The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1897-07-07
DENIED A PETTY INCREASE.
Mckinley Declines to Promote
Washington's Grandniece.

mckinley Declines to Promote
Washington's Grandmece.
II it had not been for George Washing
ton, william Mckinley would never nave
been President of the United States.
Therefore, Mr.. Mckinley owes Gen.
Washington a debt OF gratitude. On
July 2, when T0,0O0,00O OF people in this
country We're preparing to celebrate Inde-
pendence Day, celebration only made
possible by the victories of Gen. Wash
ington, Mr.. Mckinley took occasion TO
pay his debt of gratitude to the father OF
his country, and he did it In this manner:
Mrs. Mamie V. wash Egton, grant
niece, OF Gen. Washington, and who mar
ried man bearing her own family name,
is $500 clerk in the Mineral Division
OF the General Land office. She is about
sixty years old, has been for number Of
years very efficient employe, and is
lady, cultured and unassuming. For
years she has struggled along on the very
small salary, hoping US each year passed
she would be promoted to a more lucra-
tive position. SHE Believed that she was
entitled to it, because of her own worth
and also because she is one of the very
few lineal descendants OF George Wash
ington. q, 4
ner patient waiting was rev arded aboat
the middle OF julie, when Miss Mexican,
ST 200 clerk, who ia designated "Secre-
tary to the President to sign land titles
died Miss Mexican had held the office
thirteen years. Under the law she was
appointed to the $1,000 clerkship by the
Secretary OF the Interior, and was then
designated Secretary TO the President To
sign land titles tS- President Arthur, and
was redesignated by each incoming adj
ininis;ration, including the present one.
Soon after this office became vacant
Mrs. Washington saw Secretary Bliss and
asked MIN TO appoint her to fill tue
vacancy. The Secretary was glad to do
something for a descendant Of George Wash
ington, and after asccrtaining that Mrs.
Washi1ctons record was good and that she
was thoroughly qualified for the promotion
he gave her the position.
Mrs Washington was delighted with
the increase Of 5000 a year in her sala-
~, and size drea med of comfort in her "a
age size was told by Secretary Bliss
when he promoted her that tile la W required
the President TO designate her ''secTetary
TO the President to sign land titles" and
that all ne could do was To make her eligible
10y placing her in the 81 200 class lie adj
viSed her 10 see President Mckinley, who,
he had no doubt would axe the necessary
designation.
Mrs Washington, filled with hope and JOY,
fastened 10 the White House and stated the
cause Of heI visit She was not received
with the cordially that is always accorded
Mark Hanna, and, as a matter of fact,
the visit brought sorrow. Sheleft the White
House without the designation, but not
without hope of receiving il within few
days.
Mrs. Washington returned to the General
Land office and reported her want of
success to the chief of the Recording
division, who rcgretfully informed ner
that until the Prcsid e1t granted the
designation she could not sign the docu
ments. and that therefore she would nave
no work TO perform.
For the next two weeks Mrs. Was hin gton
went to her office daily hoping each day
that the designation would arrive, ami
each night she returned to her home more
and more respondent In the meantime,
through the business OF the department the
number of documents requiring the sigma
NuiN VI thc ScCIttdIy " the fTeSlflcnL
To sign land titles" hal accumul ed
until 700 Of them were piled up. and PEG
plcinteTe ted in the n weredai yimpnr,uning
he Land Office for their papers
Realizing that such a condition could last
no longer, the President was officially
notified oft, and he paid hi debt IT, George
Washington for mailing possible his chances
for being President by directing Secretary
Bliss TO appoint maiden sister of the de-
ceased Miss Mexican TO the 81 200 va-
cancy caused by the death OF Miss Mexican,
and then the President designated der
secretary 10 the President 20 sign land
titles" But this was not all, for to make
this appointment Secretary Bliss was forced
to reduce Mrs. Washington to her former
position of 5000 a year.
This change was made July ?, when all
the people except Mrs Washington were
prepar ing to celebrate the immortal words
of Thomas Jefferson and the leeds of
George Washington.