The evening times., 1896-08-04
Claim the Right to Name
Their Own Clerks.
NOW UNDER CIVIL SERVICE
President CIeveiand's Recent Order
Extending the Service to These
Strong gAreumentsAgainst It-There
Is Also Social Phase TO Question.

The army pa aymaster is a very considerable
eersonage. He handles many thousands of
uollars every month, and officers and men
look upon him with a great deal OF respect,
as the man who holds the cash-bo His
rank extends from major up TO general.
and no one is received with greater dis
tinction or welcomed with more genuine
giadness than the paymaster, as he makes
a pilgrimage around the various army
posts.
The fun importance ofthe arm ypa ynaster
can be realized, when it is stated that
.Lice'' Halford, successor to Cabinet
Officer Lamont, and predecessor of Mr.
Thurber, is paymaster. with the rank OF
major OF all the offices within the giftor
President Harrison, lie selected IL as the
most desirable.
There are twenty seven paymasters, eX-
elusive of the payniaster- general. They
handle over 10000 600 OF Uncle Sans
money annually, and are responsible for
every dollar that passes through their
hands. They are under bonds ranging from
$4,000 to S35 900 for the proper per
forman nee OF their duties. Each one of them
has a clerk, who is paid 81 400 per year
by the government
ltis because of these Clerks tbatthetw
ty-scven pa ymasters have been paving up
the dry earth during the past few days
Tie civil service army, signing for more
worlds to conquer, has invaded the domain
of the paymaster.
President Cievela nj has issued an order
putting The clerks of the pa aymasters in the
classified service.
Whom n C sfafp1 that rfr p1yQla StPrS
have alwa Us hitherto appointed their clerks
the reason why they are kicking is ap-
parent. They think President Cleveland
has made n grave mistake. They poir:
out the difference between their clerks
and the ordinary department employe-
THE PAyMAsTER RESPONSIBLE.
The government has no relations with
the former except 10 provide for him an
adequate salary. In all things the clerk
is directly accountable 10 the ra yni;ister,
who, i'll turn, is accountable 10 the govern
ment.
The paymaster is accountable 10 the
government for any shortage in the ac-
counts of his clerk, and either he or his
bondsmeD must make it good.
Frequently the paynIaster sends him on
long journeys, TO distant army posts He
carries with them tousanGs OF dollars to
dishurse TO officers and men. II he should
take II into his head 10 gamble the funds
away OF go 10 Canada, the payniastcr must
pay the price. Therefore, the paymaster
has heen IN the habit OF selecting for clerk
some near relative or Trustworthy friend
OF years standing.
The paymasters say that under tile cir
cumstances, considering the exten; to
which they must necessarily depend upon
clerks, they do not think it is right, or for
the good OF the service, TO take the ap-
pointing power out Of their hsn nds and TO
thrust upon them clerks OF whose ante
cedents they know nothing and for whose
honesty and carcfulness they win have to
be responsible.
Since this is 10 lie Gone they think they
should be protected from the consequences
OF any had civil service appointment.
Therefore, there is Il movement on foot
among them. If the order is not resctnded,
TO hav eihe government exact bond
amounting to $1,000 from the clerks TO
guard against loss through possible care
lessncss or theft. There is, of course, no
absolute necessity for this until there is
vacancy Vacancies are not frequent for
payniasters' clerks do not often die and
seldom resign.
There is another objection in the minds
OF the paymasters, compared with which
all those already stated, fade into utter in-
significance. The present clerks are ire
proachable, socially. They can take the
places OF their superors ut any army fuuo-
tion. They have that indefinable, nebulous
thing called social standing. Dives may
hope TO get 10 heaven and realize his hope,
but the man without social standing who
hopes 10 be paylnaster's clerk must hope
In vain.
THEIR SOCIAL STANDING.
This Will all be changed under civil serv-
ice. The Commissioners do not ma Ike social
Standing requisite for passage OF theexani-
nations. This is the thought that fills the
paymasters with dismay. The son of a
blacksmith, or OF a carpenter, or even OF g.
common soldiernight neutrality-suspicious.
as paynaster's clerk. 1t would he im-
possible 10 receive him socially.
The officers wolld he in most painful
predica nent. They would not Inc able to
entertain at dinner, or introduce to their
wives and sweetlearts the man whose duty
II would he To pay them their salary. The
painfulDessof such Il situat ion ca n he realized
even Ivy those who, outside the pale of So
cie,y, and particularly army society have no
knowledge OF The stern, unbendng nature
Of army society's laws.
The only thing that can relieve the situa-
ton is modification of President Cieve-
lands recent order, in SO far as it relates
to The pa yrnasters' clerks.
A Times reporter saw Paymaster Gen.
eral Stanton in reference TO the matter to-
day.. The general is too good a soldier to
criticise superior officer.
He, however, pointed out the embarrass-
incnts which might result from the order, of
which Mr.. Cleveland WAS probably not ad-
yised when he issued the proclamation.
Gen. Stanton said:
The President, in extending the classi-
fled service 10 paymasters' clerks, is car
rying out bis intention of extending the
civil service to all departments of the gov
eminent. 1t is very embarrassing in this
case, however, because the paymaster has
70 have perfect confidence in his clerk.
'Itis necessary to entrust him with large
sums of money, for which the paymasteri is
individually responsible. The payrnaster
usually selects some one he has known
long time, and naturally one in whom he has
great confidence The clerks, as a rule,
retain their positions for years
Then, again. army etiquette is strict,
and it is necessary that the clerk. when
be Is out on trip to the different army
posts. should be received in the same social
way as the paymaster himself
IF, under the civil service, a clerk
should be appointed who is not eligible
socially 1t would be source OF ernbarrass-