News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1885-06-04
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, D. c.,
limo 10. 1888.

WASHINGTON, ID. o.,
June 1S, 1885.
Unless some of the subordinate Of
fcers of Mr.. Cleveland's administra-
ton change their course, they are in
danger of bringing about a condition
of affairs that may prove very embar-
RAISING to the President. They do
not fall in readily with Mr.. Cleveland's
repeatedly expressed views about re-
tanning in office faithful and efficient
officers. During the week one of the
most irreproachable and capable Off
Gals of the Treasury Department was
dismissed. He had not voted for 20
wears, and therefore the most liberal
Interpretation of offensive partizan-
ship which has been adopted by the
present 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 wherefore
of his removal. The matter was fin
ally 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 doing
out patronage. The postmaster of a
certain city recently met the represen-
tative from his district and said to
him, "When will the guillotine begin
to work in our section?" every
soon," said the M. G. "Well," said
the P. NJ, ''if charges are filed
against me, 1 will 60 and see about
them" So the other day the T. M.
visited Postmaster General Villas and
said, 81 understand charges are filed
against me. 1 would like to have a
copy of them, or see them" The
Postmaster General replied, ''We
cannot make this offieea c6f>S'.. U
quiry to examine into charges"
"But do you propose to make it an
irquisition where men are tried, con-
victed and sentenced without knowing
the crimes with which they are
charged? I want to see what am
accused Of" The Postmaster Gener-
al persisted in his refusal, and the
Postmaster left, saying he would ap-
peal to a higher court. Should that
Postmaster succeed in reaching a
higher court, he will be met, undoubt-
edly, with the charge of ''offensive
partizanship." When Mr.. Cleveland
gave that Shibboleth to the Democra-
cv, he invented phrase that is syn
onymous with "To the victors belong
the spoils." 1t is only another way
of stating the policy of the admins
tration, 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, concern
ing his influence at the White House,
have been very pleasant to him. His
actions since Mr.. Cleveland became
President have been such as to en-
courage boastfulness on the part of
his adherents and personal admirers.
Go where you will in any of the De-
partment, day after day you will find
Mr.. Randall, accompanied by obscure
persons from different States, hunting
about the rooms of Secretaries in
search of places. He is still expect
ing to reach the Speakership 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 man-cook who pre-
pared delicate dishes for President
Arthur, and placed an old colored
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 Forth, dis
missed, salary of $500 a year.
Mr.. Cleveland has discharged his pre-
decessors steward also, who is a
prominent figure of the executive
household. The steward is a govern
ment officer, and gets fixed salary
of $500. Although he is the Presi-
dents caterer, and is appointed by
him, he is under $4,000 bond, and
is responsible for everything that is
brought into the White House. If q
new carpet or some furniture is
bought for one of the rooms, the bill
is not paid by the commissioner OF
public buildings until the steward has
approved it by certifying that the
goods have been received as described.
The President has 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 ex-
penses the Executive is compelled to
draw heavily upon his $4,000 salary.