The National tribune., 1899-08-31

flows freely in some directions when i'm
portant bills-and some not SO important
are up to be acted on.
| A matter came under my own observa-
ton. A small syndicate of men and women
owned piece of land in the District OF
| Columbia. 1t had been subdivided, and a
street was laid out through it in the plan.
The Treasurer of the syndicate, at one OF
the meetings, brought in the budget for
prospective expenses. Among them was
an item for $1,000 for Legislative pur-
poses. The women questioned. and the
gentlemen smiled. at can not be done,
ladies, without" answered the gentlemen,
who knew the ways"
The money was put up, and the street
wehG through, and the women are still
wondering how it was done. The ways
that are peculiar" permeate every Depart
ment of the Government. Not many
years ago a woman came to me in distress.
For many years she had held position in
one of the Departments at good salary.
She was faithful, capable clerk; her work
had always been very satisfactory. She
divided her salary with two invalid sisters
she was really their support. But day
came when her salary was cut down $500
year by the adviceof her Chief, and another
clerks raised $500, who had herself alone
to care for. Clerk No. went to the 'high
priestess" of the room, and asked for an
explanation. She, very frankly, and
seemingly without compunction, said that
clerk No. entertained a great deal, and
made it pleasant for her comrades, and
she needed it to enable her to do it!
The years did not go by without such
an outrage being adjusted. But what OF a
system that allows such state of things
to exist for month or day? Is this 10th
century civil service?
When you see forlorn, detected, care
worn-looking woman frequenting the Capt.
tol you may know that she is, alone, un-
aided, and uncontrolled, trying to work
her claim through Congress. She has
mortgaged her farm to raise the money to
come, to pay her board while here, to feed
her children when absent, and to satisfy
her agent.
Her claim is just one, but how can that
and millions demand attention? Her Sena-
tor breads to see her, and the Chairman
of the Committee on Claims would be glad
to hide away from her. After a long Win
ter spent waiting, and Congress is near
its close. she is told that her bill will not be
reached, and she had better return home.
She goes to her children, wiser and poorer
than when she came.
Some day, when it is just too late, the
bill will pass. The money will pay the
funeral expenses of the overworked, broken
spirited mother who has struggled alone
to the end for her children who were left
fatherless when their country demanded
a sacrifice.
Akin to all this is the Influence" of
Senator, Representative, or other high
magnate who cuts great figure in the
political campaign. Clerks are promoted,
not for merit-that plays little part when
the dice are thrown for certain position.
Many clerks are jumped by these pro-
motions, who come into the Bureau through
civil service. Being faithful over few
things does not make him ruler over many
things, for the fellow with the two talents,
and inexpressibly ignorant, and drawing
81 800 a year, sits at his desk while the
81, 200 clerk he jumped does the work and
explains the simplest matters to this school
boy.
believe in civil service, but not in the
farce as it is carried on today in Wash
ingtcn. 1t takes more Influence" to get a
position after the applicant has passed
high than it did in the days Of competitive
When will the third house of Congress
be purged? When will the 10th century
civil service be purified? When reaping
where thou hast not sown will be stopped,
and gathering where thou hast not strewn
will not be known in this Republic?
(To be continued.)