Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1893-06-19


seekers after the important o63ces no
der the control of the trcasury depart
rnene IL In addition To tho demands
for appointments ~ inspectors. collcc-
tors Of customs, collectors of internal
revenue. and other places paying $1,000
Ecr annum and upward. the secretary
Of thu. treasury wcrc obliged To listen
to all of the demands for appoint
racnts in the subordinate places, his
life would become one hideous night
mare In which 0dice seekers would pre-
dominate Fortunately, not only for
the secretary Of the treasury, but for
the public welfare, the chief clerk Is
obliged 10 attend to that branch Of the
ofsicesccking business and l. able To
dispose Ut IL with nentpess and dis-
patch
The chief clerk Of the treasury de-
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-
pcct Ia have their wishes gratifed.
For example, suppose that the comp
troller wants . new typewriter or .
photograph He makes out formal
rcquisiticn for the article. sends It to
tho chief clerk and expects that Official
To stand and deliver at . moments no
tice- Imagine, il you can, the surprise
and indignation Of the great man
when he receives = note from the cbicf
clerk Informing him that the condition
Of the contingent fund Of the treasury
department h such that the purchase
cannot b. made. The great man pro-
ceeds TO the Office Of the chief clcrk in
person. and accomplishes nothing
The Official who u the custodian Of tho
contingent fund explains that the mp
preparation Is = limited one. and can
not be drawn upon too heavily 1t this
season Of the year, or il will not hold
out. II has sometimes happened that
high o@cials have gone directly To the
secretary To secure an order for the
honorinx Of their rrquisition; but even
then they must fail Upon one coca
sion . prominent Official secured an
order from Secretary Window for .
certain requistion and triumphsntly
carried Il 10 the chief clerk. MAI.
Brzekett. who looked at il and said:
That order Is Of no vsiue. The con-
tingent fund il 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 bis
order. That astusc statesman. who
was always = man Of peace. replied:
well. il Brackett will not obey my
order. I do not see what else we can
do. Tie always was . seif-willed
fellow"
Secretary Window knew his chief
clerk. knew that he WAS right, and
thus sarcaxtically ended the matter.
The story soon travelled the rounds al
the department. and no other bureau
officer ever undertook To overrulc the
chief clcriE In such mzttera Logan
Carlisle II capable Of similar firmness.
and If course has the confidence Of the
secretary. II il his duty 10 administer
his Office for the good Ut the entire
s<ervice. and he will do H. But. ~
stated above. the chief clerks who have
preceded him have not been very pop
nlzr with the heads Of bureaus. The
present incumbentis an sffsble. polite.
unprstentious gentleman. and viii
carefully guard the interests commit
t<d a. his care, but. with all bis even.
ness of temper and susvity. IL N no,
likely that he cen maintain entirely
coriiai relations with sfioizls who
want something all the time. when he
must so frequently deny their wishes.
SMITH u. fKv.