The Washington times., 1906-11-24
Department Employees Ill
at Ease Over Exist
ing Conditions.
ARE AWAITING GARFIELD
ChargeSand COunterchargeS
Galore and End Is
Not Yet.

The Department Of the Interior is fair
ly seetEing with interest and concern
over the reorganization which Is conf
IDENTIFY expected to follow the advent of
James X. Garfield as Secretary OF the
Interior.
Although the General Land Office gets
the Hons share Of attention. other bu-
reaus are receiving plenty of H. The
possibility or two congratulations, one
before and another after March 4, adds
20 the concern Of employees.
Commissioner Richards, of the Land
ONCE. is at work on a report 10 Secre-
tary Hitchcock on the charges against
his department developed by the Inter
state Commerce Commission and de-
tailed by ARENAS J. Smith. Of Denver.
II is expected this statement will have
much weight in determining Secretary
Hitchcock whether there is necessity for
beginning reorganization before March 4.
Working Against Richards.
The department is fun of factions,
each accusing the other. Potent infu-
ences are working for the ndoing of
Commissioner Richards. who IN turn
is declared by his friends TO be ready
20 make revelations that will cOnfound
his enemies. The old soldiers have a
series OF grievances, based on their
charge that under the present admins
tratiOn OF The Land Office there has been
determinations against veterans
They claim that Chief Clerk Macy
supplanted conscientious and faith
ful chief clerk. who had been a veteran
or the Clyl war. and that after his in
ductiOn he proceeded To dIsplaCe many
or the old soldiers whom he found in
charge of divisions or sections.
Charges Of Favoritism.
In general. charges of favoritisra are
current ON all hands, and the wish Of
the entire establishment seems 10 be for
a congressional inquiry, at which en-
ployes viii feel safe in talking freely
OF what they know and what they think
The management OF the force. more
over, is alleged to be such as TO pro-
mote Reorganization and discord; fan
tastic regulations and unreasonable or
ders are alleged to have been common.
d Chief Clerk Macy Is the object OF many
of the bitteTest criticisms.
Aside from the charges Of general lack
or intelligent system and efficiency In
the bureaus. there are more serious al
legations affecting the conduct OF offi-
Gals and their alleged relations 10 big
outside interests that have relations
with the Land Office.
Now that the troubles are getting pub
Lefty these charges are becoming more
ana more speclhc ana detailed. me
Times publication yesterday Of the re-
ports about the Colorado Fuel and Iron
yellow dog fund especially set tongues
a-wagging.
Rumors of Extravaganza.
Then there are auIkinds OF allegations
Bbout the extravagant use of the appro-
pTiation for special agents. This is
lump sum, apportioned by the Com
missioner and his chief clerk TO such
usese as the necessities OF the work re-
quire. II Is Insisted that investigation
would show that much of this money
has gone to faVOrites for various serv-
ices OF doubtful Importance and that
the per diem accounts for expenses that
have Eeen charged against this fund
by some of the fortunate ones would
cause Congressional committee 10 ask
impolite and incOnsiderate questions
One interesting though perhaps not
important. suggestion that comes from
the department gossip is that Commits
sioner Richards has been nursing an
ambition TO become Senator from Wy
Oming in place of Senator Clark. and the
intimation goes along with this that the
Commissioner has no, been wasting Op-
pOrtunities TO strengthen himself in his
home State
Following Keep Report.
It Is known that Mr. Garfield has been
studying carefully the Keep commits
sion's report. He is expected to new
close to the line in following It's recon-
mendatlons.
Mr. Garfield has already talked with
heads OF divisions in the Interior De-
partmenJ, and has gained much infor-
nation about that branch of the Cover
ment. II is possible, however, that Sec
rotary Hitchcock Will make some
changes. when his present investigation