Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1895-08-03

Representatives were without protec-
Gion from this class of constituents. It
was the general impression that a
statesman could get an Office for con-
stitucnt by merely asking for it. There
fore those who were active in political
participation claimed public office as
the reward Of their political services.
Not infrequently the treasury was in
~vaded on this account. The civil-serv-
ice law provided check which abashed
the Office seekers, and proved a protec-
ton to the statesmen. It was also in
tended to prove potential in protecting
good clerks in their places; but in this
particular it was incomplete While
the law prevents indiscriminate APP
pointments, it does not prevent dis
xnissals. 1t provides no alternative for
She clerk, who is removed without
cause. He has no court of appeals. He
must go.
Very many clerks have been dis
missed from the executive depart
-anents during the past, year; and there
IS consequently considerable suffering
an this city by these additions to the
Esrmy of the unemployed. The major
ity of the dismissals have been caused
0y the reduced appropriations, and the
secretaries of the departments have
been compelled by law to make reduc-
tions in the clerical force. 1t is ex-
Geedingly unfortunate that in addition
so removal from Office, many clerks,
who have been for years engaged in de-
F0artmental work, should feel themselves
Inundated by the causes assigned for
their removal. Of course every clerk
Z has had some friend in congress who
has appealed for his or her retention in
office, but the heads of departments
< lave been unable to keep them all and
consequently there can be no reinstate-
a1ents When members of congress
aave asked why their friends have been
dismissed, and others retained, they
are informed that t'only the best clerks
llave been retained" This is an i'm
piled reflection upon the clerical abil-
lties of those who have been removed,
and each of them regards it as deep
humiliation.
There is an old man here -sixty-five
years have passed over his head-an
old man of scholarly attainments and
splendid clerical record, who was dis
Inissed a few weeks ago from position
which he has held for twenty years.
He is too far advanced in life to begin
Tanew in some other kind of labor, and
HE realizes his helplessness. He writes
"a good hand and understands his bust
ness thoroughly, and yet he cannot un-
4aderstand why others should have been
retained while he was sent forth with
nothing before him but gloom and
nothing behind him but an alleged
record for ineficiency. As a matter of
fact, although a good clerk, there are
Others, younger than he, who are more
efficient; who can do more work and
do it better. His removal is not in
Gcnded to be reflection upon him, but
he SO feels it, and told me this evening,
with tears in his eyes and with quaver-
ing voice, that his wife and children
feel the humiliation more lzeenly than
&hey will feel the deprivation of COM
forts and necessities during the coming
winter
This venerable and unfortunate man
As but sample of a class; and it is
large class in this city. Wage earners
an all other places realize the uncer-
sanity of continued employment, the
~caprice of employers, the certainty of
-dhe coming of "a rainy day." and they
ssave money, buy homes, and in other
ways make preparation for the future.
Employees of the general government,
however, although they may at first
bring to Washington with them proper
1deas of economy and thrift, speedily
z1rnbibe and absorb the carelessness and
prodigality of the class of people with
whom their lot is cast. The govern
xnent pays almost twice as much
for clerical labor as any private es-
establishment or corporation can af-
x0rd to pay, and will pay. More
a1TeS, the government always pays the
ee-ployes in the executive departments
regularly on the 18th and the
-S8Gtis of each month. The money
comes from the treasury, and the notes
axe bright and new and fresh. 1t is
1zrst handled by the federal officials.
Tic employees know that as long as the
4govcrnmvat lasts there will never be
GPaT-day skipped. The money viii al