Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1895-07-05

y
al legislation the heads of depart
mtnls begin to prepare for it al
the legislation goes on the statute
books, aud by tue time the first OF
the Il Cal year arrives most of the
charges have been provided fol
by transfer or in some Othtr way
AS long as the heads of depart
ments cannot appoint their friends
they prefer 10 fill vacancies with
trained clerks who are leg!slated
out of office in some other branch
OF the government. So the civil
s,rvIce law really increases the
permauency If office holding.
Two things connected with
silver have excited m)re or less
comment, ASIDE from the August
conference of silver democrats
called u M let in w Ishing ton,
The first Is the report that the
worlds supply of silver has b EN-
cornered by a E Iropean syndic ate
tor the purpose of raising the price
on China when she goes IN the
market for silver to pay japan the
war Indemnify. Any raise in the
price of silver will be bentflolal to
tie United States in general, and
to the silver producing states in
particular. The other was a
threat made by are publican silver
senator. to the effect that the
silver senators would combine and
block all attempted political
legislation at the coming session o!
congress, unless the republicans
would promise 10 recognize silver
In their national platform. Such
a combination is easily possible,
but whether 1t will really be made
is quite another thing.
There il cons formation among
the holders OF soft snaps under
the segeral SO callod scientific
bureaus OF the government; they
haven't the lifetime leases they
have long supposed themselves
to have upon their good salaries
and easy work. Six of them have
actually been dismissed from the
office of the Coast and GoOdetic
Survey, and,they and their families,
friends, and MI nerOus social con
nectiOns ale in concert crying
shame at the superintendent for
dismisslng men who haye been IN
Office for forty years, and who ex
pected to die in Office. This is
heavy tragedy for the government
scientists and their relatives and
immediate friends, bot only farce.
comedy for the rest of the world.
Doubtless some of the men EN-.
plOS ed III these so called scientific
branches of the government DO
work worth more than the salaries
they receive. At least, | will not
say they do not; but that many of
them are aren't humbugs and
draw their salaries without render
lDg an equivalent for them is
certain. You shall jrdge of the
employ some of them by a
prominent member of the humbug
CLASS. Calling at his office end day
when the thermometer was sizzling
cOlOred messenger in the nall
informed me that "de professor is
engaged pom stentiffics and can't
Ue disturbed" Having been there
before, insisted upon having my
card taken in to "de perfosSer,"
and succeeded. He sent for me
TO come in-I knew he would;
because | was writing up a matter
be was Interested IN getting before
the public-and this Is what | saw:
A very large room, with high
ceiling, darkened BY heavy shades
aud cooled by an electric tan; a
massive fat topped Office desk, a
leather covered lounge and a half
d ven or more arm chairs. In one
of the latter sat ''de pertesser," the
only person 10 the room, and in
front of him were "sientlffics"
which had been engaging his at
tention. They were: a half smoked
cigar, still burning; a half drunk
mint julep and a half read tIansla.
tiOn of French novel, which !
Just happened to know was of the
very Frenchiest sort. smiled
and no smiled; that was all. We
transacted our business and |
left him to return 10 bis "sien