The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-07-31

OFFICIAL HEADS
A Little Authority Makes Fools
Of Some Men
COOPER is BooKwoRM
Wisconsin Representative Loves to Free
quent Old Bookstores and Look
over Old and Forgotten Vol
umes--Roosevelt's Old Desk
BY RopERIcK CLIFFORD

casionally / have a run-in with the
chief of division, and sometimes the
chief clerk of the department" re-
marked a prominent attorney the other
day, whose business is largely of de-
partmental character, searching public
records, land not infrequently 1 am
forced to appeal to the secretary before
l am allowed to examine the papers.
With few exceptions all the correspond
ence carried on by the government Is of
a public nature, and attorneys having
business before the departments have
the right to inspect the records. In
the course of my work I have met SUBJ
ordinates that almost took my breath by
the amount of dignity they assumed, and
the Importance they attached to their
small office.
II remember an incident that happened
when President Taft was secretary of
war. 1t was my first meeting with that
official and I shall never forget it.
received letter from a very prominent
gentleman who lived in Ohio. He had
requested me to get him a copy of a
certain public document in the war de-
partment. / was familiar with the case
and knew the division that had jurisdic-
tion over the matter. So I sauntered
into tho room Of the chief and made
known my errand. He was one of the
self-important subordinates, who i'm
agined that the entire responsibility of
the department rested upon his should
ers. and impressed you with the idea
that you were In the presence of the high
and mighty. With nat so much as take
seat, he said. Have you an order to
copy the document?
Why, no sir. it is public document.
and as citizen l have the right to copy
it, I answered.
If you have not an order to copy it
then I cannot let you have it, was the
reply. And that closed The interview.
Leaving the room of the chief I i'm
mediately sought Secretary Taft As
soon as my name was sent in by the
messenger I was ushered into the sec
retary's room and was cordially greeted
by Mr.. Taft. Without any formalities 1
explained my mission and told him of my
experience. Smiling he said that it was
singular that some men who were cap
able of holding the position of chief of
division could not appreciate the fact
that documents of a public nature were
to be shown to any citizen who had oc-
casion to inspect them, and it was not
necessary to call for an order from.
superiors. The document wanted a
copy Of, the secretary said, was public
one and should have 1T without delay.
I will add that / got 1t. and soon after
wards that self-important chief was de-
NOTED by the secretary of war.
I'm this connection I want to say that
when President Taft was secretary of
war 1t was a real pleasure to do business
with that department, for he impressed
the subordinates that 1t was part of their
public duty to assist every one who
sought information of public charac-
ter and he would not tolerate little
technical objections SO often practiced
by the petty official"
Among the book worms In the House
none has keener appreciation Of old
editions than Representative. Henry A.
Cooper of Wisconsin. 1t Is not an I'M
common thing to find him almost any
day after his work is through at the
capitol in the rear of some secondhand
book store among the dusty shelves read
ing and examining the titles of misty
volumes OF forgotten lore"
Inc statesman from tHe bduBtT Stdte
says that he has made many a find of
rare editions of the old authors, and has
bought such prizes for almost a song.
Not every dealer In a secondhand book
store, says the member from Wisconsin,
can place a value on first and second
editions of the early books and maya
zines that contain the work of authors
who have become famous after their
death. In his wanderings among the old
- 49, xxrhA rano rdc Do
as the greatest literary genius of Amer
lea, has come across some of the early
editions of that authors works which he
highly regards for their Typography and
binding.
The desk used by Colonel Roosevelt
when he was active member OF the civil
service commission twenty years ago. is
still In use. Tt Is now occupied by Com
missioner Washburn, the only member
of the commission appointed by Presi-
dent Taft. Commissioners Black and Nc
Ilhenny being followers from the last
administration
When the commission moved from It's
old headquarters of its present location.
corner Eighth and f streets. northwest,
about\ IS years ago. Colonel Roosevelt,
then a member of the commission. wrote
his name In ink on slip of paper which
It. The name has never been removed.
When President Mckinley appointed
Representative Rodenberb of Illinois. a
member OF the civil service commission
in March, 1901, the Illinois member having
been defeated for reelection that year.
there was much good natured comment
on the appointment because Rodenberg
was known to be firm believer in the
doctrine of Ito the victor belongs the
AvaA fa1v fo hn 1nf NJ
berg to get the desk that had been for
six years used by Colonel Roosevelt.
Commissioner Rodenberg, however, did
not like the routine work Of the commits
sion, nor did he relish the suggestion that
he must not discuss nor take an active
part In politics. He served just 13
months resigning from the Office after
Roosevelt had succeeded to the presi-
dency to make the race for Congress. And
he has been In Congress ever since.
r riends of the Illinois congressman say
his success in keeping his seat in the
House Is due to the fact that he occupied
Colonel Roosevelts desk
Visitors to the commission have the
desk pointed out to them as an object Of
interest 1t may be interesting to know
that II was as civil service commits
sioner during President Cleveland's Sec
ond term that Colonel Roosevelt flashed
full upon the scene as the champion of
the merit system, as he always termed
1t. and for four years he was in the lime
light fighting the democratic spolsmen at
the head of the executive department.
who never lost an opportunity to beat the
about the bush In the matter
of minor appointments, which the COM
the eligible lists 1t was as a civil SER
x,,ca commissfoner that Colonel Roose- |