St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1898-12-21

representative western states were Dorm
In New England, Perkins of California
in Maine, Wolcott Of Colorado and War
rem of Wyoming in Massachusetts,, and
Thurston of Nebraska in Vermont.
1t will thus be seen that Ohio, New
York and Massachusetts, furnish % OF
the 90 members of the senate, and that
New England, New York and Ohio com
bined are represented in that body by 30
senators, or just one-third of the mem
bership.
Employment OF Union and Confederate
Soldiers.
There are nearly 1000 clerks and other
employees in the pension bureau, and of
this number about one-fourth are ex-
Union soldiers, widows or sons and
daughters Of soldiers, who fought in
the Union army. A great many of these
clerks have only one leg, or one arm,
and some have only one eye, yet they
do efficient clerical work. There are also
employed in the bureau a number Of ex-
Confederates and the daughters and
widows Of men who fought to destroy
the Union, but these, with very few ex-
ceptions, were appointed during the ad-
ministration of President Cleveland, and
as they have influential political back
ing 1t would be difficult to get themo out,
even though they do not come up to the
standard of efficiency The work OF the
bureau is of that character calling for
much executive ability to properly han
die 1t, much greater indeed than the ham
ding Of an army corps Some idea may
be gained of the work done by the state
ment that during the month OF Novem-
Der the number of pieces of mail mat
ter received by the pension bureau was
$685. 60, and the number of letters and
blanks sent out 175,943.
How a Street Urchin Fooled Bishop.
A few weeks ago there was conven-
ton of Episcopal bishops held here, and
some good stories are coming to light
illustrative of the fact that even high
dignitaries of the church are not ex-
empt from experiences which now and
then befall persons not wearers of the
cloth. A stately, but a good humored
bishop was walking along one of our
principal avenues devoted to handsome
residences, when he espied quite small
boy doing his best to ring the doorbell
at one of these houses, but which he
appeared unable to do.
The bishop stopped, hesitated mo-
rnent and then calling out TO the young
American said: Hold on, my little man,
I will help you," and followed his remark
by ascending the front steps, some five
or six in number, quickly gave the bell
knob sudden pull, which set an electric
bell ringing violently inside the house.
| With the first sound Of the ringing bell
! the small boy dived down the steps, and
as he reached the sidewalk, turned and
| shouted back. Mister, run like h, OF
they'll catch YOU"
The bishop in telling the story, after
wards, said that for moment his pres
| ence of mind forsook him, but he soon
! realized that he was in an awkward pre-
/ dicament, and that he had better gel
away without attempting any explana-
ton, so he lost no time in descending the
steps and briskly walked away without
looking back to see If the doorbell had
|
self in such position again.
Time c ocks In the Treasury Department
Several months ago time clocks were
introduced in the treasury department
and every official except those Whose
commissions were signed by the presi-
dent were required to make use of the
clock on entering and leaving the de-
partment, by slipping a card containing
their number into a slot of the clock
when the hour and minute would be
printed thereon. The old clerks of the
treasury felt Inundated by this new de
parture, and criticisms condemning AS
sistant Secretary vanderlip, who wa.
charged with being responsible for thu
clocks, were fast and thick. There wa
almost a revolt on the part Of the clerks
and the department officials felt obliged
to take heroic measures to check the feel
ing One lady, clerk Of excellent rec
ord, from Massachusetts, was summa
rlly dismissed by Secretary Gage for re
fusing to use the clock to register tn
time of her arrival and departure an,
condemning the innovation. This actor
brought Senator Hoar upon the scene
and he used some very emphatic Ian
guage in abiding to the dismissal, wit
the result that the lady was prompt
restored to her place. The clocks hav
to be watched, to prevent injury, an
one of them recently stopping, an ex
animation disclosed that half pint c
mucilage had been poured into the sic
Congress, at the last session, put
clause in an appropriation bill provldin
that none Of the money appropriate
should be used to pay for time clock
which indicated pretty clearly its oppc
sition, but the treasury officials laughe
and said the clocks had already bee
paid for, therefore the clause was IL
operative The treasury clerks are no
waited to see what congress will &
about it.
Discriminating Against New Englar
Mechanics,
Now that the war has closed, the nav
department is giving attention to resto
ing many vessels to peace appearance
and to this end has sent out instruction
to paint all naval vessels white agai
There are 80 vessels belonging to tt
navy now at the Norfolk navy yah
. ready to be repainted, and this work w
give employment to a large number
> men. Complaints are constantly mat
> that discrimination is made against Il
!, New England navy yards at Boston al
Portsmouth, in favor of the one at No
folk and this appears to be borne o
by the facts, and that southern m
chanics are given steady work at t
Norfolk navy yard, while at the Ne
y England yards regular and constant Ell