The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-12-13

The Cabinet makers are busily at work con-
structing q Cabinet for General Grant, and
from the amount of well seasoned timber on
hand it would seem that the President elect will
have material enough to choose from in select
ing his advisers provided he is not over particu-
lar in regard to the quality. There is, how
ever, SO much uncertainty as to the direction
in which his policy will lead him that the sug-
gestions Of his dear friends take remarkably
wide range. Thus we see some of his original
advocates rendering him the name of Doolttle
as one Of his advisers, while others of his ar
dent admirers press lack Chandler upon his
acceptance. On one hand he is assured that
Morgan is the best choice he can make for
Secretary of the Treasury, and on the other he
is urged to accept no one but Fenton for that
position. Trumbull and Fessenden have their
advocates for Cabinet positions on this side,
while Wade and Butler have their adherents
on that side. Horace Greeley goes to Wash
ington as his own champion for the Postmaster
Generals portfolio at the same moment that
Thurlow Weed hastens back from Europe to
offer himself as special organist and counsellor
of the new administration.
The latest attempt at Cabinet construction
comes from curious source The politicians
were thrown into fever of anxiety day or
two since by very positive rumor that the
important position Of Secretary of the Treasury,
with its enormous patronage, its rich Custom
Houses and its valuable revenue appointments,
was virtually filed, and that E. B. Wash
burne, of the enterprising Washburn family,
was the fortunate individual who had Sc
cured the great prize. 1t was confidently
stated that henceforth the famous brand
upon the broadcast part of the Washburne per-
son would stand for Member of the Cabinet
instead of Member of Congress. 1t seems that
this information came from the head waiter at
the Union League Club dinner, who tele-
graphed it to another waiter at Washington.
The latter, no doubt availed himself of the
information to make early application to
Washburne for position in the White House
kitchen, and thus the important intelligence
got spread abroad. The walters were probably
both negroes, and hence the credit awarded
to the report by the expectant radicals at the
national capital and by the Bohemian CORE
spondents of their anxious organs. This is
the commencement of the kitchen cabinet in
earnest, and it will materially raise the value
of cooks, Wallets and colored walters in the
political market. The man who can put one
ear to a convenient keyhole, or who can keep
both ears open as he changes plate or fills q
wine glass at dinner table will be hencefortlk
regarded as a most valuable friend by the
army of patriotic place hunters under Grants
administration. The best thing the hungry
politicians can do in future is to nose around
the domestic Offices of Grants residence and
make friends with his servants. If the Gem
eral ever let's his secrets leak out it is likely
to be when he is having his boots cleaned i'm
the morning or while he is slipping his claret'
at the dinner table. The Bohemians had
therefore, better confne their inquiries here
after to the kitchen, and then, in addition to
picking up little information, they may
occasionally manage to get plateful of broken
victuals out of the urbane cook and glass
or two of stale beer out of the obliging
butler.