The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-08-16
ANOTHER WASHINGTON GRAFT,
Mag azine Articles Prepared At Govern
mrnt Expense for Personal PrOflt.

from the Augusta ChTonsc0
Magazine articles have come to be re9u-
larly classed by the initiated as among tho
many desirable perQuisites Of Government
officials and heads Of departments In WASH
ington.
Much Of this work is done at considerable
cost TO the Government, the officials making
Uncle sam pay all cost Of preparing the articles.
A speciality of this graft was made by an OFF,
cial who recently stepped down and out OF a
certain bureau. This official was handling
matter every day which would make good
reading but only the minor news was given
out to the army of hungry newspaper men,
he reservng the cream of the news to be
used over his own name. When business
first opened up this official formed partner
ship with Il member of the local stan Of one of
Washington S papers, and letters were sent out
to leading newspapers Offering advance news
of the workings of the bureau. The other
newspapers and press associations were thus
shut out by the official syndicate. but there
was slip of the trolley. and the company
failed to do business Then the official
turned his attention TO magazine work and
worked it for all 1t was worth, too. calling to
and n man Friday who could write with the
best. On one occasion the photographers.
clerk WAS taken from his work and supplied
with Photographic. material at Government
expense and kept four days taking pictures
Of old RECORDS be used in magazine story
cost Uncle sam: Clerk photographer, four
days, $40: officials man Friday. chief of
division. $50 day. foNr days, $50: stenog-
graphic material and writing paper, $3.50,
making a total Of s8o. so the Government paid
out for the privilege of having the head OF the
department put his name under an article
ceived good round check.
Newspaper men who We're familiar with
I'm t had
intention of laying them before the President
but before this was done the CRAFTY official
stepped down and out. As general thing
the Washington newspaper man is IA docile
creature and will submit to great deal of
rubbing. but when he sees his legitimate
reached. Articles published over the sigma
lures of those prominent in official life in
Washington decreases the amount of news
that filters through the regular channels
because newspaper men, no matter how
alert and cntcrprisng. are unable to cope
with the CRAFTY officials. their secretaries.
chiefs of division. and n verbal order that
no news must be given out respecting such
and such questions. Perhaps the first init
nation the ncWslMPer man has that the
papers that Hon Magazine Graft. Secretary
of the Department OF Exclusive News. will
tell over his own name the inside facts Of
July number OF the Official Round-Table.
Article fully and beautifully illustrated fat
Government eNpensel and secured ut heavy
cost
| The secretary to one of the high officials
said to the writer while talking Of the difficult
matter of getting inside facts about matters
of a, news nature:
| that | said So but am sick of this work
| came here as secretary but | think | will
! resign in the fall and enter newspaper work
/ for the good Lord knows have had experien ce
enough to make me u pretty fair newspaper
| man Two-thirds of my work has been that
OF preparing articles for magazines and
M hitf
| of my time has been utilized In manufacture
| lies to tell You newspaper fellows to throw
| you of the track of what is going on. was
| told about the answer Dewey sent the editor
| and I'd give half my salary II all the hi gl
| fellows We're like him. Let's go and We,
our whistles in his honor"