The National tribune., 1895-06-27

lives in Washington State. This correspondent
informed the Secretary that she had been told
that the Interior Department had allowed
claims OF certain agriculturists in Kansas Oh
account of loss of crops and general hard times,
and that in this way the Kansas people had
paid off their mortgages. She said that she had
q mortgage of s. 900 on her farm and requested
the Secretary to look into her case and send
her check for the amount as soon as possible.
She said she had suffered extremely from the
hard times and that her embarrassment had
been brought about by what she considered
blunders of legislation. SO that it appeared only
just to her that the Democratic Administration
should make the loss good. Mr.. Smith in
dorsed the psper Please send check at once"
and sent it to his private secretary.
4
story about Stephen A. Douglas Ms la.s:y
been revived. He and Beverley Tucker were
great friends during the formers candidacy
for the nomination for the Presidency. 1t is
said that one night after the two had taken a
hearty dinner together their conversation
turned to Douglass chances. Douglas put his
arm around fuckers neck, and said: What
y
am President2" Tucker looked at him a mo-
mcnt. and said: "All want you to do for me-
old man, is to put your arm around my neck
and call me Bev the day you are inaugurated."
II
A large number of dismssals were recently
made from the Pension Office, and it is claimed
that many of these were old soldiers Last
Congress authorized the reduction of the cleri-
cal force of the Pension Bureau to the extent
of 1863. 1t was argued that there were at least
that many suPerfuous employees, or rather
employees who were inefficient, in the Bureau.
The condition of the work and tho number of
claims that waiting action did not in the
opinion of friends of the old soldiers and their
widows, justify any reduction of the working
force in the Bureau. Among those who were
dismissed is the granddaughter of Francis
Scott Key, author of the Star-Spangled Ban
ner," and who was left in very straitened cir
cnms:ances. Commissioner Lochren, in an in
terview, said that in making selection for dis
missals he took those who would suffer the
least hardship by being turned ont, and in
some instances those selected had higher rec
ords as clerks than others who were retained.
Comptroller Eekels was once in the apple
trade. He was but eight years old at the time,
and it was his wont to occasionally wend his way
TO a farmer OF the neighborhood who had an IN
usually fine brand Of apples, and buy basket
ful. and then sell them at ripe advance over
original cost. In this way young Eckels amassed
a boyish fortune. The farmer was an unusual
ly generous man, and he used TO give Eckels
about twice as many apples for his money
the market naturally called for. The old farmer
is long ago dead, but he has son practicing
law in New York. In memory of the old mans
generosity, Comptroller Eckels has seen to it
that a great deal of the New York law business
which had its emanation in his Department
has fallen into the hands of the son. 1t may
be safely and conservatively said that, as
direct result of the fathers liberality, this
in the last two years has made several thousand
dollars, and has been brought into law prac-
tice which will swell his professional earnings
for years to come.