New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-06-05
GOSSIP From The CAPITAL.
A DEPARTMENT THAT RUNS ITsELF-GEN-
ERAf, RACK


trnoy THE IEGtIAR coRhEsPoSDENr THE TRIBUNE
WAsHINGToN, June .4.-There was rumor on the
street this afternoon to the effect that Secretary Lamar
had been sc in the White House today bounding up
the stairs leading to the where the CaDihe'
usually meets two steps at tne his coat tails hyhg
in the air and his left hand nervousy clutchng inc
bannisters He is said to have made the secohu 'hu
ing in exactly thirytwO seconds from the Tune he iei'
the portco though OF that will not pretend TO DC cer
tain until the whole matter has been investigated ny
the court journal The messengers and doorKeeperS
who guard the entrance TO the White House hau ho.
vet sufficiently recovered from their surprise when
saw them to give intelligent account oil TINS most
extraordinary affair. All they could remember was
vision of hair floating in the summer breeze, par %
legs perorming prodgons work, an excited coattail
and dreamy look A brown horse tied to post IN
front of the house looked through the window wilson
commands a view of the aforesaid stairs with asonlsh-
ment and disgust depicted in every one OF ts FEATURES
There is probably more than one horse that can 10
this but the beast which thus gave expression TO us
feelings is said 20 have been Mr. Lamsre. hope the
tory r tre for It it vOul1 indicate that the Sece
rx of the Interior can exert himself II he has mind
to At present il must be said he does not ACT az no
cared whether school kept or not IL Is true ne eoe
daily through the motion OF walking 10 MS once au
sitting there two three hours listening 10 lhe ule
chatter of place hunters and otheeseesers ne also
make appointments and discharges uneasy h, ., ~
sans AT a rate which made It appear prudeht 10 NM
Yesterday TO Issue order that no information shouu
hereafter be given to the press from the Appointment
Division All this is very well as lar us IL goes-oi'
should rather say 1t Is all wrong
The trouble is the public interest is suffering through
Mr. Lamar's conduct l am told that the business 10
the Secretarys office is two months IN arrears mar
pile of papers reaching to the ceiling OF his room almost
awaits Mr. Lamars inspection; that claimants pciOIc
the department suffer actual distress Dy reason Oh 'l
Secretarys inactivity aud that the clerks IL some OF
the divisions kept idle simply because he are CON-
ed 10
ment who bile dreams away MS lilie' OF Soes
trottng about the city his horse or reads novels OF
catches cold because be is too virtuous TO rlde IN gov
eminent carriage and falls into mud puddles as conSe
cuence or thinks be Is doing business wien he gives
audience TO lot OF usIeputaDlc Cc'Pcu'0'9 "H"
How is it that business is done Mt all in the Inteyor
Department under these circumstances T. asked an
employe the other day.
"Who runs il anyway 7" added.
"Oh bless your soul" came the answer, the depart
ment itself"
a" Doesn't Muldrow have something 10 say uo"n
mo; he hasn't cut his wisdom teeth yet. He is
completely in the hands OF his su0ordinates
What about Sparks "
"Ohl | really think sometimes thai the General
mad. He interviews himself every once IN weile
and gets the staff printed lie tells his friends that he
has discovered startling abuses in the Land once
mares nests, most likely"
And General. Black p I ventured TO say.
Well" my informant said, " Black IL disappoint-
ment Much Was expected OF him. but he has NOT come
up TO the predictions which made IN his behalf by
In what respects"
well, LIE has no backbone He lacks decision in
dependence and frmness OF character HIS action in
regard to Miss Sweet sbO wedthat he cOuldn st the
pressure Sin that Of the spoilsmen who clamored
for her removal The of Stephenson is another one
which illustrates his inability To oppose the budozng
tactIcs of the leaders OF his party"
heard rather ludcrous account by he way, OF the
manner in which Colonel StepbeDson's resignation was
asked for and obtained. Mr. Stephenson IL an old
soldier aud served for a long time chiet OF the mid
die division OF the Pension Once He has an excellent
record both officer aud civil employe OF the Gov
erument In some way. however. he had managed 10
the dispeasure and hostility OF Colonel Morrison
In fact there can DOUBT but that his discharge
was due directly TO MOrris ons demand for hts scal,
At any General Black sent for Colonel Stephenson
a few days ago aud requested his resignation IL was
handed TO the Commissioner without a word. don
know whether General Black telt any pangs as thus
treating who nd borne arms witt him IN the
same cause and had been faithful soldier lie moved
nervously in his seat, and after clearing his throat
said soothingiy
have any trouble in getting along Va the world
Well, Mr. Commissioner colonel stephenson re-
piled quietly don't at least make capital out OF my
disabilities as some do here the Cominissluner
seemed 10 vince aud If appear 10 Others to be able
bodied il is because do not talk az much about my
wounds ! ought TO. perhaps. This VIII say no"
ever that have been wounded in four places and that
suffer from these wounds more now than should ever
wish my worst enemy TO suffer- .
Mr. Stephenson was about TO and bow himself out
when General Black begged him TO be seated and IN
Numbering accents his voice chOked with tears began
10 tell the Colonel that his dismissal had been insisted
upon by others-men high in power and Of much iulu
ence that the pressure brought 10 bear upon-h was
greater than he had been able TO withstand That II
was pot his work that 1t went against his grain and
more 10 the same effect Psb1w u must have bern
disgusting Imagine this Commissioner OF Pensions
irving 10 ind excuses because he performing work
al the behts OF others.