Taking Care of Business

People joke so often about the government being inefficient that it's not funny anymore. In fact, it probably hasn't been funny besides that first time someone joked about it.

Don't get me wrong-- I'm not complaining about the stereotype. It's true, in many respects-- but it's true of any huge bureaucracy. But speaking from one the hardest working offices in the entire building, it's frustrating at times when people make passing jokes about government hang-ups we have no control over.

In our case, sometimes these government office hiccups mistakes happened decades ago. Sometimes over a century ago. Almost every day, for example, I correct at least one "split file"-- a file that transferred to another dependent (usually a widow remarries, so her children get a pension) under a new number. When this happens, all the papers from the original number should move to the new number, leaving only a place holder card behind to inform you where the documents have moved. Often, this never happens. Because of what can only be assumed to be the (understandable) laziness of those late nineteenth century pension officers, many papers simply don't get moved. Carolyn to the rescue! A century later, little files, I will right this wrong.

This find, then, was too hilarious not to post. In fact, a copy of it is now hanging on my cubicle wall.

Ought not they indeed, Mr. E.C.P? Yes. Someone noticed this split file on February 2, 1910. Yesterday, October 4, 2010, E.C.P.'s request was filled, and the entirety of this soldier's files have moved to WC76850 where they belong. 100 years turnover? Not too shabby, National Archives. Not too shabby at all. You're welcome.