The National tribune., 1902-07-17
AM INTERVIEW W1TH TEE coMM1ssIoNER

An INTERVIEW WITH The COM0lSSlONkh
Commissioner Ware, strikingly unlike
his predecessor, has kept carefully out OF
the newspapers since his entry into office
Differing most markedly-and most for
tunately-from Mr.. Evans in this as il
most other things, he conceived it to be
his duty to thoroughly acquaint himself
with the workings of his office before be,
ginning to talk for publication. 1t will be
remembered that Mr.. Evans contributed
nearly Il page to the New York Sun be-
lore the ink on his commission was hard
ly dry. Commissioner Ware has applied
day and night and Sundays to familiariz
ing himself with the rules, methods. work
ings and personnel of his Office. He has
Studied and is studying every law. every
rule, every method, and every clerk in his
office with the greatest care. What con
clusions and policy may result from this
the future will tell, but so far he is en-
titled to great credit of earnest and consci-
entipus study to fit himself for his duties.
The first interview with him has ap-
reared in the columns Of the Washington
Post, and the reporter begins thus:
How are you getting along?"
Finely
Having any troubleT'
Not a bit of If.
Everything moving along smoothly"
Couldn't be better"
The questions were asked by a reporter
of The Post. The answers were given by
a gray-haired, gray-mustached man. whose
eyes are gray in the sunlight and brown in
the shadow. He occupies the second-story
front room in the southwestern corner of
the Pension Office and he mods his head
pleasantly when addressed as "Mr. Com
missioner" Before he became a public
official he was Mr.. Eugene +. Ware. Ont in
Kansas he is Gene Ware. He used to
write poetry. Maybe he does now. but
that has nothing to do with this story.
Somehow or other. Mr.. Ware reminds one
of Mark Twain. Perhaps it is his heavy
gray mustache or it may he his stocky
form or, most likely, it is the drawl in his
voice which suggests the famous humor-
ist. Ware has keen sense of humor.
There is no doubt about that fact. 1t is
going to be his salvation amid the cares
and responsibilities of his office. The twin
kle in his eye will keep the crows feet
from spreading over his forehead. At the
same time. the new Commissioner is a
man of business. He is not unacquainted
with work. No man who ran a big law
office in Kansas. dealing with railroad af-
large lines, can be said to be utterly ignor-
ant of what it means to be busy. But
even Mr.. Ware admits that the Pension
Office is a pretty big institution. and it
takes him more hours a day to keep up
with the routine business than most at
torneys are compelled to devote to their
practice"
The interviewer goes on:
Commissioner Ware leaned hack in his
chair and chatted about his new duties.
Il like the place." he said. Il came here,
you know'-'
"Ignorant:" suggested the reporter.
NO, uniformed" said the Commits
sioner, smiling. Il came here with a
great deal to learn. and I am doing my
best to get hold of the reins / thought of
yoing to Europe this Summer, or, if not to
Europe. then out to my place near Mani
-ou Springs, in Colorado, where / can see
he snowclad Pixies Peak and hear the
waters come rushing down the mountain
side. But here Lam STILL l can't even
-et sick. so as to have legitimate excuse
for getting away. And l can stand the
if you don't have any worse than
t has been up to date"
The Commissioner told the interviewer
hat he had to meet four classes of per-
'ons-clerks. attorneys, Congressman and
claimants. As to the first he said:
'Now, as to the clerks, / want to say
hat not since / have been in this posi-
see, abOnt three months, think
has a clerk been appointed or reduced
sound curious to Washington ears. but it
S true. Here's what | do. When an
81 500 vacancy is to be filled, for instance.
call in the Chiefs of Bureaus and tell
hem to name for me the three most meri-
rrious 81 1,G00 clerks they know. They
Eve me three names. Then | make a per-
'onal examination of the efficiency record
# each man and finally appoint the one
who seems to be most worthy of promo
ion. Then 1 get three 81 400 clerks
'icked out for promotion to the 81 800
:i.Ss aud select the one most deserving,
md 50 on down the line. When a clerk is
.sunoted / send him a letter which tells
I'M that his advancement is not due to
iis Congressman or his friends CT the Com
missioner, but to his own merit, and / ex-
lress the hope that he will continue to
.arn his progress in the service. See, I
rave the blank letters already written"
md as he spoke Mr.. Ware read the cir
MAR letter which is sent to the fortunate
Jerks.
The reporter asked him IL he iran
against any Congressional snags," and he
replied:
"Oh, yes, but I tell the Senators and
that / am going to try my
own ideas. Some of them don't like it, but
when they find, as they will find, that /
am as fair to one as / am to the other and
make no discrimination. they cannot help
1ut appreciate my position. So far as the
,fIice is concerned, the plan works ad-
I'm no preacher. l don't make
my pretentions TO reform, but am going
o act square with the clerks"
As to the attorneys, he said:
"Oh, l can get along with them. You
my trouble with them"
His being a lawyer himself "makes all
he difference in the world" as Yum Yum
would say, from his predecessor. AS to
he last, and vastly most important, class,
ne said:
''Let me tell you about the pensioners
When j came into office, everybody ex-
1ected that there was going to be wide
;wath cut right through the laws. and the
appropriations, and the National Treasury
and everything else. There has been moth
ng Of the kind. When took charge here.
called in all the heads OF divisions and
old them very plainly that my policy
would be to observe the law. l said that if
he acts of Congress allowed a man pen
sion, l wanted him to get it. If he could
not meet the requirement of the law, no
pension ought to be granted. / think that
statement surprised them somewhat, but
meant it, and have stuck to it. Cold
evidence and cold law, | said to them, in