Evening star., 1932-06-12
Fifty Years Ago
In The Star

Fifty years ago Congress was engaged
IN increasing the departmental forces in
Washington, with ad
increasing ditionAl appropria-
US. Forces tions in the annual
oAo'' bills, instead OF re-
ducing the forces and salaries, as at
present The Star of June 8, 1882.
prints the following news item:
The legislative, executive and judicial
appropriation bill was reported to the
House yesterday afternoon. 1t appro-
Der Of persons employed in the
several executive departments and
their respective bureaus or ofices
at Washington under specific au-
thority Of law during the current year
is 5,3i3; the number employed and paid
from miscellaneous appropriations Is
$40, making in all 6l55 actually in serv-
ice during the current fiscal year, at an
aggregate cost Of $7.367, ,531. 81. The
number estimated for the service of the
ensuing fiscal year Of 1883 is 7649. at
a cost OF $9,477,608. The number rec
commended in the bill is 1882, at cost
per annum OF ss,ls56l1.25.
The present force in the Pension
once Is 742 employees, at an annual cost
OF S868530. The bill provides an addi-
tional force Of 8l7 employees, at an an
nual cost of $1,0l340o. The present
force in the surgeon generals office is
257 employees at an annual cost of
S307. .73767 The bill provides an addi-
tional force of 1855 employees. at an an
nual cost of $224 200. The present force
in the adjutant generals office Is 423
employees, at an annual cost of $498,-
07l24. The bill provides an additional
force of 167 employees, at an annual
cost Of $200. 500 There is also a proper
increase for the same purpose in the
second auditors third auditors. second
controllers and the ONCE of the Secre-
tary Of War, rendered necessary on ac-
count Of the increase in the Pension
Once. The bill also provides for an
increase Of II clerks in the ONCE of the
sixth auditor. Among the changes in
troduced in the bill is the abolition Of
in the War Department. q system by
which enlisted men have been employed
in clerical duty
Charles H. Reed, the counsel for
Guiteau, who succeeded Scoville In the
Guiteau Receives fieId's % assassin, S.
Spiritual Counsel. pe[slsteG Ion.s n m G,,is ns
teau's behalf. despite the refusal of the
appellate court to set aside the rulings
Of the trial court and the verdict OF
guilty. In The Star of June 10. 1882,
Is an account of Reeds visit to the Jail
to secure Guiteaus signature to papers
to accompany a petition for writ OF
habeas corpus to one OF the branches
of the Supreme Court of the United
States. Guiteau said that he had no
idea that this effort would be of any
use, but he signed the papers to satisfy
his counsel. The Stars account con-
tinueS:
ON Thursday last the prisoner had
long conversation with the warden OF
the jail. Gen Crocker. in reference to
receiving the visits of some minister
clined to make any selection at hrst.
claiming that he could get along well
enough without one, and that there was
said that he could see the propriety Of
Of names were proposed and canvassed,
and when that Of Rev Dr. w. W. Hicks
Of the Tabernacle South Washington,
was mentioned Guiteau made some
minute inquiries as to him and said
that he would be glad II DR.. Hicks
would call. Dr. Hicks yesterday went to
the Jail and entered Guiteaus cell with
Gen. Crocker. The prisoner received
the minister very courteously and after
some preliminary conveTsation entered
upon . discussion Of his case, dwelling
upon the inspiration theory, speaking
with vehemence and frequently striking
the table with his hands. Dr. Hicks
then asked what would be the effect on
his theory II he found that three weeks
from that day he would certainly be
hanged and suggested that man was re-
sponsible for his acts. Dr. Hicks Sug-
gested that they should pray together
and Guiteau responded, BY all means
A prayer was then offered and the pris-
oner, with much feeling. responded fire.
quently In devoutly uttered 'Amens.'