The Press., 1885-09-24
WASHINGTON LETTER.


 No full cabinet meeting has been held since the presidents return, but, at three incomplete meetings, the Austrian mission, the Chinese massacre in Wyoming, the silver policy, and minor matters under the interior and treasury departments were discussed.
 First Auditor Chenoweth, of the treas ury department, has returned to Washing ton from Texas, ready to continue his at- tack upon the coast survey. He claims that the developments yet to be an- nounced are fully as striking as those al- ready made public. The subject is one on which there Is much difference of opinion in official circles.
 Admiral Jouett's case, in which the treasury charges him with $400 for money expended in a luncheon to visitors on board his flagship, the Tennessee, at the New Orleans exposition, Is undoubtedly a hard one, as in most, If not all, foreign na- vies allowances are made to commanding officers for necessary or reasonable official hospitalities. But the second comptroller certainly appears to have the best of it in the discussion under the law of the matter. He contends that contingent expenses" " allowed by law, are incidental expenses necessary to the proper performance of the duties required by the department, and he can find no regulation of the de- partment requiring admirals to give lunch con on their fag-ships.
 One of the hardest fought contests over post-office since the administration came into power was decided yesterday in the appointment of MT. Lemuel B. Fowler to be postmaster at Augusta, Maine. The principal applicant, and the one whose name has been most intimately connected with the Augusta office, was Col. Charles B. Morton, and it was this fact that caused the ultimate decision in the case to be looked forward to with especial interest. Col. Morton is one of the proprietOrs of the Augusta New Era, and during the presidential election of 1884, he made that journal famous by his stalwart adherence to the defense of MT. Cleveland. When the we'll remembered stories were circu- lated against the democratic candidate for the presidency, Col. Morton was one of the first to take ap cudgels in his defence. The articles he printed had the, more weight, insomuch as they originated from MT. Blaine's own home, where his youth fnl career was well known to nearly, if not quite, all of the older residents.
 Soon after President Cleveland's s inaugu- ration, Mir. Morton's name was prominent ly mentioned as a candidate for the posi- ton of postmaster of Augusta, and his friends urged as his strongest recommen- dation, the services he had rendered the democratic party through the medium of his paper. About this time, MT. Blaine and both of the senators from Maine took up the matter and wrote letters to MT. Cleveland, asking as personal favor to themselves, that the appointment be not given to Col. Morton. This action on the part of the republicans stirred up the dem- ocrats of Maine, and from that time noth- ing could have pleased them better than the appointment of Col. Morton. A few days ago the latter came to Washington. He called on President Cleveland at the white house, and ill the course of very pleasant interview he withdrew his appli- cation. It is asserted that, while the pres ident favored Col. Morton personally, the charges of having indecently maligned Hon. James G. Blaine in newspaper dur ing the recent campaign had to be regard ed, and he decided that, in view of the emphatic protest of the Maine senators, the appointment of Col. Morton would be injudicious. Col Morton readily agreed to MT. Fowler's selection, with view, it is said, of securing the appointment as deputy postmaster.