Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1893-04-19
4 ooNGRESsMAN'S TIME.
Holr Hon. Hn,. L. Wilson Is IaportWned
by O1lce Seekers.

WASHINGTON, April 12.-The Register
correspondent called to see Mr.. Wilson at
his rooms. 1910 n. street, this afternoon,
fortunately securing a few moments when
he was alone. A glance at his office dis
closed better than words can describe the
immense pressure to which be has been sub
iected since the new administration came
in. And what is said Of Mr.. Wilson repre-
SCENTS faithfully the situation of all the West |
Virginia delegation. On large table IN
front Of him were fifteen assorted piles OF
letters relating to the pOstofices in the nj
teen counties Of his district. Upon the
floor and m the corners Of the room and un- |
der the table we're immense piles of other
letters. part of which had been opened and
briefed. but many Of which were still I'M
examined. In answer to questions pro-
pounded from time to time he said in sub
stance:
II have been in Washington almost con-
stantly since the Inauguration. knew there
would be a large number of my own con-
siituents and others visiting this city who
would desire and who had a right to see me.
/ have accordingly remained here, and for
most Of that time have been closely i'm
prisoned in my Office When get up from
the breakfast table, I find my Office nearly
full of visitors. ONener than otherwise the
stream is continued until late bedtime
As a consequence, l have been utterly una
bic 10 look after my correspondence and,
although I have bad all the time the active
assistance OF one clerk aud part Of the time
If two I have been unable to answer or
even to sort and distribute the letters that
aave been piling in upon me. l have no
doubt there are hundreds OF friends in West
Virginia and elsewhere who are angry at
not receiving prompt replies to their letters;
but am obliged occasionally to admit to
one of these callers that have not seen the
communication he sent me several weeks
ago The contests over the fourth class
postofices are far more numerous than they
were eight years ago. am constantly
asking myself, what right have !, as mem
Der of Congress, chosen to legislate in the
direction of certain lines Of public policy,
10 dictate who shall be fourth class post
masters in my district? And, on the other
hand. bv what right am | made to take on
me the nvidious burden Of deciding among
| applicants, eli of whom are my political
and nearly all Of whom my personal friends
these voluminous aud oftimes bitter postOf-
fee candidates. As to general applica-
tions for offices, my docket, which is as yet
very incomplete, will show nearly two thou
sand Many of these are for high positions,
from chiefs of divisions to assistant seere-
taries, and I verify believe the doctors at
home are prescribing foreign cOnsulates for
all Of the diseases they cannot cure. Here,
for instance, Is the record Of a single coun-
~. which will not name, but it is typical
Of almost all. There are over fifty appli'
cants for places in Washington and more
than half Of them for important aud we'll
salaried positions. Almost all of them are
men aud women who have a reasonable
right to apply for public positions and a
reasonable right 20 expect my hearty sup
port In securing them places Now, if l
were able to take up this list and by extra
ordinary efforts TO secure for each applicant
upon it the place be seeks, | would more
than consume the entire quota of West
/ Virginia under this administration, and
| every other county in the State would be
| excluded from federal positions at Wash
ington or in the consular service Our
friends at home will eventually learn that
there are but few places outside Of those
covered by the civil service law, that can
| be obtained. A few hundred of these, pos
sibly two or three, are for reasonable sala-
ries. The remainder are what are called
laborers and skilled laborers, for which the
pay generally, while sounding large, COM
pared with the pay of country school teach
ers and country clerks, is not large for a
city like this. ought to say that my cor
respondence and my callers are by no means
confined to West Virginia. / have spoken
in various parts of the country, particularly
in the States and Territories of the North
west which have no Democratic representa-
tives. l have received the cOurtesies Of
Democrats i'm all sections of the Union, and
it is natural for them when they come or
write 20 Washington, TO invoke my assist
ance in their candidates., and it would be a
very ungracious thing in me to complain of
their doing so. Nevertheless, as matter
of physical necessity, have been compel
led TO decline many hundreds of earnest re-
quests TO make personal appeals to the Pres
ideut and cabinet officers in behalf of friends
whom I should like to serve.
chad undertaken this, the White House
aud the Departments might long since have
been barred against my opportunities. /
have no doubt my own experiences have
been, in q measure, experiences of my col
leagues also, and assure you that none of
us are complaining although all Of US are
anxious for our friends in West Virginia to
understand that we shall be unusually sue
cessful if we can secure satisfactory places
for one or two IN the hundred who expect