Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1886-05-15
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, May 10, 1886.

lOt lubcuu ~ WoIh MuCu uuii 3 sno
summer. Each is on pleasure bent,
and has his plans for recreation out
lined. The convalescent Secretary |
OF the Treasury will probably start
to Old Point Comfort tomorrow,
where he will remain for several
weeks, while his Albany residence is
being put in order for himself and
family.
1t was rumored about the hotels
few evenings since that Secretary
Manning had suffered a relapse.
This report originated from the fact
that in the last few days he has not
been improving so fast as was ex-
pected on account of the mental dis
turbance brought by a conference
with the President. Mr.. Manning,
urged by his family and friends, had
about made up his mind to retire
from the Cabinet and seek rest in
foreign travel. This determination
the President firmly combatted for
political reasons. He pointed out
the chaotic state into which the
New York democracy would be
thrown by the loss of Mr.. Manning.
Having already taken two members
of his Cabinet from New York, Mr..
Cleveland knew he could not elevate
another man from that state to a
Secretaryship without stirring up
violent opposition in the South and
West. Mr.. Cleveland relies very
much on Mr.. Manning's political sa-
gacity.
The man whom he credits with
designs upon the party in 1888, is
David Bennett Hill of New York,
and Manning is the only man who
can outmaneuver the Governor. The
Administration Democrats, with
Cleveland at their head, are there
fore very averse to permitting Sec
Rotary Manning to withdraw from
politics. As for the Department,
that is vast machine, which, now
that Mr.. Manning's policy has been
we'll defined, will run itself, as it has
frequently done in the past, under
the able guidance Of the Secretary's
assistants. So it has come to pass,
it is affirmed, that Mr.. Manning is
to retain the portfolio and whip in
the boys, while Assistant Secretary
Fairchild is to do the work.
Within the past three days ex-
traordinary pressure has been
brought to bear upon the Secretary
by the party in New York. The re-
suit Of the November elections in
that state is said to depend very
largely upon the retention of the
Treasury Department by New
York man. eve cannot let Man.
ming co." said Tim Campbell of New
York last night. "Cleveland can
not let him go. Manning is the con-
Meeting link between the President
and the party"
At the Soldiers Home, three
miles from the city, they are begin
ming to make the annual prepar-
ations for the President. The cot
tage is really the property of the
soldiers. He occupies it Oh invita-
ton from the inmates. It is usual
at the beginning of the summer to
circulate paper among them for
their signatures, inviting the Presi-
dent to use the cottage. The old
soldiers like to have the Presidents
come, because their presence there
adds much life and interest to the
place. When the Executive stays
at the Home he virtually lives upon
the bounty of these retired veterans.
All Of the supplies for his table come
from their farm and commissary
stores. The cottage is also main
tanned at their expense. Every
President enjoys this change from
living at the White House.
When George William Curtis, the
boss mugwump of them all, was
elected President of the Civil Ser
vice Reform Associations few even
ings since, he took advantage of the
occasion to make some remarks.
He said that President Cleveland's
sincerity and courage in regard to
reform was unquestionable, but he
could not succeed. In the first place,
according to Mr.. Curtis, the Presi-
dent could not have formed a Cab
met devoted to civil service reform
because his party did not afford the
material. "When he became Presi-
dent" said Mr.. Curtis, he was sub
jected to such pressure as no other
President ever experienced. The
entire body of the party descended
on him at once with demand for a
clean sweep of all the civil offices"
But Mr.. Curtis admits that Mr.. Cleve.
land, like every other President has
felt the necessity of party support,
and his course, he says. Unjust be a
compromise between his party on
one hand and the interests of re-