the stump and make some CAM
paign speeches. When asked what the
hitch was. Mr.. Garter scratched his beard
and said nothing.