The Sunday globe., 1901-05-05
Department Chiefs.

prerogative of England's King in their
official signatures, have had a partial
call down, At least the chief clerk of
the War Department, "Schofield," as
he was wont to afiiX his signature to
public documents, was brought up
with round turn and compelled to
attach his full name.
1t is alleged that the Secretary in is
suing the order was NOV ed by envy OF
chagrin, inasmuch as owing to the sug-
gestiveness of his cognomen he could
not attach the euphoneous name Of
Root" That Elihu softens the sugges-
tiveness of Root, is a matter of opinion.
However, Mr.. Schoheld has had. and
very properly, his ambition sternly re-
buked, and edward ReXn can now
enjoy the monopoly to himself.
Burns must have had the Washing
ton Departmental chiefs in his minds
eye when he penned the oft-quoted
lines:
o, would some power the gift to gee us
To see ourselves ms others see u.s.
Theabsolute powers assumed by these
professional tax eaters and their cool
airs Of superiority can be likened only
to the mythical hotel clerk, the para
graphers were wont to indent the
funny columns of their papers with.
The nerve" bureau chief exhibits
in posing as something other than the
persistent and professional office-hunt-
ing creature that he is, would be ANUS
ing were it not di-gustingly offensive,
by reason Of the unbridled license un-
wisely allowed him to dOlnineer over
andoppress the gentlemen whose neces-
sites compel them to serve the govern
ment in clerical or humber capacity.
The public at large can hardly imag-
Inc the lUrdly isolation of bureau chief
during office hours. The frigldity of the
atmosphere in his immediate vicinity
discounts the coldness Of dog s nose
or a North American seal. 1t freezes the
genial currents IN the awe struck clerks,
who invariably or intermittently sus-
pend their breathing from time to
time, to prevent fog.
Nobody Of less dignity than United
States Senator and of less virtue than a
handsome female clerk, dare approach
the en- eff with bearing less deferen-
tial than a coolie Chinaman towards a
red .buttoued Mandarin or a South
African Hottentot Kow towing be-
fore the rampant illustration in a book
beer Sign.
The Ramessis expression in the eyes
and features Of department chief are
alone known to the insubordinate clerk !
who has had the temerity to meet his !,
gaze while writhing under sarcasm
as refined and keen as the leading |
"leddy's" in a living picture show; but
his most dangerous mood is when in
his Robinson Cruso solitude of volceless
scorn, he annihilates with a look every
living thing-with the exceptions here
tofore noted
The obsequlousness of the scyophant
is another side of this picture of tin
god on wheels. No subordinate clerk
who ever curried favor by tale bearing
and cringing to his chief can equal that
symbolical type Of dem-god in the
presence Of the appointing power that
made him, Here this jungle lion be-
comesa whining Jackal, this "Tyrant of
Syracuse fawning helot and his
bearing shriuks and dwin.
dies into the most diminutive proper.
tons-his whole tout ensemble, is
apologetically, pathetic for being alive
He purs where he roared, he smiles
where he frowned threatingly
and his suavity, acquiesence and sub.
discounts the shadowy and
skulking figure of a Partisan vender Of
obscene pictures.
We know the animal in all his moods
and lenses, for we have had the singu-
lar experience of being his subordinate
and his master, or at least his co crea. !
tor, as it takes the several orders of the
higher pow ers to manufacture typical
chief.
We have spurned his fawning as we
have defied his threatening poses;
both by the standard of
an American manhood and citizen.
ship, to which he is stranger and foe,
and on which he is libel when he as
,umes the role Of the one or the other.
While we do not proclaim it to be our
special mission to effect the absolute
reformation in this as in the other
abuses which time has almost legiti-
mitized and occasional flashes Of resent.
ment have alone saved from solemn
we do propose and prom
ise to thoroughly groom and thrash out
the fragrant and conspicuous exhibit
tions Of bureaucratic insolence and
swelled head among the high salaried
public servants, who take advantage Of
or utilize their little brief authority"
to oppress or maltreat their fellows,
holding minor or subordinate positions
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