The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1886-08-26
HOWELL COBB'S JOKE.
BUCHANAN ouTWlTTED BY HIS SEC
RETARY OF THE TREASURY.

BUCHANAN ouTWiTTED BY HIS SEC
RETARY OF THE TREASURY.
1 Trial Trip of the Harriet Lane Which
soreIy vexed the President-An Item-
lied Bill of Expenses-Cobb Surprises
"the Old Squire Ma
The last Democratic president, James
Buchanan, had his own idea as to the use
our public vessels, and a story was pub
lshed many years ago Of how this idea
ost Howell Cobb, his secretary OF the
reasury, nice little sum. 1t was at the
ime of the launching and trial trip OF
evenue cutter, which had been made I'M
er Cobb's direction and named after Bu-
hanan's niece "The Harriet Lane" Cobb
oncluded that on this trial trip OF the
.ew vessel he would invite the cabinet,
he foreign Legations, the president, and
theirs Of his acquaintances to take sail
nth him down the Potomac. He made all
is arrangements without saying word
the president, and the matter was
retty well advanced before Buchanan
card of it. When it first came to his ears
Old Buck" sent for his attorney general,
NJ
he White House, found Buchanan flushed
nth anger. As Black entered he said:
Are you going on this blanked frolic! l
66u1d like to know what you think Of
tobbs using our public property for his
rivate entertainment"
Attorney General Black replied that he
Fas not going on the Harriet Lane trip,
nd though he did not like to criticise
;obb, still he was not backward in saying
hat he did not approve of 1t. "But," con-
inued he, "Mr. President, Cobb has gone
with this affair and issued his invita-
ions and ! don't see what you can do
bout it."
--sDo about it," said Buchan, in q rage,
do about It'll Why of course will stop 1t.
is a scandalous affair and l will not be
.eld responsible for it. / certainly will not
low it to 60 on"
WANTED GAN ITEshZED BILL"
Black then placed before Buchanan the
reliability that Cobb thought he was do
w nothing wrong when he was making
he arrangements, and the fact that II he
topped the affair now it would cause
Teat deal Of scandal both in this country
nd abroad, as the foreign ministers had
cen invited.
Buchanan appreciated this, and finally
aid that he thought that he would let
cobb go on If he wanted to and he would
ay all the expenses out of his own pocket.
The excursion did go on, but neither the
resident nor Attorney General Black
we're present. At the first cabinet meeting
fter it Buchanan said to Cobb: "Mr. Sec
etary, want you to bring me an item
led bill of the expenses incurred during
he trial trip of the Harriet Lane. Iwant
detailed account of everything-the coal
onsumed, the salary of the officers, the
wages of the seamen, and the cost of every
ut of supplies used on the trip"
Cobb did not know what to make Of this
!emand, but he replied quietly: Ger
ainly, Mr.. President, will do So"
Shortly after this the cabinet meeting
nded, and Howell Cobb and Jere Black
walked down from the White House to-
:ether. When they had gotten opposite
where the attorney generals office is now,
Cobb, who had been silent up to this time,
,urst forth:"What in thunder does the old
quire meanH
Black made no reply, and Cobb went on:
You know what he means, and know
rou do, and now want you to tell me
rankly what he is up tot"
Black then related his conversation with
Buchanan, and concluded with the state
nent that Buchanan had asked for the
i'll in order that he might pay 1t out OF
lis own pocket.
Howell Cobb always whistled when he
vas surprised, and he now gave loud, =.
ng-continued whistle and said: "That is
What the old squire is up to, is it? Well,
will see whether can surprise him"
A SURPRISE FOR THE PRESIDENT.
1t this point the conversation dropped,
md Black and Cobb went on to the treas
Try Every once and awhile Cobb would
epeat his whistle, and as Black left him
he heard the whistle coming out of the
treasury door as Cobb entered. The next
:abinet day came, and with it came Cobb,
Who seemed to be the happiest man of the
ouncil. The president looked glum,
tut Cobb was cracking his jokes at every
,ody. The business of the meeting was at
asst concluded, and the secretaries had
risen to take their departure, when
Buchanan turned to Cobb and said rather
'harply: "Mr. Secretary, where Is that
Iil,"
Cobb, assuming an innocent air,
answered: What bill do you mean, Mr..
President"
II mean the bill of expenses for the
rial trip of the Harriet Lane" answered
Buchanan sternly, "have you got it with
FOUR"
"Ohl that bill, " said Cobb; ayes, believe
have it somewhere about my clothes"
ind hereupon Cobb fumbled first in one
pocket, and then in another, and finally
lrew out piece of crumpled paper which
ne handed to the president with: II guess
hat is it."
Mr.. Buchanan took it and looked over it
ITEM by item. His face was full Of disgust
IS he read, and he seemed to look daggers
into the paper until he reached the end,
when he almost jumped to his feet as he
exclaimed: "Why it is receipted-paid in
tull by Howell Cobb"
"And who in thunder should have paid
It but Howell Cobb" broke In Cobb with
IN air of injured innocence, lit was my
trolic Who should have paid for it,"
"Sure enoughl sure enoughP was all
that Buchanan said. But he frightened
mp at once, and in a short time became as
merry as Cobb had been at the beginning
Of the session. Cobb and Black went
away from the White House together. and
rs they were going down the steps into
the yard, Cobb said: Didn't come II over
The old squire that time?"-"Carp" in
Cleveland Leader.