Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-08-12

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the democratic party, II successful at the
next election, to lcgislate in the matter
Of civil service It will certainly not be
done except for the Improvement of that
service. and there viii be return to
methods Of appointment by which places
were given as reward for political serv-
ices without regard to the competency OF
the appointed.
My experience of many years IN this de-
partment convinces me that a good clerk
Is not uneasy about his position or the
char ge Of the administra ton: he relies up
on his record. ability. genticmariy deporI-
nent and devotion to duty to secure his
retention. 1t Is. rs n general rule. the less
competent who elk influence to retain
positions they should never have obtained.
BY this rule you may safely gauge the
merits Of q CLERK: If he Is found attend
Ing strictly and faithfully to his duties.
depending upon his record and ability to
retain his position. he Is q good clerk. If
he Is uneasy and apprehensive every pres
idential election; Is always seeking influ-
ence Of politicians to hold him IN Office.
you may depend upon 1t the government
would not come to a standstill II he severed
his connections with it,
Mr. Jehn W. Thompson.
John W. Thompson. president Of the
Metropolitan National Bank: THE silver
question Is such a voluminous one said
to start in speaking Of its effects on the
interests of the District of Columbia. No
one pretends that the increase Of the sal
aries of the government employees in
Washington is part of the program of
the free silver people. and yet 1t Is ad-
mitted that articles Of consuInption will
be doubled in value. No example Of the
condition 1t Is proposed to bring on could
be given better than that which existed
during the war. The confederacy showed
the result of an inflated currency better
than did the Union side. A man told me
the othsr day that he got his months sal
AIRY. $780, and went out to buy handker-
chief. which cost linn 1860. and he firaiiy
succeeded in purchasing with his salary q
rarity used paper collar.
"Of course all the goods we import would
command double value, as In China and
japan at tine present time"
Mr.. John 4. swope.
Mr.. John A. Swope first vice president
Washington Loan and Trust Company. re-
CARDS the adoption of free silver law as
exceedingly detrimental to the interests of
the District of Columbia
IF there should be q bread famine" said
Mr.. Swope to Star reporter today, land it
were proposed to cut all the loaves Of
bread in two III order to make it go further,
the proposition could not be more ridicu-
ious than Is the suggestion to cut our dol
lars in half in order to get more Of them.
THE interests Of the District will suffer
more than those of any other part of the
country if we should have free silver. In
deed. it IS now suffering The threat
against sound currency Is injuring bust
hess. The thousands of government en-
ployes in this city would continue to receive
the same pay they now get, while every
thing they would purchase would be double
the price they now pay.
Il do not think the sober Judgment of
the American people will permit them to
launch upon so absurd system of finance
as that involved in the free silver ISSUE
The voters have three months to think
ABOUT this proposition, and when election
day arrives 1 believe they will be found
voting for common sense and sound our
rency."
Michael I. Weller.
I'm my opinion" said Mr.. M. I. Weller
to Star reporter, the election of Bryan
and Watson would be detrimental to the
best interests of the capital and nigh:
menace its very existence pro-
viding the communistic planks of the plat
forms were to be carried out; the dema-
gogic cry of high governmental salaries
ANA alarming extravaganza of public eX-
penGftures here have poisoned the minds
OF so many persons west and south against
US to such an extent that We are threat
eLed with big reduction of wages all
along the line. which would be followed by
of the governments obligation
to pay one-half of our expenses and final
ly We would nave to encounter renewal
OF the agitation to remove the nations
capital to some cyclonic location III Ne
braska or Missouri: any unbiased reader
of the Congressional Record for the last
four years must reach similar conclu-
sions, that Washiiigtons position as the
permanent capital of the country would
be positively endangered were the ad-
vocates of Bryan and Watson to be sue
cessful at the polls: may God save the
capital"
Col. o. &. Staples.
Col o. G. Staples. proprietor of the
Riggs House: Il think the District of Co.
luntia would not suffer very much from
the free coinage of silver, for the reason
that We have no manufactures here. 1t
will have little effect government en-
ployes In my opinion. But the general eff
feet Of free coinage l think will be bad.
It will be good for the poorer and mid
die classes, but will be injurious to the in
terests of men with money"
Mr. Andrew Gleason.
Mr.. Andrew Gleeson, who claims the
distinction Of having employed more men
en- public works in the District of Column
bia than any other contractor. does not
want to see a free coinage law added to
the statutes of the country He said TO
day that he had been In business in the
District OF Columbia for thfrty-ffve years.
ana ne had never seen business so dull
as 1t Is at present.
Free silver will injure business in the
District of Columbia" he said to a Star
reporter today. THE prospect that 1t NAV
come is injuring business now The trouble
Is, the people do not know what these pop-
ulists and anarchists are going to do AL
tho .gh I am republican, I would not
hes tate to speak for silver If 1 believed
in it. but l don't believe any good will
cone Of it."
Mr.. O. l.. Pitney.
Mr. Ora l.. Pitney of Pitney & Bradford,
real estate: Zone man in this city has told
me-" said Mr. Pitney. that he would in
vest $1.OO.O0O in real estate in Washington
IL we should have free coinage of silver
and he is well able to do it. too l believe
If we could get free coinage without having
deprecated currency the effect here, as
elsewhere, would be good. l do not know
what the ratio of the metals should be-
but 1t should be SO fixed that dollar of
silver and a dollar OF gold will be exactly
equal. A single gold standard puts US in
the hands of the gold men and Of the for
eign capitalists. If We get silver Presl-
dent and Congress, they will not throw sill
yer OH the country wit hout a regard to
consequences. These men are as patriotic
and have as much regard for the country
as have the gold men,"
GerOmc DcHio.