East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1905-07-06

petty officials of the government are
located.
Conditions are best illustrated by
an experience which Roosevelt him
self had when he was assistant sec
retary of the navy, just before the
outbreak of the Spanish war. One
day he sent to one of the high func-
tionaries above his head urging the
immediate need OF a large sum of
money to buy powder for target prac-
tice.
And what has become Of the ap-
preparation made a few months ago
for that purpose ?" came back the
amazing inquiry.
1--WE burned it up came back the
laconic reply. Il supposed 1t was for
that purpose"
President Roosevelt has always
made a vigorous war on red tape,
and at times has even gone 50 far as
to offend the heads of departments,
and even members of his cabinet who
have become somewhat infused with
the prevalent idea that the form Is
more important than the substance.
II was due to a little matter of this
sort that the first breach occurred
between Roosevelt and former Secre-
tary of the Treasury Lyman ]. Gage.
The president wanted some figures
which were to be had at the treasury
department.
He wanted them for that days cab
met meeting. He knew the man who
had them, and he sent directly to that
man, by special messenger, who was
20 hvfno honlr tho
answer He got the figures and dis
played them at the meeting, some
what to the surprise and discomfit-
ure OF the dignified and ever courte-
Gus Mr.. Gage.
But the latter was much Offend
ed. He looked into the matter and
came to the conclusion that the ma
terial should have reached the White
House through him. He considered
that it was an offense to his dignity
and position. Therefrom there arose
a coolness, followed later by Mr..
Cages retirement.
An attempt to overcome the liner
tia of years" in the treasury depart
ment was made by Robert B. Arm
strong when he became Secretary
Shaw's right-hand man.
Armstrong has since declared that
it was like going against a Fenian
conspiracy. He had all sorts Of odd
experiences. One Of his first attempts
to locate the delays was with a patent
electric clock stamp. This was de-
vice for stamping the letters and pa
pers when they came to the clerks
desk with the time of arrival and
disposition.
The first few days reports came
from the clerks that the device was
mo good" and recommendations that
1t be taken out. He declined to have
it removed. Then he found that the
lock was picked and the internal
economy of the clock was tampered
with. He got possession of all the
keys and kept them under his own
hand.
Then the electric connections got
out of order and the clocks ran down.
He supplied an electrician with or
ders to keep them in operation or
resign. The next thing he awoke to
find that during the night all the cleo
trio wires had been removed from the
hall tributary to the offices in which
was the limit of Armstrongs patience
and he issued an ukase that the
clocks were to remain. and threaten
ing the ak.
rule which is observed in the
breach more than otherwise in all the
departments is that against reading
newspapers in department time.
Finding time we Ching heavily on
their hands, the clerks who are neg
lecting government business are much
given to peruslng the political and
sporting news of the daily press.
Most of the office holding class
are amateur politicians and they
discourse profoundly on the doings
OF the particular senators or men,
bers of congress whom they claim as
their pull"
In many of the departments also
the "hand book" flourishes, and the
government work is made to wait
until the artist of the dope book
figures and lays the odds.
Women in the postoffice depart
ment are notorious offenders in the
matter OF loafing. IN spite Of all that
can be done by the heads Of dlvis-
ions, the lady ne ks IN many oIIlces
spend about % II ! Of their time in
and about tn snd stroll about
The men eh re helpless. They
say they cam. 6e hard and fast
rule that the Jerks cannot leave
except on pen -.on, and the free
dom which H. I'VE to go out when
necessary Is 6 --. y abused.
The ordina IIse Of an ordinary
letter to t ment departments
may be illus as follows: Sup
pose il is to the secretary
of the inter I'd is an inquiry
about public land
Il comes e. 81 department and is
delivered to tae -hief clerk. By his
clerical force % T. opened and refer
red TO the division Of lands and rail-
roads. At the same time a letter Ia
written to the sender saying that his
letter has been received and has been
duly referred.
Then the letter goes to the COM
missioner of the general land office,
where II is taken to the mailing di-
vision. From here Il is referred to
the surveying, mining, mineral or
other division. as the subject matter
Semes to warrant.
II 1t is a complex subject matter
II is likely T. he referred consecu-
lively to all nes divisions In turn,
To-, tk,o,. 10 70 ha rafar-