New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-11-17
eLIMpsE OF ROSCOE coNKLING.
TINES CHANGES IN THE EX-SENATOR
,rvopx THAT RACKS AND FILLS IN THE TREASURY
sroRy OF iABoUCHERE-

AND FILLS IN THE TREASURY
"A STORY OF LABoucHKRE-
cvsou rsx REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF TIE TRIhrShi
w.su,xerox Nov. 49, dropped In yesterday to
Aar Roscoe Conkling argue case before the Chief Of
an, I,,srterence Division in the Patent Office AZ
NIGHT have been expected the room was crowded with
pacpe m xous to listen the forensic efforts of the
ex-senator Conklinv o speaker, II struck me, has
lost none of the pocularies which distinguished him
when be delighted the galleries of the Senate by ieav
ing the political and dsvotng himself exciu-
sveiy 70 the practice of the Law. noticed the same
msnperisms the same theatrical gestures, the same
information of the voice the same sneer with which
scanned 70 goad his unwary adversa-es into attacking
him the same air. I might almost say. which as
singushed his into the Senate Chamber and
which seemed to say as plainly as words almost
Knock this chip off ny shoulder If you dare" He
has aged considerably since then His hair is whittier,
his features more set his form is also slightly bent
and his complexion reveals the traces OF pnyslcai
aing his mental force, no ever IL a. great as ever
he showed this repeatedly IN Yesterdays argument ms
ealjes his comparisons, the language IN whlcn be
clothed his thought quaint grotesque-an
aesthetic bystander characterized them as rocoo2-
as eyer The greatest change 1OWe'e e"uS.e the
care with which the ex-senator used TO dress woe ne
was IN Washington. But he seems TO have discarded
this together with with his pDitical anbtions as one
OF the yanies OF lite. be dressed yesterday 10
cheap hand -me-down" business suit, ii-htnng ana
great deal worse wear which might have delighted
The soul of some ChaIham-st. clothing dealer The
coal seemed to burst at the seams tbs wasteoat was
too short and the trousers-shades OF 6y-g0ne days
which looked upon this man as the Apollo OF me
Senate-were bsggy at the knees aud the once well
known flaming red neckte 1t had been replaced oy
one of sober and austere tint Even that famous ny
merton curl light in the middle OF the forehead as
the nursery song has it-has disappeared and the
head OF the ex-senator looks much like that oil any
other mortal
Reform is reform. and the present Administration Is
undoubtedly its prophet AT no one point does the
cyerpowering majesty OF reform abide ID more npos
ing presence than in this First Controllers Divisio
at the big Treasury Building. The watcndogs OF that
ecauf of some corruption supposed to be lett
over from tue reign o. Republican despotism. The
other day OF the youthful clerks discovered an
irregularftv in the accounts OF Dlsbursing Oihcer
Evans NJ the Interior Department In the Patent
Office IL seems where the difference IN the WORK OF
the various grades OF examiners Is slmpiy one
degree the for nlaty Of new oath upon man beng
promoted TO higher grade has often been omitted
Under decision Of former Controller however
every promotion is new appointment and the o1ncer
must quaiiy by taking the oath. In the Patent Oce
the appoiniments promotions when received nave
frequently dated back several ms'ihs, ana ,ne
examiner has rece we'd the back pay on voucher
The discovery OF the youthful Treasury clerk was
that these vouchers unaccOmpaned by the oats were
not regular and money could be Issued on them
This Jeff Mr. Evans in a hole He bad disbursed the
money and now be can't get II out OF the treasury
To save himself he has gone back on the examiners
and clerks whom he paid il out and has taken out
of their salary for this month. When some OF the
examiners who had signed the payroll for the tull
fhe vouchers for the amount they got nothing at all
or only q traction CT what was due them lmmed-
nteiy there weeping and gnasnng OF teeth " nen
= man is living close up to bis salary and has his
land izdv waiting for her money II makes things de-
rideilv unpleasant TO have 10 content himself with
blank o. PAYDAY. The happy possessor OF bank
soconnt hates TO be docked $50. The mulcted
examiner. are yOwiug vengeance against Mr.. Evans
Tor thus rccoupng himself at their expense and swear
they viii sue hun Tor the tuu amount. They all
ret I'D 10 take the nuriated remains OF theu hall
months salary until the question Is settled Specula-
tive employees buvinc up the claims OF their less
eaugniUc colleagues al 40 per cent discount, and
hvely lilile time IL expected.
An English Member OF Parliament who recently
visited the National Capital told me characteristic
story about LabOuehere the Editor OF Truth. winch
has not set lOuuc Its way INTO print, and which,
thiuk is too good keep. Il happensd at the time
when Gladstone was using every effort 10 secure
er4c;e,i --fuhrr of VOTES TO carry his Irish land
scheme ihro Oh the HOuse Of Commons. Labouchere
lad been asked by the Premier believe. to act as a
sor1 OF mediator between himself and the Chamberlain
faction whose hostility to the entire prog ramIne OF
land reform lad down by the Government tire atened
Early day to bring about the detest OF the
Min,strv Labby accepted this mark OF commence
on the part Of Gladstone with every show OF appretl-
aton sud sought by dIigent and faithful efforts TO
hca tn breach which leading the great Liberal
leaders further apart from each other every DAY for
a tune h had reason 10 believe thai he would be
sucaeSsf He found Chamberlain willing 10 listen to
the propo.sls made by Gladstone lie even got the
Premiea - yield some important features
OF n Land scheme in order to. secure
the support OF the Chamberlain wing OF
the party: bat beyoRd certain point Laoou-
chere found it impossible 10 move the Premier
What was the genial editors surprise therefore when
he toond that behIBd his back Gladstons had been
makipo ovrrrure- 10 Mr. Chamberlain, much beyond
apv point ihat he had indicated has wlling ness to
Iaboucherc to 20. The wrath OF the latter found
vent in a circle of sympat hiking friends IN the
lobby OF the House Of Commons where he told OF his
exDe-ence with the d" Grand Old Man"
,ioai mind" exclaimed the irate editor, accept
inc the fortunes OF war IN politics or IN any other
Varae shouldn't even mplain uch il found that
at gam o, cards antagonists sleeve was supplied
with "A extra pack so. but if that same man were
70 try and persuade that the Almighty placed that
pack OF cards up his sleeve. why, then the rest OF
moor Iaboucheres remarks were drowned II roars OF
laughter Everybody Of course, recognized the force
of his comparison.
Congressman Collins Of Massachusetts, who has
CONF down from Boston for few days
preparnOrv to resumng his legislative duties for the
winter. thinks that there IL great deal OF rescm-
banre between the Liberal party IN England and the
Democratic party il the United States In this, that
both are mighty in opposition but not suriclenty
compact tor constructive work. On nearly every
great public issue, he complains his party divided,
and unable accomplish any great work IN ONCE He
predcts that the people of the country Will soon issue
mandate for the reduction of tariff taxes "a pre-
dicton wuch il in strange contrast with the verdict
rendered AZ the polls this year. General Collins has
the good sense. however. 10 acknowledge that that
mandate should issue the Republican party
would TAX. il up and pass the necessary measure Of
tariff reform"