Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1885-04-25

around 10 the various departments to
see if my cabinet officers have caught
the spirit Of the administration and
have returned to the Arcadian simplici-
ty of the Jacksonian epoch"
And with these words President
Cleveland opened the front door and
issued forth into the raw, chilly air of
the March morning. The brisk breeze
blowing from the southeast bore to his
ears the faint echo Of the din Of ham.
mers busily employed in the distant
navy-yard at the good work of restoring
American sovereignty on the waters Of
the globe. The lights in the treasury
departments were dim, yet every room
was lighted up, and it was evident that
all hands were at work in accordance
with Secretary Manning's order that all
employees of the civil service should re-
port for duty at 4:30 a. m. every week
day. President Cleveland entered the
treasury building and asked the j%anitor
where Col. Manning was to be found.
"He is down in the vaults counting
the money" said the %janitor, "and he
cannot be disturbed"
Mr.. Cleveland expostulated, and was
| compelled to disclose his identity before
the ~janitor would listen to. him. But
being satisfied at last that the visitor
really was the president, the janitor
| conducted him through devious pass
ages, down winning stairways, and un-
der curious meats, until finally the
labyrinthine vaults were reached. Here
surrounded by piles of shining gold and
silver pieces, sat the secretary of the
treasury counting the national hoard by
the dim light Of a candle. 4.
81 am sorry you came" said the score
tary to the president, 'for | really have
so much work to do that / have no time
TO talk"
Then Mr.. Cleveland observed that
Col. Manning was attired in naught but
an undershirt, his rousers and a pair Of
high-heeled boots.
"Goodw thought the president. Then
he said, aloud But where is the gas
Dan, and why are you using this
wretched tal.ow Dip"
II have had the gas meter taken out
of the building" said the secretary,
land have returned to the good old
democratic simplicity Of candles. BY
this means the sum of $4,000 will be
saved to the country annually"
"And what are you doing now" asked
the president.
Counting the money in the treasury"
replied Col. Manning. II intend to
know for myself whether any pecula-
tons nave been INDUCED in by my re-
publican predecessors. Already 1 have
discovered a number of questionable
things. For instance, ! have found the
tail feathers pulled out of a large num-
Der Of the eagles on the 1877 coinage of
$50 gold pieces, and | intend to trace
burglarious outrage to its uttermost I'M
til the guilty party is brought to Justice"
"That is right" sand the president,
and as he walked away he felicltated him
self and his country upon having secur-
ed the cooperation of such an honest,
fearless patriot as the Albany journalist.
In the state department, too, the
tawdry gas fixtures had been removed
tn make way for the transformations
candle. Owing to a dimness Of vision,
however, Secretary Bayard was COM
PEELED to use a kerosene lamp, and this
stood upon his white pine table emitting
a fragrance which the rose of Sharon
might have enyied. Bayard wore no
collar nor tie. He was in his shirt
sleeves, and the president observed that
the shirt was a wooden one; only to
preserve the necessary dignity on state
occasions the secretary wore a white
celluloid bosom. but otherwise his attire
was rigidly plain.
"Yes, l am very busy" said Mr.. Bay.
ard, and l have been hard at work since
3 o'clock this morning. Having abolish
ed the 300 tvpe-writers and forty-eight
stenographers formerly employed in
this department, / have my hands full
answering the letters. Here" he con
tinued, as he YEARLY laid his pale hand
on a mass of c%runpled sheets of
"here are letters from Queen Victoria,
King William, Dom Pedro, Kalakaua,
Alfonzo, the czar, Taing-ho, Gen. Bar
rios, the ahkoond Of Swat, the emir of
Bagdool. the begun of Mysore and a
hundred other potentates, which must
be answered before the noon mail goes
out" a few moments later
President cleveland, having removed
his coat, collar and necktie, seated him
self at his desk in the white-house and
was ready for work.
Daniel" said he to his private secre-
tary, Il feel encouraged, for / have ire
futable evidence that ,cy cah;pot Z, ~