The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-05-18
AL CARLISLE'S JOB,
Plenty to Do Besides Testing Furni-
tuTG by Sitting on II.


4 He'll Have Some Big Contracts, and
Will Run Up Plump Against Very
Handsome Defciency-He's a Good
! Man to Stand In With.
| From the Pittsburg Dispatch
Washington, May 13.-The borrowing
| of government furniture for private use
is no novelty. 1t has been a common
practice in all of the departments at
\ Washington. The present scandal in the
weather bureau has merely called atten-
/ ton to phase of very ancient abuse.
| The courtesy of the civil service has
usually permitted officials to transfer to
their homes such articles as typewriters,
desks and easy chairs for their conven-
fence in doing supposed extra work out
of Office hours. The same principle is APP
piled to oriental rugs and fancy parapher-
glass, ink-bottles. A former chief
clerk of the postoffice con-
veyed to his dwelling a 5000 clock, which,
for years, adorned his drawing room man
telpiece. A certain well-known army of
| tcer now has at his residence a handsome
walnut wardrobe belonging to Uncle Sam
Having acquired it originally for public
] IL y
This sort of thing is done by getting an
order from the chief clerk for the transfer
OF such and such an article of government
property to the officials dwelling. The
order serves as a requisition on the prop
erty clerk, who sees that the piece of
furniture is delivered. A record is made
of its delivery at the house, where it re-
mains until it is ordered back to the de-
partment. Commonly, however, it is for
gotten.
Al CARLISLE HASN'T ANY SNAP.
The post of Inspector of furniture is
one of the most important places in the
treasury. Col Swords, the recent in
cumbent, has Just been succeeded by AL.
| Carlisle. This functionary attends to the
furnishing Of all the postof1ices, court
houses and custom houses in the United
States, as well as the sub-treasuries and
one barge Office, at New York These in
clude about 220 buildings. Twenty-Five
more are now in process of construction.
| When the supervising architect gives
notification that such public building is
within ninety days of completion-sup-
pose, for example, it is at Oshkosh-the
inspector of furniture goes to that town
and confers with the government officials
who are to occupy the STRUCTURE when it is
finished.
He talks matters over with the post
| master, the collector of internal revenue,
the collector of customs the United States
attorney, the United States judge, the
United States pension agent. the railway
mail superintendent, the land officer and
the official in charge of the weather sta
ton. They say what they require in the
way of furniture, and the inspector tells
them what they can have.
SEEING THAT THERE'S NO CHEATING.
There is usually some difference be-
tween the two estimates Tho
makes out list of what is required for
the proper equipment of the building and
on his return to Washington the Secre-
tary of the Treasury approves it. Next
the inspector submits his schedule to
the manufacturers of furniture, and
they bid for the contract, which
includes carpets and gas fixtures. OF
course, the lowest bidder gets it. The in
spector furnishes plans and specifications
for every article. The stuffing in chairs
and sofas must be all hair and no moss,
and the marble used must be the Knox
vile Maiden Blush, highly polished, etc
When the wood has been prepared and
cut into pieces for the construction of the
furniture, the inspector visits the factory
and looks it over. If any of it is not
satisfactory he rejects it. When it has
been made up into desks, ia bles, chairs,
wardrobes, file cases, etc, he visits the
factory again, bringing with him the
drawings ana pecluCaIlOnS.
On this occasion he examines minutely
each piece of furniture ANY articles not
found satisfactory he throws out. If he
chooses he can reject the whole. His re-
port being approved by the Secretary of
the Treasury, there is no appeal for the
manufacturer. Such things have hap
pened many times. When Col Swords
was inspector he compelled a certain con-
tractor to spend about $500 in rectifylng
certain defects in "A lOf Of dpclxS
HOW COL. SWORDS GOT ALONG.
subsequently the contractor said to
him: THAT was pretty rough deal you
gave me on that contract, colonel"
''It was pretty rough deal you gave me
in the shape Of DESKS" replied Col.
Swords.
Il own up that it served us right" adj
mitted the contractor, scratching his
head. THE fact is, we thought we could
skin through on it, but you were too sharp
for u.s."
From what has been said 1t will be seen
that the inspector is a power. His place
is one of the most agreeable in the pay of
the government. Federal officials and
contractors are all anxious to be agreeable
with him and to win his favor The 220
buildings all over the country are con
trOlled by the treasury. The secretary
appoints custodian, for each one, who
employs his own subordinates From
time to time the inspector visits the build
ings and reports on their condition. For
this purpose he goes to New York half
dozen times a year, TO Chicago nearly as
often and TO Boston least once a twelve |
month. His travelling expenses are paid
by special appropriation of congress.
The furniture is constantly wearing out
and in need of renewal The federal build |
ing at Chicago has called for S6O, 900 worth !
III the last four years. The contractor
must pay all charges and deliver his goods, !
placing them in the rooms where they arc |
wanted.
AL. WILL HAVE DEFICIENCY.
The treasury gets about 500, 900 year
from congress for furniture This year
the appropriation is cut down 10 $50, 900. |
The sum allowed Is never enough for the |
purpose, and there Is always a deficiency |
Of 10000 Or $4,000. This does not operate |
economically. In 1889 and 1890 half a |