Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-01-30
WHITE HOUSE ETIQUETTE.
Suggestions from Col. TngersOlI In
the Nature OF Reform.

Washington Special to the Chicago Tribune.
''Ths President, they say, slept in the
White House last night for the first time.
Il is hOrrid, cherries old barracb," said
Col. IDgersol to day to party of friends.
'The President ought to have a home fer
bis family Ike anv other man. He Is as
much entitled TO his privacy as any other
American citizen. The government ought
10 give him a house and the custom should
be established and maintained that nobody
should go 20 that house unless he was asked
70 60. The President should use the White
House SIS his office, ard should 20 there
regularly and do his official business, and
there should he more sys'em IN the trsns8c
tiOn OF the White House business than there
has been. TIE President ought not to be
so accessible There should be a private
secretary. who should he q man capable Of
ssyirE NOl snd the President ought not to
see every body about petty Cfficas. II he
should arrange the business o. rhe EXecu-
tire On a proper system, the Pre-. ident Of
the Uni. ed States might have six hours
d8y for plsv; but, II the old system is
msiat2Ired, he will have nothing buf tur-
mOil snd 'rOuble from the first 70 the last
dsy Of cur administration. It should he
considered polite for the President OF the
United 8 ates TO receive people 10 their
order, aud 10 tell them eyes" or "nO,n and
then TO ask hem to pass on. He ought not
to be compelled TO tslk over the political
situation evGTV day wi the American
tizen from Gslligan Mills There are too
many Of those mil S in this country;
President to 60 around. And as
% the great Cffices of the country,
he ought to select Cabinet to m8ke ap-
ooin mpnts, and give them Instructions to
consult the local political Sc timent. So far
as Is possible, snd not to trouble the Execu-
tive. The Commissioner Of I"terDal Reve-
nue., for instance should he held respOnsi-
bic for the collecting Otthe internal revenue
and, II he got q bad man ia office, It would
re his fanlt, and he Should be held sccOunt-
able for l.. The President ought TO be able
to ssv TO al comers wi h respect to internal
rpVeuue appointments that he was not col
I. e'ing the revenue; that was not his busi
ness. that f. was TIE Ia ,iness Of the Com
missioner OF Internal r venue, and that the
officer Is the proper person to apply to-"
"But how would You manage the poll l.
clamp q bvstander asked.
81 should give the Senator'S and Repre-
senraiives in the Republican States certain
offices. and IL they made bad selections it
would be a mater which they would have
TO fettle 1ith their constituents; but the
main principle should be observed that the
Cabinet officers are responsible for the du-
Ties Of their departments. And there should
he eierisa al force enough at the White
House, toe, in anewer every letter that
is received The writer should be told
where his letter has gore, IL it has
been referred, and should he inform
ed Immediately that his request can
not be granted, If there is no intention
az giving him favnrabl consideration.
There ought ~ be d. cisiOns in these mat
ters Tie sppHcsrt WHO wss refused would
get mad in the first instance. Of course,
hlt he would not be half as mad rs he
would be to yait for six months and then be
refused.
There Is another kind OF bus'less that
ought to be discontinued about the White
House-.bst Is, these receptions. They are
an imitation Of monarchy. They simply
convert the President into Q pump. aEd aiFe
everybody a chance to take a jerk at the
handle ~