Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1885-05-30
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, June LIST, 1885,

WASniNdtun LEiiIh.
WASHINGTON, June LIST, 1886.
Unless some of the subordinate
officers of Mr.. Clevelaud's Admins
tration change their course, they are
in danger of bringing about con-
dition of affairs that may prove very
embarrassing to the President.
They do not fall in readily with Mr..
Cleveland's repeatedly expressed
views about retaining in Office faith
full and efficient officers. During
the week one of the most irreproach-
able and capable officials of the
Treasury Department was dismissed.
He had not voted for twenty years
and therefore the most liberal inter
probation of offensive partisanship''
which has been adopted by the pres
emit regime, could not be made to
apply to him. The gentleman not
being able to understand why he
SHOULD be so summarily disposed OF,
made an effort to learn the where
fore of his removal. The matter was
finally taken over to the White
House, and the President said he
had known nothing about it.
And this is the way things go on
in other Departments which are dol.
ing out patronage The postmaster
of certain city recently met the
Representative from his districE and
said to him: g when will the guillo-
tine begin to work in our section ~
"Very soon" said the M. q. "Well,"
said the p. M. il charges are filed
against me, / will go and see about
Them" So the other day the p. M.
visited Postmaster General Villas
and said 81 understand charges are
filed against me. ! would like to
have copy of them, or see them"
The Postmaster General replied,
awe cannot make this Office court
of inqiry to examine into charges"
" But do you propose to make 1t an
inquisitiOn where men are tried, con-
victed and sentenced without know
ing the crimes with which they are
chargedg / want to see what | am
accused Of" The Postmaster Gen
eral persisted in his refusal, and the
postmaster left saying he would APP
peal to a higher court. Should that
postmaster succeed in reaching a
higher court, he will be met, un-
doubtedly, with the charge of "of.
fensive partisanship." When Mr..
Cleveland gave that shibboleth to
the democracy, .he invented a phrase
that is Synonymous with "To the
victOrs belong the spoils." 1t is Oh
ly another way at stating the policy
of the Administration and history
will so write it.
This may be reason why Samuel
j. Randall placed Mr.. Cleveland in
nomination for a second term. The
boasts made for Mr.. Randall, con
corning his influence at the White
House, have been very pleasant to
him. His actions since Mr.. Cleve-
land became President have been
such as to encourage boastfulness
on the part of his adherents and
personal admirers. Go where you
will in any of the Departments, day
after day you will find MIR. Randall,
accompanied by obscure persons
from different States hunting about
the rooms of Secretaries in search of
places. He is still expecting to
reach the Speakershlp of the Forty
ninth Congress.
During the week Mr.. Cleveland
made some changes in the domestic
menage of his household. He dis
missed the French hancock who
prepared delicate dishes for PreSi-
dent Arthur, and placed an old col
ored woman, one of the assistant
cooks of the White House in charge
of his culinary department. The
Presidents cook is paid out of his
own pocket, and Mr.. Arthur gave
chef Forth, dismissed, a salary of
$500 a year. Mr.. Cleveland has
discharged his predecessors steward
also, who is prominent figure of
the Executive household. The stew
ard is a government officer, and gets
a fixed salary of $500. Although
he is the Presidents caterer, and is
appointed by him, he is under $780,
600 bond, and is responsible for
everything that is brought into the
White House. If a new carpet or
some furniture is bought for one of
the rooms, the bill is not paid by the
commissioner of public buildings, un,
til the steward has approved it by
certifying that the goods have been
received as described. The Presi-
dent has a great deal done for him
at public expense. If it were not
so, President would necessarily
have to be very rich man. Every
thing pertaining to the official
branch of the White House is paid
for by the Government, but to meet
private expenses the Executive is
compelled to draw heavily upon his
am 000 salary