Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-12-01
THINGS HEARD AND SEEN

The clerks of the government were very
much interested In the outcome of the
election In the Missouri district repre-
scented by Alex. NJ. Dockery While each
man might have been personally interested
I'm some friend in his home district. there
was not man woman who would not
always anxiously inquire after the pros
poets o. Dockery before election, and the
results in his district after election. When
II was announced that there was a contest
In his district there was general hope
expressed that 1t would be successful
Mr. Dockery will have a powerful lobby
against him in the next Congress. and his
contestant will have a host OF unknown
supporters from all Of the departing nts
Mr.. DOckery has always answered the
protests against his new methods as being
the cry OF government clerks who Were
afraid they would lose their places, and
has made other slurring remarks, which
the clerks have resented with some VEN
geance. Now they hope to see DOCkery
left out Of the next Congress, when they
think the proposed reform of which he is
the author will probably fall. OF course
as long Dockery pushes it In the name
of reform. and as long as ii does not per-
sonally interfere with any member of
Congress, IL will not meet with much op-
position.
Some OF the politicians intimate that Mr..
Reed will not be a candidate for Speaker
of the reXt House. because IL may mar
his presidential prospects. 1t is said by
those who do this kind of specializing that
Mr.. Reed would prefer to be the leader of
his party the floor rather than be
Speaker. Presidents, they say, are not
made OF Speakers. But then they do not
consider that Mr.. Reed Is practical, and
that he no doubt believes he can further
his presidential aspirations better from the
Speakers chair than from tho floor of the
House: that IT, II he is a candidate. 1t is
generally accepted that he is, however.
Yet one day last summer. when Mr.. Reed
was cooling himself in front of the Shore
ham. free silver man from the west
came up to him and said: Mr. Reed, you
cannot be elected President unless you
become free silver man." Il have not
made up my mind that l want to be Presi-
dent" drawled the ex-SpeaAer, thus end
ing the conversation. Has he made up his
mind yet?
The vigorous manner in which Theodore
Roosevelt goes about the prosecution of
any violations of the civil service law re-
calls the comment of a Washington news
paper man upon him when he was ap-
pointed member OF the commission In
1850 He stated that heretofore the civil
service commission had been considered as
fifth wheel to the government coach
but that position would not be satisfactory
TO Mr.. Roosevelt, for II he could do moth
ing more he would revolve recklessly in
the middle of the machinery. Those who
remember how he attacked abuses under
Mr. Harrison's as well as under Mr. Cleve-
lands administration will appreciate the
remark. AS a matter of fact, the commits
sion has become much more than q fifth
wheel. A few revolutions of Mr.. Roosevelt
In the middle OF the machinery has made
1t an important function Of the govern
ment.
While the last issue of Good Government.
the official paper of the civil service league,
was being circulated, containing an article
of praise of Postmaster Warfeld of Balti-
more Postmaster Warfeld of Baltimore
was recently before the civil service COM
mission explaining some recent appoint
ments which Were said to be serious in
fractions of the spirit. if not the letter of
the civil service law. The Baltimore post
Office has always been pointed out by CIVIL
service men as the central figure of obnox-
ious spoils The republican postmaster
was investigated and a report made det-
rimental to him. The previous democratic
postmaster also came In for serious criti-
cism. Mr.. Warfield was more of re-
former vet he had some democratic friends
appointed watchmen and promoted to
places recently covered by the recent civil
service extension. Hence his session with
the commission to explain.
A Washington gentleman who was on
one Of the recent returning European
steamers tells a story Of Chauncey NJ. De-
pew, who was also a passenger. The reSu-
lation entertainment was given for the
benefit of the Seamen's Hospital, and Mr..
Depew was among the talent He dwelt at
length upon the time which they had all
spent together and that day were about to
separate, probably not to meet again in
this world and grew quite pathetic, but
added: After reception by one hundred
and fifty gentlemaniy agents of the United
States government. to whom you Will dis
close your innermost secrets. you Will sep
arate and retire to your respective commu-
I'll n IA a
general nuisances Of yourselves by telling
what you have seen abroad, and advising
all your friends to make the trip He then
went on to tell story Of the lack of en-
terprise in Europe. He said that not long
ago a railroad train was "dashing through
Turkey at the rate of twenty miles an
robbed while several bankrupt German
princes wers held for ransom by the bri-
gands, who occasionally sent back to the
friends of the prisoner an ear. piece OF
finger or some other portion Of their anat-
omy to remind the friends that the cap
tured were still safe" and awaiting nego-
tiations. Two weeks later that same train
was going through the same place, having
on board two or three Vanderbilts and
half dozen other wealthy New York men,
including himself, and 1t was not even
stopped, nor was there even hint OF rob
berry Such lack of enterprise on the part
of the Turkish brigands, Mr. Depew said
showed the decadence of the Ottoman en-
pre-
Fourth Assistant Postmaster General
Maxwell failed to tell in his annual report
about one important reform that he has
made IN the postal service. Since he has
had to do with appointments he has been
making women office holders In the fourth
class offices wherever there was a woman
applicant that seemed capable OF doing the
work. 1t Is observed by glancing over the
list that many women have been selected
Probably during the rush when Congress
men were getting some of the spoils so
many women were rot selected, but dur
ing the summer when Congressman wero
out of the city, and the service alone was
to be looked after. Gen. Maxwell has given
the women the best of IL, and il his plan
Is carried out the women Will soon have a
majority of the fourth-class post offices.
President Cleveland does not approve of
private bills to place men on the retired
list Of the army, or at least Senators and
members of Congress who have secured
the passage Of such bills have or
less difficulty in getting them signed. Dur
ing the last session OF Congress three of
these bills became laws without the sigma
ture of the President the same as the tariff |