A sign of the times Wednesday at the Tacoma Dome: More than 800 people showed up for a test to become a water meter reader.

For one open position.

Tacoma Water advertised the opening from Jan. 15-29 and received 1,400 applications, according to Sonja Hall, a spokeswoman for Tacoma Public Utilities. Typically, the utility receives about 300 or 400 applications for a meter reader position.

Utility officials reviewed the applications and invited 1,300 of the hopefuls to take an 88-question test.

Some 807 came to the Dome Exhibition Hall for the testing, which took place in two sessions.

One explanation for the crush of applicants could be a new online application system that the utility recently launched. But Hall acknowledges that “the economy and the decrease in available job opening” may have something to do with it, too.

Human Resources officials will grade the tests and determine scores, Hall said. They hope to notify candidates of their scores by Feb. 20. After that, candidates will be selected for interviews.

The hourly pay range for the coveted job: $17.76 to $23.56.

And his son, the more famous Bill Gates III., is, indeed, looking on here in the House chambers, and watched his dad get the Washington Medal of Merit.

(That's why there are so many State Patrol troopers and bodyguards around the immediate area.)

TWO CORRECTIONS: It was Microsoft Bill's sister standing next to him in the House gallery, not wife Melinda. And the guy getting the medal is actually Bill Gates Jr. His dad is the original. And Microsoft billionaire Bill Gates is actually the 3rd, although I guess they do that in numerals, III, whom the family calls "Trey". (Thanks, Randy). Ya learn somethin' new every day.

Gates Sr. raised something like $2 billion for the University of Washington endowment fund. But that appears to be only the cap on a lifelong career of public service.

The medal is awarded to "any person who has been distinquished by exceptionally meritorious conduct in performing outstanding services to the people and the state of Washington."

I ran into Herb Simon of Tacoma earlier today in the Pritchard cafeteria. Simon is on the UW Board of Regents and he came down here for the medal ceremony too. He said Gates, is in his 80s, "but he's going on 25."

William H. Gates Sr. has been a UW regent since 1997. He also is a founding partner in the law firm, Preston, Gates and Ellis.

Right now, he is co-chairman of what has become the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the largest charitable foundation in the world. (That would be Microsoft money.)

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FROM LES BLUMENTHAL IN D.C.:

Roll Call is reporting this morning that a defense lobbying firm, whose Virginia offices were searched last year, and its employees have contributed $59,500 to Washington Democratic Rep. Norm Dicks since 2002.

The firm, PMA Group, has ties to Rep. John Murtha, D-Penn., who chairs the House defense appropriations subcommittee. Dicks is the third ranking Democrat on the subcommittee and has a close working relationship with the chairman.

Roll Call said there are no indications Murtha, Dicks or any other members of the subcommittee are targets of the federal probe.

George Behan, a Dicks' spokesman, said his boss has not been interviewed by the FBI or Justice Department investigators. "He is not involved," Behan said.

The New York Times also carried a story about the investigation of PMA and its links to Murtha.

PMA, its founder Paul Magliocchetti, and other employees have given more than $1 million to political campaigns over the past three election cycles, The New York Times said, citing the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics. Much of the money was targeted at members of the House defense appropriations subcommittee. Meanwhile, The New York Times, citing Taxpayers for Common Sense, also said lawmakers earmarked more than $100 million in defense spending for the lobbying firm's clients in 2008 appropriations bills.

Roll Call (subscription only) said Murtha has received $106,000 in campaign contributions from PMA and its employees since 2002 and Rep. Jim Moran, D-Va., another subcommittee member, $93,750.