Omaha daily bee., 1905-07-24
UNCLE SAM BAD DEBT PAYER
"PigsOn-HOls Man" is Employed to Hold
Up claims as Long as Possible.
RED TAPE TO TIRE OUT CLAIMANT;
Systematic Methods Employed In Gov
eminent Departments TO Keep Dis
Puted Cases from Reaching
= settlement.
CFrom a stan correspondent.l

CFrom a Stan Correspondent)
WASHINGTON, July 2S.-(SpeciaI) Did
| you ever hear of the pigeon hole man?'
| Probably not unless you have knocked
! about the government departments in this
| city for several years. There are many
odd things about the executive departments.
but one of the most unique of Uncle Sans
time-honored institutions is this genius
who presides over these particular pigeon
I holes. He is somewhat analogous to the
silent partner who is blamed for every
thing that goes wrong and never gets credit
for anything that goes right The pigeon
hole man" is usually person in responsible
position. His principal duty is to hold up
disputed cases as long as possible. At best
the government is a bad debt payer and IL
men in private life were to attempt the
same policy they would soon lose their
/ business credit. Uncle Sam never pays
! anything until he has to. Thousands of
American citizens have money coming to
! them and Uncle Sam knows It; knows their
claims are just, but unless the particular in
| dlvidual knows it, too, and presents a claim
| so thoroughly prepared and so invulnerable
| to attack that IT will do no good to pro-
crastinate the government will not en-
Tighten him. Thus 1t happens that thou
sands of dollars are in the governments
strong box that ought to be out in circula-
ton buying shoes and frocks for American
babies instead of lying idle in the vaults
here in Washington.
Policy of LaisseH FaIre.
But to revert to the pigeon-hole man"
he acts on the theory that in nine cases
out OF ten these disputed claims IL left
alone VIII settle themselves. Therefore he
n bnlc hen, IL,
| tied around with profusion of red tame
ana hides them where the cobwebs can
| decorate them until such time as some IN
huential congressman makes an impera tive
demand to see them. Whenever all trace OF
document in any of the departments is
lost' II Is usually attributed to this par
tlcular Individual Sometimes when inter-
ested parties come to the department and
demand to see the papers in their case for
the purpose of once more pressing for ac-
ton, they are requested to make them
selves comfortable until the papers are Sc
cured from the files. A messenger is sent
ostentatiously to the file clerk for the
papers. Patient search" in the files pro-
uuces the papers usually after the waiting
party tired of the delay, has gone In dis
gust. Some times all parties will get to-
gether and reach an agreement rather than
wait until such time as the pigeon hole
man will permit them to move. This mar
ticular government employee may fll a use
iul and necessary niche in the government
economy but he undoubtedly comes in for
MS share of "cussing' by other oflcials OF
the government.
Boats for Use of Enyoys
The Mayhower and Dolphin. two ~ tho
handsomest boats in the navy, are now
oelng prepared for the use of the Russia N |
ana Japanese ENJOYS when they assemble
IN this country to arrange terms of peace.
Both yachts have been DESIGNATED for this
duty so that 1t will not be necessary FOR
the peace plenipotentiaries of the two
countries to come together, socially as such
relation during the tendency Of the ne
EQUATIONS would not be pleasant for
gentlemen charged with the duty Of get
ting the best possible end of a diplomatic
bargain. The trip from Oyster bay. after
the plenipotentiaries have met the prest !
dent, to Portland, N. H., will be made IN
these vessels and during the negotiations
the boats will act as the conveyance OF
the foreigners between the government
island and the city where the ENJOYS will |
be housed. The idea OF the government |
in providing quarters on the island in
Portsmouth bay is unique. 1t will guaran-
tee absolute secrecy and privacy, for no
person will be permitted on the island
without a pass and these will be exceed |
ingly dificult to obtain.
Society is greatly Interested in the COM !
manding officer of the Mayfiower, who is
to be Commander Cameron r. Winslow.
U. S. N, now on duty In Washington.
He will leave late this month for the
Brooklyn navy yard to take over the COM
mand of the yacht. Commander winslow
rsa ba do oF
meyer, and through that relation has a
wide circle of friends in New York society.
The ship he will command will have an
Independent character generally lacking in
a vessel, as 1t will go here and there at
the bidding of the ENJOYS to whom 1t has
been assigned.
John Paul Jones' Descendants.
The story telegraphed from New York
this week that an old German by the name
of Moritz Paul claimed to be the grand
son OF Paul Jones, the American admiral
recalls the fact not generally known that
the late General Lew Wallace was the
grandson of sister of that distinguished
sea fighter. THIS sister was born near
Kirkbean, Scotland, and subsequently came
to this country settling In Pennsylvania. |
Here II was that David Wallace, after |
wards governor OF Indiana, met and mar
ried her daughter General Lew Wallace, |
the son OF the governor, was therefore the !
grandson of the sister Of Paul Jones. |
About this relationship there can be no
possible doubt, as the ofncial records prove
it conclusively.
UnearthinE the Grafters.
Not I'm years has Washington been 50
stirred up as II has been during the last
month or six weeks over the charges OF
graft on the part Of ofheials connected with
the several departments OF the govern
ment When the president directed an in
vestigation of the Postofice department
neither he nor his associates ever dreamt
OF the wide swathe the grafters have been
cutting I'm nearly all the branches of the
government service. The dismissal OF the
assistant statistician Of the Agricultural
department was hardly concluded when the
special commission appointed by the pTesi-
dent to conduct a systematic investigation