The Washington critic., 1885-08-22
WASHINGTON CRITIC EVENING, 22

mony. He was sincere and had no
other motive. When / went to
Europe he gave me two open letters of
introduction. They acted like magic.
Palaces flew open TO me- princes bowed,
kings received me and princesscs sought
my company. The world wondered at
my reception. Now, mind ! will not
be interviewed. Remember my policy
at present is to let others como TO the
front 1t is mistaken idea that ! seek
publicity. | am naturally modest and
retiring. Witness my silence within
the past few weeks when all the world
was trying to talk. "Will you 30 into
politics again p "No, | retired of my
own volition. can carry my district
whenever desire. Galveston goes for
me by large majority, and one or two
speeches in the outlying counties car
rics everything for me- | have dozen
or so invitations to 20 yachting and
shall spend the next three weeks OH the
ocean.
wv
1t has come to light in the Postollicc
Department, says Towlc of the Boston
Trdrellcr, that the records have been
kept under such a system that it is i'm.
possible TO tell how many dcfaulting or
delinquent postmastcrs are still holding
their positions. Case after case has
been uncarthcd with the significant in
dorscmcnt of the chief inspector.
Postmaster still in office" The last
administration was itself imposed upon.
In the case of the Orconta postoillcc in
New York the postmaster was found
upon investigation to be dcfaultcr in
large amount The fact was reported
TO the First Assistant Postmaster. Gen
cral Jananuary 90, and yet on Feb.
ruary 2S, only thirty days aftcrward,
the same postmaster was rcappointel
for four years. Unless the PostoilicC
Department was totally dcmoralzcd it
is not likely that dcfaultcr was know
ingly reappointed. The report of the
inspector who examined the charges
was sccrctcd in pigcon-holc of the
clerk in the office. Chief Clerk Nash
has taken hold of the investigation,
and has ordered that in all cases where
dcfalcation is charged that the papers
shall be covered with a melon colorcd
jacket, so as to be readily distinguished
from others on the desks of the Post
master General and his assistants. A
very lively hunt is now going on for re-
ports which it is suspected have been
in pigcon-holcs for some time.
wv
This also from the St. Louis RcpuJH-
cda: owe must get Democratic as.
sociate for you, Judge" said Hon.
Samuel j. Randall day or two ago to
the Democratic member of the Civil
Service Commission, Judge Thoman of
Ohio. Mr. Randall was about leaving
for Philadelphia and Judge Thoman
for the far West. The Judge had no
reply to make and his only response
was Il non-committal smile, that might
mean anything or nothing.
wv
Diligent inquiry by a Pitsburg Press
correspondent at several offices in the
Treasury, where one might expect to
find that information, has failed to
bring TO light any law authorizing the
President of the Senate pro tenn, when
there is no Vice President, to draw the
salary of the Vice President. Some
members of the House Appropriations
Committee have been appealed to, but
they have not been able to recall any
law authorizing such payments, and
were even surprised to learn that under
the circumstances named the President
pro tenn. did draw the Vice President $
salary. Such is the fact, however. The
frugal George +. Edmuds drew 5000
n year while he was President of the
Senate, and Judge David Davis did the
same before him, and all their
predecessors did likewise for
many administrations. There is pc
culiar feature about the way the pay
ments are made that suggests the lack
| of law regarding il. Senators receive
| their salaries through the Secretary of
| the Senate. The Vice-Presidcnt re.
ccives his salary direct from the Treas
ury Senator Edmonds, while he was
presiding officer of the Senate, and
there was no Nicc-PrcsIdcnt drew his
Senatorial salary from the Secretary of
the Senate, Just like his colleagues,
and then he drew $4,000 from the
Treasury to make up the amount 10
that of the Nice.P President salary. IT
is pretty plain that II he had right to
any part of the Vice Presidents salary
he had Il right to the whole of it, aud
one cannot fail TO admire his modera.
ton in not drawing altogether $1,000
year instead of the $4,000, which he
did draw. What Senator Edmond,
did, his predecessors, in the same situa,
ton, have been doing for years. 1t is
| not CnSN 10 toll WHOM IL hcrnn.