Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-07-18
THE DELAY" N AN
WASHINGTON FAcToTuM
WHOSE NAME IS SELDOM
MENTIONED.
His PlgeonhoIes Are the Hiding Place
Of Many Claim Against the Gov
eminent - How the Peace ENJOYS
viii be Accommodated.

eminent How the Peace ENJOYS
viii be Accommodated.
Especial Correspondence
Washington Bureau Of the Courier.
Washington, D. c., July Is.
Did you ever hear Of the pigeon
hole MANI" 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 gen
ius who presides over these particular
pidgeon holes. He is somewhat anal
ogous to the silent partner who is
blamed for everything that goes wrong
and never gets credit for anything that
goes right. The pigeon hole man" is
usually a person in a responsible posi-
ton. His principal duty is to hold up
disputed cases as long as possible. At
best the government Is bad debt
payer, and If 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 individ-
ual knows it too, and presents claim
so thoroughly prepared and invulnera-
bic to attack that 1t will do no good to
procrastinate, the government will not
enlighten him. Thus 1t happens that
thousands of dollars are in the govern
ment strong box that ought to be out
in circulation, buying shoes and frocks
for American babies instead of lying
idle in the vaults here in Washington
But to revert to the pigeon hole
man" He acts on the theory that in
| nine cases out of ten, these disputed
claims If left alone will settle them
selves. Therefore, he labels them nice
| ly, puts the min a packet tied around
with profusion of red tape aud hides
them where the cobwebs can decorate
them until such time as some influen-
tial congressman makes an imperative
| demand to see them Whenever all
trace of document in any of the de.
partments Is lost, 1t is usually attrib-
uted to this particular individual
Sometimes when interested parties
come to the department and demand
to see the papers in their case for the
purpose of once more pi essing for ac-
ton, they are requested to make them
selves comfortable until the papers are
secured from the files. A messenger
is sent ostentationsly to the file clerk
for the papers Patient search" in the
| files produces the papers usually after
the waiting party, tired of the delay,
has gone in disgust Sometimes all
parties will get together and reach on
agreement rather than wait until such
time as the pigeon hole man" will per-
nit them to move. This particular
government employee may fill useful
and necessary niche in the government
economy but he undoubtedly comes in
for his share of "cussin'' by other Off
cials of the government.
The Mayflower and the Dolphin, two
of the handsomest boats in the navy,
are now being prepared for the use Of
the Russian and Japanese ENJOYS
when they assemble in this country to
arrange terms of peace. Both yachts
have been designated for this duty so
that it will not be necessary for the
peace plenipotentiaries Of the two
countries to come together socially, as
such relation during the pentlcncy of
the negotiations woull not be pleasant
for gentlemen charged with the duty
of getting the best possible end of a
diplomatic bargain. The trip from
Oyster Bay. after the plenipotentiaries
have met the President, to Portland
New HAMPSHIRE will be made in these
| ~,
the boats will act as the conveyances
Of the foreigners between the govern.
ment island, where the parleys will
take place, and the city, where the en-.
voys will be housed. The idea of the
government in providing quarters on
the island in Portmouth bay is unique
1t will guarantee absolute secrecy and
privacy, for no person will be per
mitted on the island without pass
and these will be exceedingly difficult
to obtain.
4 Society Is greatly interested in the
commanding officer of the Mayflower
who is to be Commander Cameron r
Winslow, U S. N, now on duty ir
Washington He will leave late this
month for the Brooklyn navy yard tc
take command Of the yacht. Com
mander Winslow married the daughte,
of Theodore A. Havermeyer, and
through that relation has a wide circle
Of friends in New York City. The shir
he will command will have an indie
pendent character generally lacking in
a vessel, as it will go here and there al
the bidding Of the ENJOYS to whom ii
has been assigned.
-
Secretary of the Navy Bonaparte has
lreturned all railroad passes rendered
him, thanking the donors, but stating
he cannot accept because of the public
position he occupies The incident is
worthy of note because it is seldom
an official announces he has declined
passes, although it is suspected that
others besides President Roosevelt
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