The Sunday globe., 1901-05-26
the BRIAN COMBINE
Says an Inside Correspondent, Runs
the Government Printing Office.
Fat "Roke off" by the Brian Family.

Washington, May %.
Editor Sunday Globe:
Captain H. T. Brian, with his arro-
CANT, pompous ways and familiar
swagger, to say nothing about his in
imical whistle, is so we'll known to all
employees Of the great Government
workshop that it goes without saying,
amongst the aforesaid employees, that
he lis the whole thing" and not Rick
etts.
True, Ricketts, is the political
hatchet," and when there is to be "a
reduction of force" he is consulted,
and as he is the axman, ne is the all
important one ito see" and the one
always sought for when Influence Is to
be brought to bear for reinstatement.
But farther than this his power isquite
limited. In fact, so much so that THE
GREAT AM, the aforesaid H. T. Brian,
has to be consulted by him in almost
everything that transpires. In truth,
"the Captain" as the boys familiarly
call him amongst themselves is the
we'll recognized head of a coterie COM
posed Of himself and two or three
lesser lights, of whom we may have
something to say later on, who are,
in fact, If not in name, Public Printer,
and nothing is or can be done without
the knowledge and consent of at least
the head of this coterie
Nor is Public Printer Palmer any eX-
ception to this rule, but is as clay in
the hands of the molders, and he
gracefully submits to being nodded in
any shape whatever that suits their
interest or fancy.
True Mr.. Ricketts, comes up
against" this occasionally, and at
times in minor affairs, they apparently
/ let him have his way. But this is only
to keep him feeling good while they
do the milking. And that they do
| the milking" | think I will be able
to show conclusively from time to
time, and in that connection | will,
as an opener, herewith submit, with
such explanations as to me seems re
/ quisite to a proper understanding Of
/ the situation in each case The finan-
cial statement, so far as appears on
the surface, of Captain H. T. Brian,
| his two sons and son-in-law, as shown
| by reference to page 276, Public Print
ers Annual Report for 1900 Captain
H. T. Brian drew for his compensation
as Foreman of Printing" for that fis-
cal year the sum of S2,4999S, or two
cents less than his annual salary, as
fixed by Congress. Just why "the Cap
tain" did not draw the 2 cents the
Public Printer failed to state.
Edward H. Brian, eldest son, drew
from the same source a compensation
of $3.50 per day, or at the rate Of
/ S782.50 per annum, which was raised
July 1, 1900, to 1920 per day, or ST.
! 001.6 go per annum. And in this con-
nection there is quite a little "unwrit-
ten history that will serve to illus
trate just how things can be done in
Departmental life, even under the
"goody goody law" Of civil service,
when some people want Ito do them.
Eddy" as he is usually called, man
aged to break through the Gordon ex-
President Cleveland and the Civil Ser
vice Commission had thrown aroun l
the Printing Office, by having his name
first placed upon the rolls of that in
stitution as a laborer, and then grad
ually being raised or promoted with
out any civil service examination
whatever, until he is now, as afore-
said, receiving $500 per day, which
will without doubt be raised to 81
per day July 1st unless "the gang get
frightened by this or some other state
ment before that time.
r. G.. Brian, another son, managed
in much the same way to get into the
Office and drew S658.75, or a fraction
over $2.02 per day, but is carried on
the rolls as a laborer, though they re-
ceive but 50 per day. The difference,
however, can probably be accounted
for in night work, which pays an addi-
tional 20 per cent. But instead of do
ing laborer's work, he is doing clerical
work in the Office of the Chief En-
gineer, H.K. Collins, while incidentally
studying for a "sun-downer," and
thereby keeping some one out Of de-
served promotion.
Walter L. Priddy a sonin-law, drew
1327.12 in the same manner. Thus
"the Catpain," his two sons and son
in-law are drawing from the Public
Printer the comfortable sum of So
487.47 per annum, and it is fair to sup
pose If he had any more children he
would have more in the Office, and in
cidentally be able to draw more pap
from that source of many blessing, the
United States Treasury. This, of
course, includes none of the supposedly
many prerequisites connected with be.
ing "the boss" of the greatest printing
office in the world, Of which l may
speak farther from time to time, as |
become better acquainted with "the
Captain"
NOVICE,