, 1886-07-23
HOWELL COBB'S JOKE.
BUCHANAN OUTWITTED BY HIS SEC
RETARY OF THE TREASURY.


A Trial Trip of the Harriet Lane Which
sorcIy vexed the President-An Item
lied Bill of Expcnses-Cobb Surprises
'the Old Squire"
The last Democratic president, James
Buchanan, had his own idea as to the use
OF our public vessels, and a story was pub
lished nan years ago of how this idea
cost Howell Cobb, his secretary Of the
treasury. a nice little sum. 1t was at the
time OF the launching and trial trip of a
revenue cutter, which had been made I'M
der Cobb's direction and named after Bu-
chanan's niece "The Harriet Lane" Cobb
concluded hat on this trial trip Of the
new vessel he would invite the cabinet,
the foreign Legations, the president, and
others of his acquaintances to take a sail
with him down the Potomac. He made all
his arrangements without saying n word
to the president, and the matter was
pretty well advanced before buchanan
heard OF 1t. When 1t first came to his ears
sold Buck" sent for his attorney general,
Jere Black, and Black, when he came to
the White House, found Buchanan flushed
with anger. As Black entered he said;
Are you going on this blanked frolicf /
WOuiu llht " hnoW nnat 1Ou III VI
Cobb's using public property for HIS
private epte- -lnn--.E-
: attorney General Black replied that he
was not going on the Harriet Lam trip,
and though he did not like TO ~criticise
Cobb, still he was not backward in saying
that he did not approve of 1t. But" con-
tinued he, Mr.. President, Cobb has gone
on with this affair and issued his invita-
tions and l don't see what you can do
about it,"
ado about it." said Buchan, In q rage,
"do about III Why of course l will stop 1t.
1t is a scandalous affair and | will not be
held responsible for IL. l certainly will not
allow 1t to go m"
WANTED IAN ITEMIZED BILL"
Black then placed before Buchanan the
probability that Cobb thought he was do
ing nothing wrong when he was making
the arrangements, and the fact that II he
stopped the affair now 1t would cause a
great deal OF scandal both in this country
and abroad, as the foreign ministers had
been invited.
Buchanan appreciated this. and finally
said that he thought that he would let
Cobb go on II he wanted to and he would
pay all the expense out of his own pocket.
The excursion did go on, but neither the
president nor Attorney General Black
were present. At the first cabinet meeting
after It buchanan said to Cobb; "Mr Sec
rotary, | you TO bring me an Item
lied bill of the Expense incurred during
the trial trip of the Harriet Lane. l want
a detailed account Of everything-the coal
consumed, the salary Of the officers, the
wages OF the seameu, and the cost ofevery
bit OF supplies used on the trip"
Cobb did not know what to make OF this
dpmand lint he rpnlied uuietIy. nCer-
tainly, Mr.. President, 1 will do So"
Shortly after this the cabinet meeting
ended, and Howell Cobb and Jere Black
walked down from the White House to-
gether. When they had gotten opposite
where the attorney generals Office is now,
Cobb, who had been silent up to this time,
burst forth;"What in thunder does the old
squire meani"
Black made no reply, and Cobb went on:
"You know what he means, and know
you do, and now | want you to tell me
frankly what he is up tor
Black then related his conversation with
Buchanan, and concluded with the state
ment that buchanan had asked for the
bill in order that he might pay 1t out Of
his own pocket.
Howell Cobb always whistled when he
was surprised, and he now gave a loud,
long continued whistle and said: THAT is
what the old squire is up to, is itf Well,
| Will see whether l can surprise him"
SURPRISE FOR THE PRESIDENT.
1t this point the conversation dropped,
and Black and Cobb went on to the treas
ury. Every once and awhile Cobb would
repeat his whistle, and as Black left him
he heard the whistle coming out OF the
treasury door as Cobb entered. The next
cabinet day came, and with 1t came Cobb,
who seemed to be the happiest man of the
council. The president looked glpm,
but Cobb was cracking his jokes at every
body. The business of the r.eeting was at
last concluded, and the secretaries had
arisen To take their departure, when
Buchanan turnc4 10 Cobb and said rather
sharply MIR. Secretary, where Is that
billsH
Cobb, assuming n n innocent air,
answered; What bill do you mean, Mr..
President"
81 mean the bill of expenses for the
trial trip of the Harriet Lane" answered
Buchanan stcrnly, shave you got 1t with
your"
Ont that bill,p said Cobb; "yes, l believe
l have 1t somewhere about my clothes, "
and hereupon Cobb fumbled first in one
pocket, and then In another, and finally
drew out n piece of %crumpled paper which
he handed to the president with; II guess
that is It,"
Mr.. buchanan took 1t and looked over 1t
item by Item. His face was full OF disgust
as he read, and he seemed to look daggers
into the paper until he reached the end,
when he almosi jumped to his feet as h,
exclaimed; why 1t is receipted-paid In
full by Howell Cobbl'
"And who in thunder should have pait
1t but Howell Cobbi" broke in Cobb witt
an ar OF injured innocence, "it was my
frollc. Who should have paid for IT."
Sure enough sure enoughi" was al
that buchanan said. But he frightened
up at once, and in a short time became n.
merry rs Cobb had been at the beginning
of the session. Cobb and Black wen
away from the White House together, ant
as they were going Town the steps int,
the yard, Cob aid Didn't l come it owe
the old squire that timeiT-"Carpv IL
Cleveland Leader.
Effects of y Molasses Bath.
An incident in n Melbourne foundry 4