St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-03-17
CLEVELAND'S HABITS.
.'Pay as You Co." the Presidents
MOtto-He Will Tolerate No
More Deadheadism.
Simplicity and Common Sense Practiced at
the White HOuse-Fiunkeyism a Thing
of the Past.

Washington Cor. Post Dispatch.
There is no one thing about the new adj
ministration which will commend itself to
the country more than the rejection of dead
head privileges which have for a number of
years been offered, as matter of course, to
the president. The accepting of personal
favors was developed in its highest degree
under Grant. No president has ever &C
cepted as many presents as he, Whenever
he travelled railroad corporations placed free
special trains at his disposal. The result
was, loss of his independence as the chief
executive. How could his secretaries pass
impartially upon the merits of question,
where the interests of a corporation were
concerned that had showered benefits upon
the head of the administration. The corpo-
rations obtained much Of their power in WASH
ington, not through coarse and vulgar brides,
but by the indirect Influences of one small
favor after another, which, when once &C.
cepted, binds their recipient much more
firmly than if he were purchased with mere
brides. The man who would betray gov
ern ment trust for money cannot always be
relied upon, but the mau who is weak enough
to accept a number of courtesies of a social
nature, can generally be trusted to favor
those from whom he has received favors. Tnls
special train and special car have been the
most direct meaLs of capturing high officials.
For years no cabinet officer has ever left
Washington for a journey of any length
without having a special car at his disposal.
OF course he is never expected to pay for the
use of the car. If he were the cars would
never be used by him.
*xx
Mr.. Cleveland has made great reform in
just striking at this dead-head feature of
official life. He will accept no presents of
any kind. He declines to receive theater
boxes. In other words, he pays his way
wherever he goes. The cutting down of the
force at the White house shows that Mr..
Cleveland is willing to begin at home in his
reforms. They have had at this place a very
cum bersome method of keeping. the records.
1t was apparently made cumbersome for the
purpose of creating extra work. Col. Lamont
has implied the records in sucE way that
half the men will be able to take care of the
records of the White house better than they
have been done in the past. 1t is only re-
keep records at the White house. When
Andrew johnson went out of the Office there
was not single paper left in it of any kind
Grant kept but few records. 1t was under
Hayes rule that the cumbersome system Of
records at present employed was adopted.
There is very little in the business of the
White house as it is now being conducted
that needs record. No applications for
Office are received there. All papers relating
to them have to go to the departments.
Mr. Cleveland has now abundant leisure
for the consideration of the higher duties of
the executive. While he requires the de-
partments to make recommendations for all
of their leading subordinate positions, he yet
reserves to himself the right Of veto upon a
final hearing. He is not unwilling to nave
the names of possible appointments go out
to the public, so that he may have an oppor-
tunity Of learning all that there is to be
learned in the way of criticism before the
appointment is made final. l know of par.
ticular case in point where a certain treasury
appointment was as good as made. The name
Of the man to be appointed was published
upon good authority as one that would be
made. Before it was finally completed, how
ever, the president learned that the man in
question had been in the lobby for a number
of years. though not in a scandaous or direct
way. 1t was proved, however. that he was a
lobbyist, although high grade one. The ap-
pointment, therefore, fell fat, and the office
is still open for consideration. Mr.. Man Ming
was the first to discover the true character of
the man. 1t was on his expanati to the
president that the appointment fell.
~
Mr.. Manning is studying his department
with patience and energy that must Ger
tainly lead to good results. He was very re-
luctant to come to Washington. Now that
he has come he intends to make success of
the management of his department. He in
tends TO put it upon frst-class business
basis. All changes 10 be made in the de-
partment will be made with view of i'm
proving the character of the business man
agement. | do not believe that there will
be a single appointment in the reorganZa-
ton Of the treasury for purely political rea-
sons. II appointments are dictated by mo-
tives of purely political character, there
would certainly be no hesitation in the APP
pointment of Phil Thompson as commits
soner of internal revenue. The solid Ken
lucky delegation has asked for this appoint
ment, while at least sixty members Of the
house have joined in the recommendation.
II is largely a question of whether Mr..
Thompson has the business qualifications
necessary for this place which has kept him
from being appointed. 1t is telt that it is
more I'm portant to have man of strong
business education for this great bureau
than 1t would be for any other bureau Of the
department
%x2
The Clevelands live very simply and quietly
at the White house. They have not changed
their habits or manners by coming to Wash
ington. Miss Cleveland was very much en-
bsrrassed last Saturday by the rudeness and
ill-breeding of Marshal McMchacl, who has
played the part of the funkey at the White
house during the Arthur administration. As
he was familiar with what was expected at
the reception, he was invited TO assist the
ladies' OF the Cleveland family at their first
reception. He complied with very i'll grace
and took no pains to inform the ladies what
would be expected of them. Nothing but Miss
Cleveland's tact saved her position from one
Of embarrassment. McMichael went even
beyond this rudeness. He stationed the at
teudants about the east room and crowded
away from the presidents family the wives
OF the leading Democrats of the town. The
favored ladies OF the former administration
were placed in all the posts OF honor. Mrs.
Hendricks, the wife OF the viee-president,
was as COED as told to move on. All this
must have been done for the purpose Of en-
barrassment and ANNOYANCE, 1t Is certain,
however, that it will not happen again.
So
There Is noticeable feature throughout
all the departments under the new rule
This IS the fact that all Of the secretaries are
so approachab!e during business hours, in a
majority Of the Offices ysu eau go In without
seudiug your card. Tue advantage Of this is
that the secretary is able to see more people,
and has a ready excuse for dismissIng the
imposiuuste next TO him by signing to vsi-