The Washington times., 1904-06-19
The Other Side of the
Story Deals Harshly
With Bureaus.
PRETTY GIRLS IN DANGER
Writer Has Scathing De-
nunciation of Methods in
Government Offices.
IIT HE OTHER SIDE OF THE
STORY" by Leslie Derrina

Is not the ffst noval ever
written about the WASH ineton depart.
ment clerk. but it IS the best thus far.
and considerably superior 70 Tn Ofaces
its predecessor. OF some ten years ago.
The author evidently knows department
life from the inside, ana some OF her
caustic and even bitter descriptions ara
uncommonIy good As for the somewhat
melodramatic plot and exaggerated
moral purpose nobody IL likely TO
take these seriously.
TO the author departuent ura doAa
not appear TO be all thai It should be.
There is always OF taking fiction and
endeavoring TO apply IL the actual SIT
nations 1t purports to describe, and
often very great injustice is done IN this
way II the picture IS painted with
! accuracy, though II is time for another
| departmental investigation.
Many things are said outright that
are not pleasant reading, and others are
limited at that are even less pleasant
II does not add to ones increduIity to
realize one has heard the same charges
and the same hints many times before
Washington fiction of distinctive merit
from literary point OF view is some
what scarce. Mrs. Burnett.s, .Through
One Administration" and Senator
North" by Gertrude Athe-.>,n, deal with
Washington life more or less success
fully, and Julia Schayer. a Washington
author. has touched on department life
in a short story or two. Departmental
routine and its vagaries are the life =
the present story OF the Census Of
fee the following description is given
in one Of the earlier chapters:
Picture of the Census.
The cab drew UP at a low building
with glass roof spread over a whole
square-oI,e Of those objectionable mon
strOsities of architecture which are oc-
casionally perpetrated by the wisest OF
governments. Dismissing the cab. she
entered and asked the way to the Of
fee Of the appointment clerk. In about
two hours time she was sworn in and
assigned TO a certain division and set
tied at q desk in large room. where a
number OF women sat, busily writing
with both pens and typewriting ma
chimes. Under the prevailing manage
ment. the Census ONCE had been di-
vided. according TO sex. into various sec
tons. over which was placed clerk in
charge. called usually a division chief.
She found herself surrounded by ladies'
Of all ages. sizes. and complexions. One
Of the traditions of the bureau is that it
always has many beautiful women en-
ployed.
Recruited with fresh young material
at intervals OF every ten years, they
come TO Washington. fun OF young life
and interest in everything, like a bevy
OF high school boys and girls Their
presence is felt in every boarding house.
and a perceptIble change is observed in
the afternoon stroIlers on F Street after
the influx Of new young faces"
Roast for Departments.
That the author does not altogether
approve of the methods in use in the
departments is evident from the fol-
lowing paragraphs;
There was the Painted Lady the
peroxide blonde anS OF her
every one stood in awe. She was I'M
derstood TO be under the protection OF
very influential member OF Congress,
and no one dared TO make an enemy OF
her. Every one was careful TO be very
agreeable to the Painted Lady for rea-
sons OF state II one criticised the Adj
ministration of the Government It was
done with bated breath; II one complain
ed Of census regulations II was done IN
whispers
This is from one OF the first letters
written home by the Treasury girl:
4 worked so hard the first day that
they told me not to do too much at first,
as l would be expected to keep up tha
same pace. and I might find IL an un-
wise beginning. II I couldn't keep I'D
the same gait always they wouldn't like
it I suppose they meant the Presi-
dent and his Cabinet was advised to
stop at 800 cases. and so stopped when
/ had that many and began on this
/ letter, but when the assistant chief saw
me writing a letter he came and In
/ low voice told me not to let anyone see
me writing a private letter during Of
/ fee hours, as IL was against the rules.
/ asked him what I was TO do then. as
/ my work had given out He told me not
( TO work so fast and that L must always
/ look busy whether 1 was really busy or
/ not. They are awfully strict
| We don't dare waste any time during
office hours for fear of being marked
down. for It seems that we are graded
Just as we used to be a. school. and the
list is hung up for everybody 10 see. and
/ I'm determined not TO be at the bottom
whatever happens. 1 don't understand
the method Of marking exactly; we are
rated on ability, amiability. character.
habits. adaptability. versatility. health,
/
they tell me-"
Time Not of Consequence
Again. we have this rather violent ex-
preston Of opinion on department.
| clerks:
ITO be a successful department clerk
several things are necessary which are
not usually required in any other walk
OF life. First, the capacity for closest
attention 10 all the muititudinous minor
details which are considered essential 10
the proper treatment Of official papers
and records. In a business Office the first
requisite Is neatness and dispatch IN a
| department Of the Government Il mat
tiers not how long paper is delayed IN
passing through the routine from bureau
10 bureau. If each clerk in passing upon
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