New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-05-01
NEWS FROM WASHINGTON.
A CABINET OFFICER ATTACKED.
AN OPEN LETTER TO THE SECRETARY OF THE IN
= -. ..,,,,. Ga. .non MI, nr COLORADO

friendly The difficulty began when they were Doth
Senators, and IT eliminated in the political CAM
paign last year when Senator Hill used his inilu-
epce TO defeat the regular Republican candidate for
Governor, whose nomination. he asserted. had been
brought about by improper means. Mr.. Teliers
friends assert that his appointment to the CABINET
was also regarded as deep grievance by senator
Hill who they also assert. had virtual control oil
the Federal patronage in Colorado during the last
two years of President Hayess Adminlsira-
tion-a period in which Senator refer
studiously avoided the White House. The removal
OF Surveyor-Genera Johnson, OF Colorado. by
Secretary Teller. and certain newspaper pubhca-
tions relating thereto have again aroused Senator
Hill who has to-day sent the Secretary an open
letter. severely criticising and bitterly attacking
him on account OF alleged official and political mis-
conduct and shortcomings The letter In large
part is as follows:
Since your entry into the Cabinet you have on more
than one OCCASION sought 10 place me In false positions
by procuring the publication OF cunningy devised IN
teryews special depa'ches newspaper letters ana the
like, concerning Colorado matters While YOU nave NJ
tempted TO conceal your hand us connceuon VAN ts
covert mode OF attack Is easily traced VIVID the I'M
mense patronage al yonr command but little diinculy
VIII be expere1ced In continuing TINS pers Od war
in consideration OF what you can hestow withon cos
except TO the Government will be quite ready 70 RESPOND
to your demands in This direction SPORT tme atter
your return from Colorado last fall there pun
ton an interview with Mr. Flanagan. who was az mat
time an empoye OF the Interi Department and claim
ing to De on confidential relations with yourself IN
which your action respecting the Colorado campaign
was commended, while my course was silucIseu anu
was tissue of fasehoods and misreprescntations
have betors me copy Of special dtspac rom snd
Philadelphia Times OF April g. and the same dlspateh
charges that ambition to control the patron
age of Colorado and am jealous in mat conneeuoh Oh
the esteem enjoyed by you as leader III that state
AN INTERVIEW PERVERTED.
cIvi cd Of m
sation with President protesting against the re-
moval Of Mr. Johnson Surveyor-General OF Colorado,
which strictly private, the despatch dstorts the
occurrences OF interview had with yOu on the same
subject and seeks to place me in the despcasle post ST.
appointment at your hands for the clerk OF my
aud exclusive. person other than
have supplied nothing for publication of what then and
there tTanspred. the onus OF so doing must ran upon
the same source it has Pleased you to picture "a
GUS OF yourself Permit to that II there be any
SRd your before or nee yoa
came secretary OF the Interior warraItilng
! citizen, I have failed 10 discover II. Ger
tainly there nothing which should gangrene me with
orado Ia view OF the fEc that your two protraoed abb
from Washington 10 engineer the nomnalion ard
election OF Gubernatoria candidate resulted In the re-
pudiation OF your nominee. aud the election Of Demo
crac Governor for the first time in the political history
You were an active participant in manipulating the
primaries IN ile MINING town Tor te PTgIse o.
ton The excuse You gave for drnggGg your ONE
repeatedly during that campaign. was that became
necessary In defence of the Administration And yet the
Administration was wise IN question. nor bad any
party faction or clique III Colorado cast the slightest
| Imputation upon the President, HE pol
70 dc1ons,r"ie p6e eVl eaests Of your pretended dc
fence OF the Administration have but 10 consider the
| about 500 votes, and has reliable Republican
majority Of about 500 MevSrtheifas. on aD. TINS
and repudiaed candidate OF your own selection The
called defence Of The Administration yielded Demo.
craic Governor. Democratic seate senator from your
own county and the choice OF Mr. Tabor as sena tor
| in the Congress Of the United States
| THE LEASE OF THE YELLOWSTONE PARK.
There shte in thee regards to excite Jealousy. May
hap may bssomethng to in the record your
connection with the lease of the Yellowstone Park! Let
us see. You ungenerousy IL not cruelty, OIL your
Assistant Secretary 10 receive public FOR having
executed the ayr ement for lease OF entire Yellow
! alone para to The "Rufns Hatch" syndicate
| when, in truth and fact he acted vicariOu-l'
and tnplcitlv obeved your ms rnctions aud orders
When the Congress. IN rebukc OF action. dclbcr
atey restricted the lease 1 tie park ten the
extent OF the I" be let 10 party eyaded
both the and spirit OF the law executing to the
same syndicate lease for distinct and separate
! which virtually secured a monopoly Of all
| the park privie of any immediate value.
That II clearly your intention at the outset 10 put
| the Rufus Hatch" party in practical possession Of
the park containing 1900 square mcs cannot be
donbed; ana although forbidden 10y law TINS result mas
been as ehectualiy accomplished II the r. solution Of
Senator Vest which prevented you ron executing he
Ia there anything IN your dealings with matters a citing
the pnDlc iaa, spidg ano hleu SrImts
recently published interview. appearing 10 Chicago
| paper, you represented as claiming that YOUR
Official decsOns were prOporonaey larger THAI those
| OF your predecessors as IN favor OF the
settlers and the Government, and ag inst land mOuOpo
lies. While this may be true respecting small tracts the
record shows your decisions IN cases Involving hun
have been in the interest of corp ratons and The
| prejudice Of the Government and the people.
Of Colorado It true did call upon tie President FOR
the of sscertanng the causes which led to the
nently qualified Tor the Office nc hcdhat he gen
tlean % ngn cnSd m anu hnwe1say reSpc'sG
displacement at least PRIOR 10 the expiration Of his
| nose of ina1'ring az 10 the grounds npon whch Mr.
Johnsons removal was predcaled and 80 only reason
vOuchsafed by yOu was that Mr. Johnston had not re-
spected your wishes Upon being pressed for further
data you informed me That he had not cxceut In the
single instance OF Mr. FoTlcr AWARDED surveying con
tracts To the friends yoi had dcsgnaed to receive them
THE COLORADO REPUBLICAN CONVENTION
am reminded that. after the meeting of the Repub-
can State Convention in september last # patent
| in Denver and commented upon III the public prints
that Mr.. Medrum who now succeeds TO the Office OF
Surveyor General. had withdrawn his candidacy
for the Gubernatorial nomination in favor OF your
friend Mr. Campbell in consideration OF pledges that
ton Had you candidly stated THIS fact TO the President.
explaining tnat he removal Of Mr. Johnson and the APP
| p0intment o. Mr. Medium consequent upon n
pOiical bargain, IL would have been at least truthful
and manly, and there would have 3een less reason Tor
| complaint. The selection OF the recess Of Congress
the opportnne moment for the removal
| OF this faithful officer, is IN accordance win.
| your usua cunning tactics The cause, rather
the preeIt for the removal. alleged by yourself
listed prior the assembly OF its
discussion of the suspension of Mr.. johnson IN
tive session OF the Senate, II ulting IN The
rejection OF Mr.. Medrums nOnin would have de-
veODed some interesting facts concerning political
methods especially as 10 reforms IN the civil service
Pending the first session OF the XLVIIth Congress- when
800 clerical positions In tue Pension ONCE
TO be filed, you notified Republican Senators and Rep
! rescntatives that Two places each were AZ Their COM
| m8rd After these appointments had been thus dis
posed OF, you awarded large proportion OF the several
hundred remaining clerksbps to the opposing political