Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-04-15

especial attention to their meaning, and when
he got through his days work he dropped it
oat Of his mind.
Some o: the applications for misunderstanding
which reach NJ. B;sseil are very odd. One nan
has sent in bulky petition embracing several
thousand signatures. bound most Handsomely
in leather and let:eTod in gilt on the outside.
Every alternate page OF the volume Is photo
graph Of scenerr In the west. TIE pictures arc
really beautiful. representing all Of :he mos;
striking features OF that part OF the world.
from the canyons OF Colorado and the geysers
Of Yellowstone Park to the salmon fisheries of
Alaska. These render the document attractive
and 60 so far to relieve the mono.ony Of the
lists of names that the appointing authority is
expected to regard tire appeal With more favor.
Mr.. Wanamaker, who greatly admires original
ideas, would have been very likely TO give to
this man the place he wants. Whether or not
he will get il remains as vet to be seen. An
other petitioner bases his claim the ground
that he has eight children, six of whom have
had typhoid fever and the remaining two some
other contagious disease.
The private secretary of the Attorney Gen.
eral is William c. Endicott. IT., son OF the for
mer Secretary Of War. He is thirty-three
years old. rather tall and ack-bearded, with
good deal Of the froideur and want Of ease
Of manner which were remarked in other
members of his family when they lived in
Washington. He is q lawyer and has been in
the Boston Office Of his father. who is an old
friend Of Mr.. Olney. Most OF the Office seekers
who besiege the Department Of Justice are
attorneys, anxious for appointments as United
States attorneys and marshsls. An amusing
story 10 told Of . man who wanted to be made q
United States marshal not long ago. He went
TO see the person who had Just resigned the
place which he desired. Said he:
81 suppose you don't mind nv axing you
what are the-er-emoliments of this position?"
"Not at all, replied the recent incumbent
The salary is s20O year" He did not add
that the pay.of such Offices is mainly in fees.
1.-TWO hundred dolars!" exclaimed the candi
date in surprise. But amt there no pre-req'
uisites?''
Yes" replied the other gravely. 81 should
say that fair knowledge Of the English Ian.
guaee is or should be one Of the prerequisites
"You don't say" said the applicant. .But
didn't know that this government employed
any United States marshsls in England"
The private secretary Of the Secretary Of
Agriculture is q real baron. His name is J
Sovereign Charleson. He is a Swede BY birth
and came to America eleven years ago, having
been graduated from the Schoo, Of Liberal Art.
OF Gothenburg. For awhile he was the conf.
dental man of Judge William R. Day, the en-.
inent Ohio lawyer, managing his private bust
ness. He himself stadied law and WAS about &c
be admitted to the bar when he accepted g
place two years ago in the adjutant's generals
office Of the War Department. BE was recon-.
mended TO Mr.. Morton by Judge Day and
other friends who were acquainted with his
capacity and reliability. He is about thirty.
eight years old, dark and decidedly bald. Prob
ably there are fewer applicants FOR Offices in
tho Department Of Agriculture than at any
other department. except that of justice. Even
here they swarm. however. There are uumer-
Gus demands even for :he scientific posts,
though they are supposed TO be out of poll
tics The number OF people in this country
who imagine that they are scientists is astonish-
ing Most Of them consider themselves COM
petont to conduc: any branch of the depart
ment, from the bug bureau to the division Of
vegetable pathology.
few miscellaneous facts respecting Office
seekers may no. be out Of place in this connec-
ton.
Secretary Herbert and Secretary Hoke Smith,
being from the south, are naturally most
urgently harassed by the colonies and majors.
The Departments of War and Navy have each
bad about 1000 applicants thus far, though
they have very few places to be filled, neither
being ''in politics.
All applicants want to see the Secretary per-
soncIly. About one in ten succeeds in doing So
1t is almost impossible For anybody to get past
the private secretary unless he is escorted by a
Congressman or has with him G really valuable
letter Of introduction, which the private secre-
tary reads before granting admission.
The people who are most anxious to see the
Secretary personally are as a rule Just .he ones
be does not want 10 zee. Once ii a while one
OF them oilers bride TO the private secretary,
but that method does not work.
There seems to be general and widespread
impression that the government is organized
for charitable purposes, and that the plea OF
need on the part OF an applicant should suffice
to procure employment. II is not o fact that
the departments at Washington are institutions
for taking care of the helpless
II seems hard that SO MANY men who do not
ask or work for anything should obtain appoint
ments. The truth is that the administration
wants officials who are able. Persons Of ability
have usually managed to succeed in life and
successful men ere not very numerous among
Office seekers.
1t is a fact that few citizens Of Georgia have
refused to accept places in the Department Of
the Interior, Notwithstanding the alleged hunger
for Office of people from that state.
Nearly every one who asks Secretary Carlisle
for place apologies for augmenting the crowd
which besieges his office. He always replies
cheerfully:
I'VE didn't object to your crowding at the
polls on election day