Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-03-16

Mr. Bigby- Conkltng URbends
Two Perturbed officials - How
Garfield Will Manage the Factions
The Results of Two Caueusses-
Senate Proceedings.
WASHINGTON, March Is There is pros
Attorney Blgby. The same special agent Of
the government who made the report against
Marshal Fitzsimons' Office is after Mr..
Bigby. Perhaps the statement is little
too strong. The special agent is
somewhat dissatisfied with Mr.. B'gbv's
management. That better explains the
attitude Of the special agent towards Mr..
Bigby. He would like to see change.
This Is all that has yet indicated that any
movement looking to a successor to Mr..
Bigby would be set a.going. Itisexpeeted,
however, that as soon as it becomes known
that there is even as slight thing as a
special agents displeasare to commence
work upon that the hungry Republicans Of
Georgia will at once begin operations.
oorKLING AT THE WHITE HoUsE-THE Cos
SIPS MUCH RELIEVED.
Senator Conkling has called twice upon
President Garfield. Once President Garfield
was out, but the other time he was in, and
Conkling and his fellow caller, Vice Presi-
dent Arthur, spent some time at the White
House. 1t is to be presumed that IL
there was a hatchet between Conk-
ling and Garfield 1t was buried. By
making this call upon the President Mr..
Conkling has relieved the overburdened
mind Of the gossips. Mr.. Conkling never
called at the White House when "that man
Hayes" as 1t was his wont to call the re-
cent Executive, was the boss thereof.
Much anxiety was felt lest he should also
refuse to visit Mr.. Garfield. As the days
wore on and no Conkling appeared at the
White House, the gossips got very much
excited. There was talk everywhere about
Conkling's failure to call. 1t was one of
the staples of political gossip 1t was
talked of in the hotel lobbies and in the
halls of Congress. Every day the list of
those who called on the President, which
the daily papers kindly published, was
scanned. The suspense became awful
Finally came the announcement that the
New York boss had called.
And now he has called second time and
had quite a lengthy conference with Mr..
Garfield. There is a sense of general relief
that he has done so. The matter had got
to be OF such import that 1t seemed as If
somebody would die of suspense. The
doorkeepers let Conkling in with much
humility and profuse funkeyism. They
cleared way for him through the crowd
that fills the White House every day, and
in great awe pIloted him up stairs :to
the door Of the Presidents office. The
doorkeeper there flung wide the door and
bowed low as ConklIng passed grandly.
Whether Garfield showed the same spirit of
humility as his flunkeys cannot be recorded.
1t is decidedly likely that he did not.
WISH THEY HAD ACTED DIFFERENTLY.
The Assistant Secretary of the Interior
Department, Mr.. AloDEo Bell, and the
Chief Clerk OF the War Department, a Mr..
Crosby by name, are very uncomfortable
just now. All the leading government en-
ployes are uncomfortable enough, but these
two happen to know are unduly worked
up. The small ealibre government
official, especially whenever-as In the
cases of Bell and Crosby - they
have anything to do with the matter
of appointments to place in the depart
ments where they work for monthly hire,
sling much style. They think themselves
much better usually than anybody else ex-
cept TIE President and their immediate boss,
the Secretary of the department where they
are hired. As for member OF Congress,
they are very mach over his head. AS
rule, however, they do not exhibit their
sense OF superiority to members of Con-
gress. They show him Difference, for to
him most they go for legislation that brings
increased pay and more employees. But
Crosby aud Bell were so blown out with
Importance that they treated the members
with disdainful consideration. To them the
member bad to go when he. was looking oat
for place In either the War or Interior De-
partments for a constituent, or for the pro-
motion of some constituent already on the
rolls. Garfield, when he was member of
the House Committee on Appropriations,
offended both these department dignitaries.
He killed some Of their pet schemes which
required Congressional sanction and an ap-
preparation. In the course of events Gar
field went to the War and Interior De-
constituent. Mr.. Crosby, at the War
him. He would not either give
the constituent a place or treat the
Ohio Representative courteously. Mr. Bell,
at the Interior Department, acted in the
same way. 1t is possible that, If they had
known that the member OF Congress they
were dealing with would be the next Presi-
dent, they would have acted differently. 1t
field could have scooped unto him
self any number OF appointments
But they did not know what Garfield
was to be. They wish now that they had
possessed that knowledge. Since he was
inaugurated Mr.. Garfield has expressed q
determination to make many changes
among the petty chiefs in the different
departments. Bell and Crosby naturallyfeel
uncomfortable. They sit up nights. Il is
rumored that Crosby has one of the mes
sengers employed in the War Department
to report to him three times every night,
and kick him every time he reports
It is also whispered that when the colored
messenger is not there to kick him, Crosby
kicks himself.
THE QUESTION OF CERTAIN APPOINTMENTS
AND OTHER CONSIDERATIONS.
One OF the matters of speculation with the
politicians in regard to the Garfield adminis-
tration has been as to the manner In which
the Grant ConkliDg and Sherman factions
treated In the distribution of government
patronage. AS yet there have been no
nominations sent to the Senate that would
tend to Indicate how the different factions
are to be dealt with upon this-to the poll
tieian-all important question. Mr.. Garfield
has, however, told to number Of gentle
men who have called upon him how he will
act. He does not intend to ''recoguize''
the Coukling or anti Conkling faction
in New York, neither will he the
Cameron nor the anti Cameron ele-
ment in PENNSYLVANIA. And so on
among the cliques in the different States.
What Mr.. Garfield intends to do Is simply
what he did In making up his Cabinet. He
will recognize all the different factions in
doing out the provender, but in no such
manner that the one can be said to have the
biggest influence or to run the State pat
ronage, and therefore make itself stronger
at the expense of the less favored. Gar
field expects this to strengthen himself, and
avoid the demarking of opposition within
his party. The lesson Of the Hayes admins
tration has evidently not been lost upon
him.
SENATE PROCEEDINGS.
When the Senate met al IL O'Clock, the
desk Of Senator Malone was decorated with |
a handsome basket Of flowers.
The Vice President gave notice to the gal
leries that any manifestations of approval |
terday were in violation of the rules Of, and |
were repeated to-day he would order the |
galleries to be cleared. He also trusted that |
those persons who were entitled to the privi- |
laUac of tho dnor xrosrId NOT In auu nav nar-