Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1884-07-17
THE BLAINEs TAKEN CARE OF.
Draw About $4,000 a Year
From the Public Treasuary.


Washington, June 10th, correspondence of the
New York SUM-
An examination OF the Blue Book
throws some additional light on the
Mr.. Blaine's relations whom he has
tethered to the public crib. During
the year 1880. part of which saw
Mr.. Blaine at the head of the depart
ment, Mr.. Blaine, his brothers, his
cousins drew from the United States
Treasury within q fraction of $50, 900.
That was not bad for one year. Most
of the appointments of Mr.. Blaine's re-
lations date back to 1876, but some of
them 90 back to 1871. His brother,
Robert G. Blaine, had in that year an
appointment at the capital which was
worth $2,l6O Subsequently the pay
was increased, but lately he has been
glad to get place at Sl.40O. But he
has drawn salary from the United
States continuously for thirteen years.
The appointment of Major Blaine in
the pay corps Of the army was affected
by trade with General Grant. It
was about the time when Fred Grant
was made Lieutenant Colonel on
Sheridan's staff. The army ring was
in full blast, and among other jobs was
the increase in the pay corps without
any corresponding increase in the
army. Blaine lent his aid to the
scheme on condition of putting his
brother in with the rank of Major
The result is that the pay corps is the
most top-heavy branch of the service.
There are rty-eight paymasters. for
an army Of $4,000 men, to say nothing
of the large force of Paymasters'
clerks, more than thirty being en-
ployed in the Paymaster Generals Of
fee in Washington alone. Taking the
the $50, 900 of 1880 as starting point,
it is a moderate estimate that the
Blaine family has cost the people $780,
600 every year since 1876. One of
the most laugbable things that oc-
Cured during Mr.. Blaine's last days
in the Senate was a terrific sortie he
made on the Democrats. Lunging
down the aisle straight for Judge
Thurman's chair, where he stood fac
ing the great Ohioan, and shaking his
fist IN Thurnan's face as he dramati-
cally arraigned him and his methods;
to which Judge Thurman merely re-
sponded: ..
"S:t down, sir, sit down. Mr..
President, lets proceed to business.
The Senate roared with merriment,
and Mr.. Rlaine himself joined in. He
afterward described his feeling as
those of whipped school boy.
There is one phase of Mr.. Blaines
ambition which has singularly escaped
notice. 1t is a craving for social dis
tinction. While he had long strug-
gle and a hard one to get into Gar
fields Cabinet. yet nothing like his
domination over Garfield was ever
known. His influence extended to the
smallest particulars; he regulated the
etiquette at the White House as much
as he did the conduct af the State De-
partment. Mrs. Blaine had Mrs. Gar
field under her thumb as completely as
Mr.. Blaine had the President. Mr.. West
the British Minister, had just been &C.
credited to this country. He brought
with him his eldest daughter to pre-
side at the British legation, his wife
being dead. He had married while sta
toned at Madrid, Spanish lady who
had been an actress. His family in
England had been much incensed on
account of the marrige, and had never
noticed the wife; but after her death,
when her daughter was sent to Eng
land to be educated, they recognized
the daughter. Something about the
Spanish actress story had preceded
Miss Vests arrival here, and Wash.
ington was electrified by the news that
the Blaines were afraid the British
Minister'S daughter wasn't quite good
enough for them, and they would de-
cline to recognize her. Mr.. Blaine's
most judicious friends went to him and
urged that he would be going too fai
In this and might make serious troub
lie for himself. 1t was discovered
however, by some lucky Blaineite, thai
Mr.. West had been received by Queen
Victoria. This argument at once pre-.
vailed and the Blaines concluded mo-
to ostracize Miss West.