The Carlisle independent., 1910-07-28

life Of course commissions are for the most part engraved, but there are names and dates to be filled in and these are written deftly and then the pile of parchment is laid on the desk before the president, who frequently in a seemingly tomatic way signs his to commission after commission while carrying with some visitor at his elbow conversation relating perhaps to intricate matters of state.
 The White House officials secretaries and clerks have to concern themselves with all kinds of matters Secretary Norton is the recipient of letters from people all the United States, who write to the president upon the most trivial affairs.
 When one takes into consideration the fact that hundreds of persons who have really legiti- mate business with the White House either call write every day, it can be seen at once that the secretary's hands, time and mind are well filled. There certain orders of rank which have to be respected, and in a democracy it is pretty hard work to convince the ordinary citi- zen that any has the right of precedence. As far as precedent is concerned the presidents audiences are governed by the supposed impor- tance of the visitors official business. For in- stance, if a senator is waiting to the presi- dent and cabinet officer happens to come in the member of the presidents official family all ways will see President Taft first unless he says specifically that his business is of little impor- tance and expresses a willingness that the sen ator shall get to the president ahead of him.
 A newspaper man with whom President Taft has had frequently personal relations for some years went to the White House one morning and told Mr Taft that he would like to see him alone for minute If he could, and so the president took him into a side and closed the door They stad together talking for fifteen minutes and then the newspaper man went out into the presidents main office, leaving the president be- hind him to write letter in secusion. On entering the presidents office the caller met senator who had been waiting for fifteen minutes. The senator is jovial soul and with mock solemnity of spirit he bowed low to the newspaper man. Would you mind going back to ask the prest dent" said the senator, If that he has com pleted his affairs of state with a newspaper cor respondent he will consent to see an humble senator of the United States?"
 The ambassadors and ministers representing foreign countries in Washington great stick lers for precedence and every known means has to be taken to prevent giving them offense. It is almost impossible for any human being except one or two of the state department officials, to keep rigid track of the rank of the diplomats and the attaches at all the foreign legations in Wash ington. So it occasionally happens that some second assistant secretary of the legation of the king of the cannibal islands is allowed to get into a room ahead of the first assistant secretary of the legation of the king of ballyhoo and then there black looks which If they could be put into words would be tantamount to declaration of war against the United States.
 The American officials in Washington life are not above being piqued If junior gets in ahead of senior, though troubles of this kind are con fined far Americans are concerned almost wholly to social offenses, for senator's represen- tatives. supreme court judges and the rest have finally made up their minds that at the White House one must take his changes of precedence