The Wichita daily eagle., 1896-11-28

Obtain Such a Position Fully Explained
1t seems that there are great many
people hunting all of the public Offices
Of late; and they are SO numerous that
Ii soon becomes bewiidering Every Of
fee in the entire list has been looked at
with hungry eyes, from the cabinet down
10 dog-catcher. One of these is an at
tempt to start uo race for the local
office of internal revenue collector. Col.
". E. Huffman now has that office in
charge, and a letter is said TO have been
recently received by him from an out
side party, asking if he would object to
that party making an applica ton for
the office This staggered the colonel a
little, but he replied thanking the ques-
toner for his kindness in asking him
first. and also stated that he had no
objections whatever. This is only one
out OF hundreds that he has received
since the election, besindes being spo-
ken TO personally by many.
When asked about it, Colonel Huffman
laughed. and said that there were
great many now hunting for office.
Does there seem to be many who are
anxious to crowd you out??''
why, | Isuppose there may be some
who would like TO procure it.
How do they go about the first steps
towards obtaining it, or do you know"
Well" answered he, II cannot tell
you anything about how they are doing,
bSt We are under the civil service, and
/ suppose as long as this law is operative
all the offices which are under it will
remain as they have been. The postal
clerks and mail service generally are
fsixy
change with the administration. All
governmental officers received word
that they were not expected to dabbie
in politics, and /, for one, have not dis
cussed the merits or demerlts OF any
POLITICAL party | have been asked nu-
nerous questions during the campaign
but il has been entirely out of my line
of work, and l have not worried over
il at ali Standing aside from every
thing, politics is not very stable thing.
/ believe for a person, and young man
especially, TO pick out his avocation in
!ife. and 10 stay by that one thing. and
never to dabble in anything else. 1t is
Tot for the best interests of anyone, and
a person cannot do two things success
fuliy at the same time
Continuing upon being asked concern
ing ii, Col Huffman explained that the
offices of the deputy internal revenue
collectors all over the country are, as
before stated, under the civil service.
ANY person can make application for ex-
animation and when the time comes the
regular civil service examination is Ia
ken by the applicants These. after their
papers are checked, are notified as TO
their standing. If they pass in the exam
ination they are placed upon the eligible
list for appointment When a vacancy
occurs-which is comparatively seldom
an appointment is made from the list
of eligibles, who have taken the exam
ination within a year from the time ap-
pointment is made.
There is always long list of eligi-
bles upon the books. and one may be
appointed in Montana to take charge OF
a district in Florida. It is long road,
paved with several rocks. If some per-
son in this city should go through the
usual routine, and get their name upon
the eligible list, the chances are very few
that they would be appointed for the
office in tie district where they reside
IL occasion ally happens, but it is not
often.
l. seems that few people, comparative
ly, understand the workings of some of
these things, and to the aspirants for
offices of this kind this explanation may
be used with profit. The path of the
CfIice-seeker is not a smooth one, and is
very discouraging often to local politl-
clans. To the professional all these
things are well. understood, but there
are large number who are seeking ma
ny of the offices who do not understand
but little abou the machinery of this
class.
Colonel Huffman stated that the wheat
IN the western part of the state is looking
fine ana that enough rain has already
fallen IN give il good start The peo-
pie are relying upon getting a good crop
next year 10 pay off their debts. Stock
is also in good condition, and are getting
considerable grazing off the wheat
fields