Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-01-13
SOME DISSATISFACTION
Over the Action of President Arthur In
Accepting Smyth's Resignation - Con-
cernlng West Virginia Affairs.
u -. Il. d.

Accepting smyth's Resignation - Con-
cerning West Virginia Affairs.
Special 10 he Register.
WASHINGTON, January l2.-There is some
dissatisfaction among Democrats here over
the action Of the President in accepting the
resignation of Psymsster Smyth. They
claim that this is only a repetition on a
small scale of the action taken BY General
Grant in the case of Secretary Belknap.
That official would have been imprisoned
on charges which could have been easily
proven against him but for the fact that his
resignation WAS sent in and hastily accepted.
Major Smyth, it is true, had only been gully
of q technical offense under the military
code and had not defrauded the government
out of any money which was its due. But 1t
is held to be extremely questionable whether
he would have gotten off so easily, or would
have escaped even the most severe finding
of a court martial, had it not been for the
fact that his father is John +. Smyth. Of Al
bany, late Superintendent OF Insurance, and
one of the most iron-hsnded of local pohu-
cal bosses. 1t is openly held that General
Arthur by his action IN the case of Smyth' s
son has placed the latter under obligation
10 himself which will be requited with in
t.rest at some time in the future. 1t IS
well known that o Brien, Biglin and Cregan,
of New York City, have long been dissatis-
fed with the alienation between Arthur
and Smyth, which arose out of the recog-
milton OF Draper as the administration
manager in Albany. 1t is said that o Brien
III .,H 80 tho
ent action of the President in accepting the
resignation of young Smyth, and it is the
general opinion that the reconciliation be-
tween the Draper and Smyth factions in
Albany, which was patched up during the
late campaign, viii be q permanent one, and
that President Arthur can again rely on the
support of his old Albany ally, who IS q
warm friend as well as bitter enemy.
Col. Lamont, the private secretary Of
Gov. Cleveland is quietly enjoying himself
in Washington. He is the observed OF all
observers, and is conspicuously courted by
Democratic statesmen who are alleged to
have ambitions in the direction OF Cabinet
position He looks upon them all with the
ssme air of smiling courtesy, qnizzlcs
eynression once in while lighting up his
rsther handsome eyes, and tells them moth
inc 10 excite their already active curiosity
nor TO satisfyi it. He is credited, however,
with knowing all that is to be known OF the
plsus of the incoming President but know
mo the value Of being looked upon as
.afa confident he is not likely to depart tol
a moment from his policy OF sphinx-llk'
silence on the pertinent topic OF the hour.
| Not SO Much.
| West Yirginia's representation IN the
| Cabinet of President Cleveland IS not 81
much talked Of as il was three or four week:
ago, and there seems to be general i'm
pTessiOn among Democratic politicians tha
it's claims will be disregarded, at the sam'
time the friends of Hon. Henry q Dawn
are not renting their sxerlons on his De
half and may yet succeed in their efforts 4
secure for him that recognition which M
acknowledged ability and integrity deserve
There has been some difficulty about to
official bond of Postmaster Gibbons, o
Charleston, West Virginia, who was cor
6rmed without opposition, though at rathe
a late day. by the Senate, but 1t has bee
sstistsctorily settled aud Gibbons viii hot
tbe nosition until the Cleveland admin:
tration decides to make q change. -.
The failure Of the President to reappoln
NT.;or Theophilus Gaines, ofWest Virginia
AZ Pension Agent for this district has pee
noted in the columns OF the hESISFss
There are different reasons which may 0
ssSioned for the substitution OF New lor
nan for West Yirginiaa. In the mr.
rIacs Major Gaines was appointed to u
PfEce by President Hayes and
Ons Of the sppointees OF Il
do facto government might con
1,- share of the Odium which will
.IIsvs associated in the mind OF Chester
Ar,bnr with the national sdminlsrsaC
-b;cb undertook to remove him, the tutn
| PRESIDENT from the Collectorshlp OF the pc
: oF New York, without even attempting
. ;ustify its action. In the second place, =
!, Familiarity of the President with New o
noE,;cs NAV have led to his giving und
: Fs;sbt 10 the claims Of the politicians fro
,h.s State. In the third place, It IS 81
: .astsS in Democratic quarters that !
= snSlv persoual relations existing oetSe
4 Ms;or Gaines and the Democratic Senate
! t-oy his State have been used to preju
> ,hs President against an official VINO
n sITsvs done al that could justly oereqult
; of him, in the best shape since ne pas 0c'
pied the position. -.
\ The Office pays $4,000 per yesr ia saia
3 and SlOO 900 per year in fees. ont OF Tnl
q tha fuIl amount Of clerk hire must De
SnctsJ The Pension Agent for TINS 9
tr;ct S;sburses between $500, 900 and :
- ma 200 eyery year and has on els roiis
= SoS v,sr.ons This is accounted5or oY
I. fact that the pensioners IN All the NstI' ~
: Soldiers Homes and in New Jersey, Ne
land. and Delaware, as well as those re-
inc in the District Of Columbia. get u
w:aeY at this Office: -.
I rlled on Major flames yesss''