Democratic Sentinel, Volume 9, Number 36, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 October 1885 — A Modern Solomon. [ARTICLE]

A Modern Solomon.

The sprained relations which existed under the Folger regime between As- ' sistant Secretary New and Appointment Clerk Butler were matters of public comment, and frequently led to ludicrous scenes. Appointments made in the department required to be countersigned by the Assistant Secretary after they left the appointment division. This led to endless bickering and quarrels. One day a laborer employed in the vaults of the Treasury applied to Mr. New to be detailed to do some work less trying to his health. He wanted to be transferred to the top story of the building, he said. As he was a protege of New, his request was granted without trouble, of course. New directed an order to be drawn and indorsed on the back: “This man goes up stairs. John C. New, Assistant Secretary.” In due course of time the order reached the appointment division. Butler saw New’s indorsement. That was enough. He at once sent for tho man. “Yon want to go up stairs ?” “Yes, sir.” “And yon have seen the Assistant Secretary about it?” “Yes, sir.” “Well, I’ll have something to say about this.” Before the astonished man could recover liis breath Mr. Butler had put under Mr. New’s indorsement the words: “This man goes down stairs. J. B. Bntler, Appointment Clerk.” The paper was sent back to the office of the Assistant Secretary. Mr. New looked with some surprise at Mr. Butler’s order countermanding his own. Then he quietly drew his pen across it and onee more wrote: “This man goes up stairs. John C. New, Assistant Secretary.” Again the paper went back to the appointment division. Butler glanced at it for a moment, and again he wrote: “This man goes down stairs. J. B. Butler, Appointment Clerk.” This harmless little game was kept up for some time, until the paper had been filled with Messrs. New and Butler’s indorsements. Then, at last, these gentlemen thought it bent to refer the matter to Secretary Folgei . He listened calmly to the statements of the rivals, and after a few moments of reflection delivered the following judgment, worthy, surely, of a Solomon: “Gentlemen,” he said, “I shall order the man to be employed on the elevator. This will be in the nature of a compromise. Half of his time there will bo spent down stairs, the other half up stairs. The case is dismissed.” —New York Tribune.