Evening star., 1919-03-30
FIFTY YEARS AGO IN THE STAR

In The Star of March %, 1869, Is a
rection of the
Assigned to the President, sergt.
yry, Charles Loeffler
for duty at the Executive Mansion"
This was the beginning of long
service at a post of Importance by a
man who became known throughout
the country. Sergt. Loeffier remained
on duty at the door of the Presidents
office during eight administrations
those of Grant. Hayes. Garfield and
Arthur. Cleveland, Harrison and Nc
Hinley. He was literally one of the
best known men in the United States
during the years of his service In the
White House. Before the present eX
ecutive offices were constructed at the
western edge of the White House
grounds, the presidential business was
transacted in the main building and
there, on the second floor. Sergt Loef-
fier sat on guard usherinE in those
who were admitted to an audience and
with remarkable tact holding off 9TH
ers for whom interviews had not been
arranged. During the Spanish-Ameri-
can war he was commissioned a ma
jor in the Army and retired from ac-
tive service. but remained on duty in
the White House for several years
thereafter. He is still living in this
city. taking an active interest in af-
fairs and occasionally visiting the
greatly changed scenes of his service
in the White House.
*
Unlike the late Congress-. which
granted a bonus of $240 to the clerks.
the Fortieth Con-
Clerks Claim gress. which ad-
journed March T..
AsAoIeu. 1859, failed to make
provision to enable the government
employees to meet their living eX-
penses. An effort to this end had
been made. but without avail; In The
Star of March %, 1863. is letter to
the editor on the subject. as follows:
Much feeling against Congress ex-
lists in the minds of clerks because
Of the persistent denial of what seems
to them a perfectly just claim of 20
per cent. Allow me to state through
your columns the real obstacle in the
way of granting this claim, as I have
1t from some of the most fairminded
of the members who voted against
the bill. 1t Is because of the strong
impression, right or wrong, which
in the departments who do not work
or pretend to work; that they come
there only on pay day and shirk work
generally and successfully. Now. these
general impressions may, be very un-
just. and if so it is in the power of
the faithful clerks to show that they
are. and where there is case of man
ifest neglect of duty. such as receiv-
ing salary without coming to Of
flee (if there are such), surely re-
monstrance from fellow clerks, stating
that their conduct prevents Just COM
penSation to the whole, would be like
ly to effect either reform or resigna-
ton. Probably a canvass Of every Of
flee. such as clerks could themselves
make. would disclose the fact that the
number who are receiving pay with
out giving work in return would be
much smaller than common rumor has
it. Certain 1t is that some of the men,
hers who are most resolute antag-
onists of 20 per cent express their re-
gret that they cannot bestow adequate
compensation upon the hard-working
and poorly paid clerks of the lower
classes"
Washington had sensation fifty
years ago through a rumor that spread
that score of the wives
Mormon of Brigham Young, the
Mormon leader. were on
"1VeS. their way to the capital.
The Star of March 26. 1883. says of
this; 80
"Quite a f1lip has been given to