The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1893-07-14

seekers after the important offices un-
der the control of the treasury depart
ment. If in addition to the demands
for appointments as inspectors, collec-
| tors of customs, collectors of internal
revenue. and other places paying 81, 600
per annum and upward, the secretary
of the treasury were obliged to listen
to all of the demands for appoint
ments in the subordinate places. his
| life would become one hidcous night
mare in which office seekers would pre-
dominate. Fortunately, not only for
the secretary of the treasury, but for
the public welfare, the chief clerk is
obliged to attend to that branch of the
officeseeking business and is able to
dispose III it with neatness and dis
patch.
The chief clerk of the treasury de-
partment has rever been popular with
the heads of bureaus in the big de-
partment. When the comptroller of
the currency. the solicitor general. the
commissioner of customs, the commits
sioner of internal revenue, the register
of the treasury, the auditors and ether
great men who have been appointed by
the president, want anything they ex-
pect to have their wishes gratified.
For example, suppose that the comp
troller wants n new typewriter or a
photograph. He makes out formal
requisition for the article, sends it to
the chief clerk and expects that officia
to stand and deliver at a moments no.
tice. Imagine, if you can, the surprise
and Indignation of the great man
when he receives n note from the chief
clerk informing him that the condition
of the contingent fund of the treasury
department is such that the purchase
cannot be made. The great man pro-
ceeds to the Office of the chief clerk in
person, and accomplishes nothing.
The official who is the custodian of the
contingent fund explains that the ap-
preparation is limited one. and can
not be drawn upon too heavily at this
season of the year, or it will not hold
out. 1t has sometimes happened that
high officials have gone directly to the
secretary to secure an order for the
honoring of their requisition: but even
then they must fail. Upon one occa-
sion n prominent official secured an
order from Secrcta-y Window for
certain requisition end triumphantly
carried it 20 the chief clerk. Mai.
Bracliett, who looked at it and said:
THAT order is of no value. The con-
tingent fund is too low for that ex-
pcnditurc. and l will not obey the
order" The high official went back to
Secretary Window with the report that
the chief clerk would not obey his
order. That astute statesman, who
was always n man of peace, replied:
"Well, if Bracket will not obey nv
order. do not see what else we can
do. He always was a self-willed
fellow"
Secretary Window knew his chief
clerk, knew that be was right, and
thus sarcastically ended the matter.
The story soon travelled the rounds of |
the department, and no other bureau |
officer ever undertook to override the |
chief clerk in such matters. Logan |
Carlisle is capable of similar firmness,
and of course has the confidence of the |
secretary. 1t is his duty to administer
his Office for the good of the entire |
service, and he will DO it. But, as |
stated above, the chief clerks who have |
preceded him have not been very pop |
ular with the heads of bureaus. The |
present incumbent is an affable, polite, |
gentleman, and will |
guard the interests commit
ted to his care, but, with all his even
ness of temper and suavity, it is not /
likely that he can maintain entirely |
cordial relations with officials who |
want something all the time, when he
must so frequently deny their wishes
SMITH ID. Fry.