The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-03-26
AN OFFICE HARD TO FILL.
The Subtreasuryshfp at New York Has
Too Many Responsibilities.

The Subtreasuryshfp at New York Has
Too Many Responsibilities.
New York Evening Post.
"We have had a merry war indeed over
that COMPOUNDED assistant treasurership at
New York." remarked a senator this even
ing. 1.-THE speed with which one phase fol-
lowed another made me positively dizzy.
Now that we have got man who seems
satisfactory to all parties L hope he won't
back out"
"Is there any danger that he may?" in
quired a friend
II don't think so, but there's no telling
I remember one case which was in as good
shape as this is when the candidate himself
spoiled it. Names and dates? No. this is
| not necessary; as some Of the parties to
the transaction are still living they might
object, but they'll all recognize the pic
ture.
"a vacancy was about occurring by limi-
tation under the four years rule and the
President had announced his intention to
| appoint a certain man-call him John Smith
for short-whom he delighted to honor and
who had indicated through powerful friends
his preference for this office above anything
else in the gift of the administration. The
The man chosen had a national reputation
for brains and probity, and they paid him
the unusual compliment of not referring
his name to the committee on finance in
the formal way but polling its members on
the floor of the executive session, taking
their unanimous approval as equivalent to
report and voting without dissenting
voice for confirmation-all in about fifteen
minutes from the time the nomination
''Well, the next day was the last of the
term of the then assistant treasurer-Tom
Jones. let us style him-and when the news
reached New York by telegraph he sent
pretty note to his successor, who was also
his old friend, inviting him to come down
the next morning to the subtreasury and
around and the machine grind out business
Smith accepted with pleasure and the two
sat side by side through the day at Jones's
desR Jones the prnSpai
offered and also giving him running COM
mentary on the work of the office. Smith
Mas at n f his very maSn ana
and his manner distracted. messenger
would appear and lay paper before Jones.
who would simply glance at the initials ir
an upper corner, sign his name and go right
on with his conversation.
What was that? the visitor would ask.
"'Oh. that was an order for the delivery
Of a million and half of gold to go out on
the North German Lloyd steamer to-mor-
row. Well, as 1 was saying
up comes another clerk with batch of
papers, and Jones goes through the same
performance, talking as he signs.
And what are those?
Warrants for money. Perhaps you'd
instance, for $500 it's to pay for
Smiths hair begins to rise toward per-
| pendicular.
| these without reading them?
:'' Bless your soul! They're initiated all
| right. My chief men here as safe
| the Bank of England. If they 20. KID
| my death warrant should sign it because
| I'd feel perfectly sure it was the proper
| thing to do. Wait till get through with
my clearinghouse transactions for the
| day. to be certified. I've forgot the amount,
| but it's huge
"Thus the day wore on, every minute
| during the latter half bringing up larger
| affairs for settlement. and Smiths eyes
! growing more and more saucerlike and his
| creep, and now and then he would wipe
| few beads of perspiration from his fore
head. He had once been in public life and
| not without responsibilities, but to han
| ding vast sums of money he was scarcely
more calloused than boy of sixteen. When
| the clock struck the hour for closing he
| vaults and safes were locked and then hur-
| ried up town. That evening he ate hardly
mouthful OF dinner, and could talk to his
wife Of nothing but the sense Of terror with
| which his days observations had inspired
| him. He went to bed early. physically and
| mentally exhausted, but with no sleep in
| him. After thrashing. about till or 3
| o'clock In the morning he got up. His wife
heard him pacing the floor.
What's the matter. John? she asked.
| anxiously.
| anything but that office. with its awful load
| of responsibilities. Just suppose there
should be one crooked clerk in the confiden-
| tfal group: or suppose / made a mistake
myself; why, 1t might mean bankruptcy to
us, and millions of money lost to my bonds
men! 1t Is overwhelming. feel as if my
There was a moments silence, and then
| the woman's. voice came out of the dark
ness, every word deliberately chosen and
| slowly spoken:
Listen to me. John! Put on your clothes
at once and go out and telegraph to the
President that you don't want his old office,
| and won't take it.
pride You must remember that accepted
his office, and stand pledged
Il don't care a snap for all the pledges
| in the world, IL you made them without
| knowing what they meant Now, do as
tell you. or III get up and go myself. Do
hotel around the corner. You and 1 have
not got to our time of life, just to have all
| our remaining comfort spoiled because
foolish promise. No. 0 sha in'p list aKn 70
word. If you don't send message to
| Washington, will!
| Sne was women OF force, accustomed
| to having her way. She had it this time
Smith capitulated, FASTENED around the cor
| ner, sent his dispatch, and returned to bed
and to sleep in comfort The next day the
| New York subtreasury opened with no
| assistant treasurer in charge. The treas
urer of the United States had to pack his
suit case and hurry over from Washington
| to transact the routine business The Pres
| ident was angry enough TO bite Smiths
| head off, and the Senate was ruffied by this
slight thrown upon what it had intended as
| its handsomest compliment.
II don't understand what kind of hoo
| doc invests that one office-as well paid as
| the vice presidency or a Cabinet portfolio.
| and far better than a senatorship-that it
| seems sometimes so hard to fill. This time
| 1t went begging long while, was then
| thrown a sop to an undesirable man,
| and finally could be filed, | believe only bv
| the Presidents appealing to an old personal
| friend to accept it out of a spirit of loy-
| atty"
Data About Women Clerks.