Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1886-01-08
The President interviewed.

The New York lVOHd does not seems
be afraid of any man certainly not of
president. Having followed him into q
heart of the Adirondack wilderness,
now does not hesitate to invade even III
executive mansion at Washington Las
Saturdaya lVOrld reporter secured pc
sonal interview with Mr. Cleveland whic
from It's practical character and the eN
dent genuneness of the information
conveys as to the presidents attitude q
important questions, is of interest To ii
public. The rumor that the president ha
sought interviews with Republican sen
tors for the purpose of discussing his ~
continents with them in private, wa 600
equarely denied by MIR. Cleveland, Il
though he admitted that he had coca
lonally mentioned the subject to some
his callers, adding; "Of course it is nat
"ural that ! take an interest in the con
"lrnation on rejection OF the men haV
selected during the vacation: bat FED
"no undue anxiety upon the subject"
Mr.. Cleveland further alluded to HI
own conception Of the nature Of the OH
which he holds. He said, after quotiu
the passage from his message relating
the subject: 81 believe that this is a
executive Office and | deem if iuportal
"that the country should be reminded
lit. | have certain executive dutie.
perform when that j. done my re,pous
"blity ends The Office is one of the G.
Ordinate branches of the government
The Senators and members have the
duties and their responsibilities The
put their Hands upon the bible and tax
"the same oath of obligation upon assun
chg Office as does the president. Whc
che has made his recommendations
Congress or has sent appointments to til
"Senate, the responsibility is shifted
''the other end of the avenue
This, certainly, is the constitutional
view of the presidential Office It is per
haps, too common to ciothe it. with rel
sponsiblities and prerogatives which arel
really outside of it, and vested in the lcgisI
lative department of the government. ThJ
old mOuarchcal idea of government still
fingers in some mems minds, even under
republican forms, and II seems natural to-
invest the head Of II nation with responSi.
bilites and powers which cannot belong
to any individual under 4 government "by
the people, Mr.. Cleveland pointed ont
this fact with distnctnes, in his message
and is apparently surprised that it has as
yet called forth little or no commentary.
Tomost intelligent American citizens how
ever, it cannot be anew view of the subject
On the silver coinage question Mr.
Cleveland simply called his interviewer'-
attention to the recommendations made
in his message, and added that 1t now
rests with that body to say whether more
deprecated silver shall be coined or not
On the tariff he was less detinite-iu fact
seemed to "straddle' the question. Mr.
Cleveland believes Il tariff to be necessary
as of course-becduse the government
must be supported by some means and
the people are not ready for direct taxa
ton but he seems to be in favor OF
changing the present tariff law.
: My own idea is that the only practical
} way to pass bill would be to have the
House committee charged with this work
take up the subject in Il business fashion
and modify the present law in such way
as to help poor people who labor and Il
take away needless protection from the
, few who have grown lnurdluatc.N Ilch "a
the expense of the many. There are
! many lncongruitics IN the tariff Which
could he remedied by looking at the Who'll,
system from business standpoint.
This Is not very definite but j, perhap.
rs well as Mr. Cleveland could De- expect
ed to do with that subject under all til,
; circumstances.
A, parting shot, Mr.. Cleveland CAV
the newspapers a hit on their sensational
way of compiling political news. and eug
gcsted that they would do better to com
to headquarters for their information
which he promises shall he given freely
: My private secretary, Col. Lamont, h
l says. lis an old newspaper man He ha
: full liberty to give to all the neWopape
D Correspondents every possible adVantaL
lin the way of information II there eve
"was an administration that has no st
4 "crets, this is one. | want the cuisines
'of this administration to be done behin
{ glass doors There is no reason why an
l. newspaper should be without correct IN
"tormation regarding what we are dom
J IF it will only take the trouble to sem
; "and ask 1t would no doubt, be goo
T. thing if the Washington correspondent
= would more fairly avail themselves OF thi
: privilege. But there would be less Wash
t. iugton news, if the newspaper men ohoul
i cOuiiue themselves to what Information
j can be obtained at the White House.