The Globe-republican., 1893-07-14

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business as it should have been trans
acted. because he has been obliged to
listen to the demands and appeals of
seekers after the important offices I'M
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 $1,000
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 hideOus night
mare in which office seekers would pre-
dominate. Fortunately, not only fo-
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 - it with neatness and dis
patch.
The chief clerk of the treasury de
partment has never 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 other
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 a new typewriter or
ohonograph. He makes out formal
acquisition for the article. sends it to
the chief clerk and expects that official
to stand and deliver at moments no
tice. Imagine, if you can, the surprise
and indignation of the great man
| when he receives a note from the chief
clerk informing him that the condition
! If the contingent fund OF the treasury
/ department is such that the purchase
I cannot be made. The great man pro-
/ .eeds 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 APP
/ propriation is limited one. and cam
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 a prominent official secured an
order from Secretary Window for a
certain requisition and triumphantly
carried it to the chief clerk. Maj.
/ Bracket, who looked at it and said:
/ THAT order is of no value. The con-
| tingent fund is too low for that ex-
penditure. and / 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 q man of peace. replied:
We'll, if Bracket will rot obey my
order, do not see what else we can
do. He always was self-willec
| fellow"
Secretary Window knew his chief
! clerk, knew that he was right. and
! thus sarcastically ended the matter
| The story soon travelled the rounds OF
1 the department, and no other bureau
! 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.
unpretentious gentleman. and viii
carefully 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 D. FRY.