Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-03-04
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| from Inc districts IN which the post Off1ces an
| located. At the same time il does not Away
follow that the recommendation of Congress-
man OF the correct political persuasion will b
| received as sufficient. In the coming admins
tration former precedents will be set aside Il
an extent hitherto unimagined.
THE TREASURY PLUMs.
The treasury is most particularly the depart
ment Of political plums. Under it come the
collectors Of ports. The collector of customs
at Boston gets as big a salary as the Secretary
himself-uamely, O., 900 year. The collector
at New York draws e12, 900 from Uncle Sam.
The salary Of the superintendent Of the coast
survey is $1,000. A score of collectors Of inter
| nal revenue receive o., 500 each per annum.
The commissioner of internal revenue is paid
$4,000. and q 500 Is the emolument Of the
| supervising architect, the director Of the mint,
the bureau of engraving. The first and second
| controller and the controller OF the currency
| are rewarded with IS 600 annually.
However, the treasury does not monopolize
plums. The DEPARTING mt Of the Interior, over
which the genial Hoke Smith will preside, pos
| sesses few. The commissioners Of patents
and pensions get g., 600 year. The commits
sioner Of railroads receives $4,000, and the
| land Office commissioner and commissioner of
| Indian affairs draw "a. 900 each. The director
OF the geological survey receives $4,000, and
| eight biologists under him are considered worth
| az much as 81 900 piece. Eighteen of Uncle
Sans pension agents cash treasury checks to
the amount of 81 900 for each Of them yearly.
Even at the Capitol there numerous snug
places The wages Of the large corps of SEN
ate employees run all the way from 1886 a
year for the secretary of the Senate down to
| the pages at 80. so day. On the House side
| the salaries are graded from the clerk at g. 600
down to the laborers at 1920 annually.
NOT UNDER CIVIL SERVICE PROTECTION.
All Of these places are at the disposal of the
President. For the benevolent purpose Of sup
| plying definite information to Office seekers
two clerks in the Treasury Department have
| Just published a list of places under the gov
ernment which are not within civil service
lines, and which are therefore subject to APP
pointment by the new administration. To each
OF several thousand positions thus described
the salary belonging to it is attached. The
| reader has only to take his choice and apply
| for what he wants. 1t may be as we'll to men-
ton, however, that according toa careful esti-
mate six persons apply unsuccessfully for Of
fees for every one who gets a position under
Uncle Sam.
BETTER THAN EXPECTED.
1t is true that most applicants for high offices
are eventually obliged to content themselves
with less exalted positions than they originally
sought. But sometimes it happens the other
way. Occasionally it actually occurs that a
person gets big place without asking for it,
though too much faith is not to be placed in the
| assertions Of lucky ones that they have been
elevated to important posts without any solicit
tatlon on their part. A case in point was that
OF . member of President Arthur's cabinet.
At the time of Garfeld's death he CHANGED to
be in Washington on business having no no.
ton whatever of applying for political pre-
| ferment. correspondent of influence on
Newspaper now said to him: "Why don't you
apply for such-and-such place in the cabi-
yaafI IVn l,.I xl.k. kcl
him to do so. But the journalist, who was
his friend. had dispstch sent all over the coun-
try stating that the gentleman in question was
well adapted for the place and that he would be
appointed. And SO he was merely on account
OF that newspaper Endorsement.
PROGRESSIVE OFFICE SEEKERS.
Some newspaper correspondents in Washing
ton WELD good deal Of influence. At the be-
ginning Of the Harrison administration the rep
resentative Of an Indiana journal here was ap-
piled to by an indianapolis physician for
place as examiner for pensions. He secured
the position for the applicant. About month
later he got n letter from a man in Tennessee,
introducing himself rs patient and intimate
friend OF the Indianapolis doctor. He wanted
place in the pension Office. Next came along
communication from a man in Oregon who
wanted an Indian agency. He had received in
formation from the man in Tennessee a rela-
tive of his. to the effect that the newspaper
correspondent had influence Next turned I'D
by mail an individual in New Mexico, who
wanted to be a land agent He an acguaint-
ance Of the Oregon man and introduced himself
as such. This last applicant. having elected q
civil reply, thenceforth regarded the newspaper
man as a sort Of unpaid attorney for HIM in
Washington, to whom he applied for all sorts
Of laborious services. This method Of pro-
gressive Office seeking is not popular on the
Row.
Persistence is often winning card in place
hunting At one of President Arthur's public
receptions appeared paipably rural jay with
goat whskers from Wisconsin. He was an ap-
plicant for post Office, and, having been
showed out time and again without being at
forded an opportunity to see the Chief Execu-
tive, he made up his mind to tackle that august
parsonage as best he could. So. having grasped
Mr.. Arthur's hand, he would not let CO. but
proceeded to shake and shake, talking all the
while about his claims for the post Office afore-
said. 'My good FRIEND" said tho President.
always the most polite Of men, II cannot talk
to you about this matter now; there are 800
people waiting"
"Never mind that" replied the applicant. 81
have tried for weeks to get chance to talk to
you, and have been chucked out every time l
tried to say word. So take this opportunity
to make a few remarks"
Meanwhile he chung to the Presidents hand,
and, because there was no other way to get rid
of him. Mr.. Arthur said:
Come tomorrow and see me-"
The old man at once relinquished his grasp
on the Presidents fist and responded with the
utmost cheerfulness:
"That's all 1 wanted. That Teller who is
standing next you will know enough tomorrow
to let me in. Don't you forget itr'
This last was to the Presidents clerk, who
stood close by. The rural visitor came the next
day and secured his post Office.
Sometimes failure to get an Office is a bless