Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1898-01-19
TIME NO OBJECT.


ss.u.,nsauxw MruxucDanm GkaEe O6RcagRs Are II
NO Hurry.
There is no hurrying in the de-
sentimental buildings in Europe,
observed recently returned Ameri-
can. a department official, TO re
parter, land such thing as 'spe-
ESaa' is not known. No matter or
business can be made special or
rushed through. To get an answer
TO the simplest question requires
from one to five days, oftener the
aatter than the smaller number. /
suppose if any one in high official
position should personally interest
himself in a case he GOULD have 1t
disposed of out of order, but even
then there would be some delay
about it, simply for the reason that
the system operates slowly. In our
departmental business case can be
Mz1d is frequently received and dis
posed of in less than an hour, though
m some instances it has TO go
through a couple and even more di-
visions for action and note before It
ean be acted upon by the head OF
the department. Such cases are
known as red card or blue card cases
and are special They have the
right of way, and routine matters
are temporarily laid aside while
they are being considered and acted
rpon. These specials are made so
ON request, and it does not require
very heavy request either to &C
eoanplish it. There is no depart
rnent that does not have a great
many of them in each day. On the
other side of the ocean things are
run less in railroad fashion and
there is absolutely no interference
or interruption with the way the
wheels go around. In the public
Buildings, as far as / could observe,
business is transacted as it is in the
departments here.
"A certain number of papers out
of the newly arrived mail is handed
around to the divisions to which
they belong and by the chiefs of the
divisions, in turn, assigned to the
various clerks for action and record.
When the work is finished, it is
turned in, examined, signed and
mailed, but everything has to go
through this order. In Berlin / had
a postal matter to look after. On
inquiring at the proper Office for in
formation was told that no per
Eonal requests for information could
be considered, and would have to
reduce my request to writing. This
I did l was then told that the an
Swer would be sent me in about |
three days. l argued that as the
information / desired was a mat
ter of brief record it could be fur
zished me in FIVE minutes, and I |
eeuld save that much time, but the |
didn't go, and I had to
wait.
The answer came in exactly three
days Icould have obtained similar
information at any of the depart
Dents here in an hour at the fur
theSt, for it was a matter that any
clerk could answer, as it did not re-
qaire the action of the head of the
When the answer did
come, it was very apparent that
there was misunderstanding some
gEere, for the answer did not fit my
question. Knowing that I wrote my
somewhat in a hurry, I
that possibly the error was
I'D my side, and I again called on
TIE official and explained, and asked
~ see my letter, TO ascertain if
,lal properly stated my request.
VAS again told to put my request in
writing and that would have an
azasss er in three days. By this time
sSas downright mad, but kicking
41a no good, and / had to wait the
iuil time. When the answer did
1glae, / found that the request and
s5f49 answer were correct as far as
.iaey went, but that had not asked
ss much information as l required.
E3len ] filed another request, and
got the information in exactly two
LAYS ''-Washinotnn Star