The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1886-01-08
A cHAr WITH CLEVELAND.

- SNffNI Wtbit OEE GGFtlN6s
The President Tells an IntervieWer that He
Has Had No Conversation Officially with
Senators Regarding the Rejection of His
Appo;ntments-The Financial Question
the Most Important One Before Con-
gTess-He Thinks His Recent Letter ON
Newspaper Misrepresentation Was War
ranted by Facts.
New York, Dec. 1.-The Work prints the
following special from Washington: Upon
the eve of Congress meeting again there
have been circulated many reports con-
corning the Presidents attitude. 1t has
been said that he was looki for
ward to the winter with great
anxiety. Other stories have credited him
with seeking interviews with Republican
Senators, in order to find out how
much of a fight was going to be made on
his nominations. Other similar stories re-
garding the Presidents position toward
Congress have been put in general
circulation. Saturday afternoon the
World correspondent called upon President
Cleveland for the purpose of asking
him directly about his personal posi-.
tion, and to determine, if possible from first
hands, the truth or falsity of the stories al.
luded to. During the extended converse.
ton which followed he talked frankly and
freely. He showed in nothing he said the
remotest shade of anxiety or nerve usness
about the future work OF Congress. The
President denied that he had held inter
views with Senators on the subject of his
appointments The matter, he said, might
have been talked of by him with some OF
his callers, but only as a casual topic.
While he, of course, took an interest in the
confirmation or rejection of las appointees,
still he felt no undue anxiety on the sub
set.
Then the President picked up bound
copy of his message, saying:
al made great point in this paper OF
defining my duties as they relate to Con-
gress, as clearly and distinctly as possible.
deemed this definition of the duties of the
Executive so important that 1t was placed
almost at the very beginning of the mes
sage. That portion of my messagehas APP
parently attracted but little attention. !
have seen no allusion to it anywhere, and
yet regard it as one of the most impor-
tant passages in the message"
The President read from the message
clearly and distinctly the following:
AT the threshold of compliance with these
constitutional directions it is well for us t.
bear III mind that our usefulness to the PEG
pies interests will be promoted by constant
our respective duties as they relate to Fed
eral legislation, While the Executive may
recommend such measures as he shall
deem .expedient, the responsibility fol
legislative action must and should res
upon those selected by the people to
make their laws Contemplation of the grave
and responsible functions assigned to the re-
spective branches of the Government under
the constitution will disclose the partitions of
power between our respective departments
and their necessary independence and also
10 M nh fha nj nj fknr QUINN
trusted to each in that spirit of comfy and co
operation whach is essential to the proper full
tlment OF the patriotic obligations which resi-
upon us as faithful servants of the people.
After he had finished reading the Presi
dent settled back in his chair, and with a
ook of earnestness which approached so
lemnitN he said: II believe this is an execu
tive office, and l deem it important that
the country should be reminded of it. ]
have certain executive duties to perform
When that is done my responsibilities end
The office is one of the coordinate branche;
of the Government. The Senators ant
members have their duties and their re
sponsiblities. They put their hands upo
the Bible and take the same oath of obliga
ton upon assuming Office as does the Presi
Dent" = tttt+% ft
The President then continuing said that
when he had made his recommendations to
Congress, or had sent appointments to the
Senate, the responsibility then was shifted
to the other end OF the aventie The Presi.
dent regards the financial question as tn,
most important before Congress, although
he does not by any means underrate the
Importance of the tariff question.
Continuing, he said: II believe the bus
ness of the country is now, to large ex
tent, in a condition of uncertainty, owing
to the doubt as to what will be done witt
silver. | wrote upon that subject to the
BEST of my ability in my message. lido not
see how even the extreme advocates of the
use of silver can ask to have the coinage
continued while so much remains idle, and
there seems to be no scarcity of currency"
Adverting to the subject of the Senate
and the consideration by that body OF his
appointments, the President said:
81 have made no hasty selection OF
officers, but on the contrary have given
very much time and investigation to the
subject, approaching that very much de-
ponds on the personnel of the Government.
Possibly / may have erred in some instances,
but am sure they are few, and have every
evidence that the country is satisfied with
the new officials. have no knowledge as
to what course the Senate will pursue, but
fere with the prerogatives of the President.
I have my duties; it has it's. One thing 1
do not believe, and that is that the United
States Senate will spend its time in listen
ing to the petty criticisms of appointees
which come from disappointed applicants
for office"
r. The President was asked whether the let
ter he wrote to Mr.. Keppler, the editor of
Puck, was, intended for publication. He
said: II wrote no letter which may not be
published. There was no understanding
about the letter to Mr.. Keppler, either that
it should or should not be published. ex-
pressed my opinion upon the subject of GER
tain newspaper publications. l have no
desire to modify or defend these opinions
He then went on to say that he had been,
perhaps, influenced to say what he had by
persistent and continued misrepresenta-
tions. ''rhese Misrepresentation" said
he, "are gratuitous and needless. My
Private Secretary, Colonel Lamont, is an
old newspaper man. He has full liberty to
give to all newspaper correspondents
every possible advantage in the way of in
formation. If there ever was an Admins
tration that had no secrets this is one. l
want the business of this Administration
to be done behind glass doors. There is no
reason why any newspaper should be with
out correct information regarding what we
are doing if it win only take the trouble to
send and ask" III.
The President is great stickler for sys-
tenn in his methods of transacting business.
Everything is done at an appointed hour.
Those who come in conflict with the duties
Of the hour, however influential or however
well supported they may be, have to give way
and take their turn. lie very rarely makes
The people who come to his public recep-
tions wait moment beyond the time set
Tor hi4 appearance
"A sable son of Africa, accompanied
by smiling daughter of his race, en-
tered the office of a Justice of the
Peace at Coweta, Ca, the other day,
and thus addressed him: '1s you der