Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-08-17
NwAsHINGToN MATTERS.
Passing of Long, Bridge-Social las-
tinction Among Women Clerks.

The historic Long bridge. during
the Civil War the chief means OF
communication between the North
and the South, is soon to disappear.
Congress has made provision for ITS
disbursement by a memorial structure
that shall stand as an ever present re-
hinder of the reunion of the states.
A board Of army engineers has already
begun the task of harmoniZing con-
hicting interests. The structure which
is to be replaced is built of heavy
timbers. 1t is a solitary reminder
that the age of iron and steel is not
very old, is. in fact, still in its in
fancy. even if one of its developments
is the understated billion dollar steel
corporation During the war millions
Of soldiers crossed and recrossed tie
Potomac by means of the Long bridge.
1t was the national bridge of signs
for the thousands and thousands of
relatives who went to the battle:ields
and hospitals of Virginia TO hunt ""au
and wounded soldiers.
The clerks and employees in the GEN.
sus office are an amusing lot. They
are all soon to be on an even footing.
IL footing there be in the Slough of
Despond represented in this case ny
the certainty Of early dismissaD. and
vet there is an animated discussion
going on whether an employe doing
clerical work is not better socially
than one who operates tabulatcd
machine. The clerk appointed as 4
skilled labCrer at $50 month is sure
she is much better than the tabulotor
who gets SIS month and is rated as
clerk. Both agree. however. that
they are so far above the girl who
puches holes in cards such as the
tabulators use, even if the puncher is
a 81 600 a year clerk. Everybody has
persuaded herself that the girl who
sorts the punched cards isn't much.
But the pariah of the whole office is
the girl who works in section q.
The others call that the hospital or
asylum for feeble minded. because II
is an office impression that that is
where clerks are sent when il has been
demonstrated that they are not fitted
for either writing tabulating. punch
ing or sorting.
The head of the United states fish
commission is known to his Subordi-
mates as ''the boss sucker" \ nimble-
witted Irishman made the title stick
One day n raw Dutchman who wanted
work as a laborer came along. The
Irishman tlippantly and impatiently
told the solemn Teuton TO ask the
boss sucker in the office about it. The
German took his advice. "Miste'
Boss Sucker. | want schob. SAID
Germany. addressing Commissioner
Bowers. You do, eh?' inquired
Bowers. loking sternly at the appli-
cant. in whose face there was no cVl-
dence that he might know there was
something wrong with the title. wv NJ
sent YOU here" Il don't know val
heos name is. but he is yust oud'
der. I will ask heem." The German
stepped out and returned in a mn
ute. He said it was Mullethct rn'
dot YOU know him veil" This answer
Modified the commissioner and M
started the laugh at his own expense
The German got the job. the 1rishmar
is still on the payroll and the com
missioner no longer regards his un
official title as offensive.
Members of the House Of Repre-
sentativeS think almost as much o
the old desks they have been usin'
as of their seats. Nearly 800 Of N
ISL members have applied to Cleri
Mcdowell for the old desks. The OLE
furniture is to be sold by McDoWel
and these Representatives think $
much of their desks that they ar
willing to buy them at whatever N
market price may he. Mcdowell is t
ascertain that price by selling N
unreservcd seats at auction. IN
average thus obtained is what IN
members in love with the desks the
sat at while voting on importin
measures will have to pay.-littsbu"
Dispatch.