Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-03-01

sions by the excellence Of. their mill
tary work. \
Why these clerks were commits
stoned every one in Washington knows.
Personal. social or politicai influence
did that. Nothing else. They are
sons Of men or sons Of friends Of men
who were able to exert such influence
in high official places. These young
men wanted the pay Of officers rather
than OF civil service clerks, longed for
the distinction conferred by an army
officers uniform. wanted. in some
cases, to escape the draft.
They cumber the service. Many are
not efficient in the humble clerical
work. they are asked to perform. This
Is known to every one who has had to
transact business with the Army De-
partment 1t became such a scandal
that some time ago word went out,
probably from the White House.
that no more recommendations were to
be sent UP" for commissions for civil
ians who had received no military
training. Even after that some such
commissions were given. Not many;
but the lid has never been clamped
down tight.
The experience of one man who
had business with the Quartermaster
Corps tells story which, with varia-
tons, members are telling each other
daily. This man went to q Sentaor
from his state for advice as to the
officer he should seek and where ana
how to find him. After a maddening
use of the telephone the Senator
learned that the Quartermaster Corps
Major with whom the business in hand
should be taken up had his office in
an unfinished apartment house in the
Scott Circle section Of the District.
Supplied with letter from the SEN
ator. the visitor got as far as the
apartment house lobby, where an or
derby, after a glance at the letter, gave
him a pass to take an elevator to a
designated floor. There another or
derby. after examining letter and pass,
saw some one behind the closed door
of room and then informed the visi-
tor that the Majors clerk, Captain
Blank, would see him presently. and
after not more than an hours wait the
visitor was called into the captains
office. The fresh pink cheeks, the
highly polished finger nails, the pref
tily trimmed mustache Of the man at
the desk told his story even before he
spoke; civilian wearing an army
officers uniform. The visitor briefly
explained that General Y. had urged
him to take up his business with the
Quartermaster Corps.
And who is General X.?" the officer
clerk asked. smiling pleasantly at the
girl stenographer by his side.
General X. happens to be distin-
guished West Point officer who is doing
a big, difficult and mans job in
one of the most important War Depart
ment's headquarters. In making this
explanation the visitor was little
brusque. 1t may have been the rank
ignorance revealed by the question,
the polished finger nails or the smiles
for the stenographer which affected
his manner. but he admitted afterward
that he was brusque. The captain
clerk snapped back that the business
referred to in the Senator's letter was
not attended to by any one in that
building, but by Colonel G.. in another
building in another end Of the District.
The visitor interviewed the Colonel,
from whom he learned that the Major
he had originally sought was the very
man he should see.
Office hours We're over. The next
day the visitor asked the bright and
polite orderly in the lobby of the Scott
Circle house if he could manage to
get him to the Major without the
Intermediary attentions of Captain
Blank. The orderly bit his lip to hide
a grin, and sent a page up with the
visitor with instructions not to desert
his man until he had him seated by
the Majors desk. Well, the Major, a
sure enough officer tackled the job
like bear, and never let 90 until he
had the business well along.
Incidents of the kind have come
within the experience of many mem
bers of Congress, and they explain
why it is suggested that the officer
clerks should shed their polished put
tees, their shining spurs and wear civ
ilian trousers.