Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1893-05-02
CAPITAL GOSSIP.
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II one needs 10 b convinced that
once seekers 1t present In Washlngton
are legion, he shouh live opposite the
residence Of Q member OF Cougress OF
the Democratic persuasion and note the
people who daily ring bis doorbell.
They begin 1t . O'Clock In the morning,
and there 70 hardly let-up until DARK
ness obscures the view. No one can
watch this stream Of people and realise
that each person 70 granted an interview
without concluding that member OF
Congress earns his 5000 . year. One
can almost tell what Offices these visit
ors want from their personal appear
ance. The applicant Tor the country
post ofiics, for whom life at homo COM
mences ct daylight, 70 the hrst caller.
The most casual observer would recog-
nize that he 10 not city bred. His clothes
are not good At, and are rather worn
and inclined to be shiny; his overcoat
was In style several years ago, and one
would hardly dare guess at what time
the well-worn tile was In vogue. He
wears heavy beard, and has q rather
shaggy and unkempt appearance, and
ne pulls the bell with q Jerk ~ II he In
tended to take Il away with him. When
the door Il opened he rushes past the
maid o. n he owned the house. There
Il no chance to tell him mot 1t home"
Ills visit Il generally long one, and ne
comes out smoking q cigar from the
members stock, with an expression on
his face happy or detected, according TO
the encouragement received.
srh. onttcs a. for mat m, A hina cOu-
stitute, however, only q small proper
ton OF the Office seekers. There are
under the government $50 consulships
and only IS foreign missions. For these
minor agencies OF Uncle Sam abroad not
less than 10000 persons have already
put 10 requests. They come from all
the states In the Union. Many OF them
send their photographs, imagining that
In this way they may produce favora-
BILE impression and sometimes they for
ward llkenesses Of all the family, includ-
Ing the babies. The applicants for con.
sulships arc 90 numerous and perslsten!
that they require great deal OF official
attention. One OF them has mentioned
In his petition that he "deslres to bt
near the art centers Of Europe" because
his own talent requires cultivating. Hl'
papers are accompanied by an elaborate
drawing, which represents the President
and the members Of his cabinet grouped
about fab pond. All Of them have Sc
cured fab, Ia the shape Of offices, while
the petitioner himself Is sitting on the
bank waiting for nibble from finny
denizen of the pool labeled ''consulship.'
Some of the applications for postmas
terships which reach the new Postmas
r-General by mall are very odd. Ont
man has sent In q bulky petition EN-
bracing several thousand signatures
bound most handsomely In leather ant
lettered In gilt on the outside. Ever!
alternate page Of the volume IL photo
graph Of scenery In the West. ines
pictures are really beautiful, represent
| Ing all OF the most striking features o
that part of the world, from the canyon
of Colorado and the geysers Of the Vel
lowstone Park to the salmon fsherie
Of Alaska. These render the d0cumen
attractive In q degree, and 20 30 far 3
relieve the m0n0tony OF the list Q
names that the appointing authority
expected to regard the appeal with NOR
favor. Another petitioner bases hi
claim to Office on the ground that he Ia
eight children, six Of whom have had ty
phoid fever, and the remaining two som
other contagious disease.
, Regarding the appointment OF pensio
examining boards, of which there al
900 or ZOO throughout the country
. each being composed OF three physicians
Secretary Of the Interior Smith IL ~
! credited with having declared that b
! will not appoint to these positions an
OF the older physicians. As rule the:
boards have been composed Of the olde'
, physicians In the districts over whic
they have Jurisdiction, and II Is said
I be the intention Of Secretary Smith
now MI these places with much yOungt
men. He says he hopes It will not !
! necessary to appoint any man who
: over thirty-iive years Of age, and that
: every instance the preference will |
given to young college graduates VIII
. yet have their regulations and practices
/ to gain. Exactly what Is the full meal
Ing and object Of this policy no or
, seem, to clearly understand.