Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-03-28
Plain Talk.

Inc w a9nlDStuu CoIIoopouuCue VI .hT ~"
York Tribune says The filling of the va
sancy in the Office Of register of the Treasury
is said to have been the cause OF quite lively
scene in the Office of Secretary Sherman yester'
day. Tuesday evening Representatives Harry
White and John NJ. Thompson, of PenDsylVa-
MIA, called upon Secretary Sherman to urge the
appointment of John Sullivan, OF Pennsyly "
MIA. The Secretary asked them why they did
not call on the President. Yesterday morning
thew did 30, aud The President listened to what
thew had to say, making notes, as is his custom,
and asking 10 regard to the qualifications OF dit
ferent persons The gentlemen then went to Sec
retsry Sherman ufhce, and were greatly as
tonished to learn from the Secretary that the
President had appointed Mr.. Sco6eld Tuesday,
and at the time Of their visit had in his posses
sion telegram from that gentleman, accepting
the position. =,
General White then vehemently demanded
why they had not been told this before, and
said such treatment was discourteous. lie add
ed, IF you persist in treating US 10 this maD-
ner, can you wonder at any enlargement be-
tween members of Congress and the Execu
tive Il? If this is the character of your dealing,
where do you expect support to come from =
MIR, Sherman replied that he thought the
administration had done we'll for Pennsylvania,
whereupon Mr.. Thompson blurted out, "Wh
10 h-l have you done for us T.
The Secretary, looking astonlshed mention
ed the names Of Welsh aud Taylor.
Mr.. Thompson said that he would like to
know who 10 Pennsylvania was responsible for
those appointments, and added: I'VE thiuk
you will pay the penalty for tramDhng upon
tho people whose support you will want
Con. White then said again: Il want an
answer to my question. Why were We not 10.
formed Of this appointment without being trihed
with p
The Secretary replied 1--WE did not know
that Mr. Scofcd would accept"
YES" said General White, but the ap'
pointment was already made when We first
called upon you"
Mr.. Thompson horo spoke I'D again and
said 1T looks much as if this we're nothing
but lying, hypocrtical and trifing adminisra
tion. Let's TO-" Whereupon the TWO repre-
sentatives turned upon their heels and left.
This report of this spicy conversation having
been printed broadcast over the country, and
especially 10 Pennsylvania, BY MIR. ken, the
Washington correspondent OF the Philadelphia
Press, Secretary Sherman authorized denial
of it's correctness, characterizing it as "a gross
misrepresentation. HI says 10 tho donia
mo such language was used by the gentle
men as stated At the time the gentlemen
called upon the President Mr.. Scoheld's ac-
ceptance bad not been received by him. The
Secretary informed the gentlemen at once OF
the acceptance, which he had just rece lv1d. "
The confusion of pronouns 10 this denial may
be another diplomatic stroke; but the average
reader will receive the impression from IL that
the him" 10 the next to the last sentence un-
doubtedIy refers to the President. Ii so, Gen.
White was right 10 his declaration that he and
his friend bad been deceived, and 1t looks very
much as if Mr.. Sherman was decidedly wrong
when he declared I'VE did not know that Mr..
Scho6ed would accept
AS regards the correctness of the foregoing
report of the conversation between Messrs.
White and Thompson and the Secretary, MIR.
Keim, the correspondent alluded to above, after
taking every possible step to get at the truth,
telegraphs to his Journal as follows;
considering that an attempt has been made
by the general press dispatches to discredit your
correspondence dispatch respecting the langu-
age used and feeling exhibited by Representa-
tives White aud Thompson before Secretary
Sherman, 90 account of the treatment they re-
ccived from him, it is only necessary to state
that the facts and pbraslng of the dispatch
we're from actual dictaton of parties present,
and contained but portion OF What was mar
rated.
when the representatives mentioned to
many OF their fellow members on the floor their
treatment and their action 10 the matter they
we're warmly congratulated. and it was stated if
other representatives of the people who had
received similar treatment had adopted the
same course there would doubtless have been
better understanding between Congress and
the Executive before this. The parties to
night reiterate the general correctness of the
statement published.