The Penn's Grove record., 1886-07-17
A STORY OF PRESIDENT BUCHA-
NAN.
His Rigid Ideas of Omcial Propriety.

|
His Rigid Ideas of Official Propriety,
The last Democratic President,
James Buchanan, had very strict ideas
as to the use of our public vessels, and
they 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 under Cobb's direction and
named after Buchanan's niece "The
Harriet Lane" Cobb concluded that
on this trial trip of the new vessel he
would invite the Cabinet, the foreign
legations, the President and others of
his acquaintance to take a sail with
him down the Potomac. He made all
his arrangements without saying q word
to the President, and the matter was
pretty well advanced before Buchanan
heard of it. 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 blamed
frollc? l would like to know what
you think of Cobb's using our public
property for his private entertainmentp'
Attorney General Black replied that
he was not going on the Harriet Lane
trip, and though he did not like to crlti-
cize Cobb, still he was not backward in
saying that he did not approve of it.
but" continued he, "Mr. Presi.
dent, Cobb has gone on with this affair
and issued his invitations and l don't
see what you can do about it,"
"Do about it, said Buchanan, in a
rage; do about It'll Why of course /
will stop it. 1t is a scandalous affair
and 1 will not be held responsible for
it. lcertainly will not allow it togo on. "
Black then placed before Buchanan
the probability that Cobb thought he
was doing nothing wrong when he
was making the arrangement, and the
fact that if he stopped the affair now it
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 If he wanted to and he
would pay all the expenses out of his
own pocket. The excursion did go on,
but neither the President nor Attor-
ney General Black were present. AT
the first Cabinet meeting after it Bu-
chanan said to Cobb:
"Mr. Secretary, l want you to bring
me an itemized bill of the expenses
incurred during the trial trip Of the
Harriet Lane. 1 want a detailed ac-
count of everything-the coal con-
sumed, the salary OF the officers, the
wages of the m and the cost of
every bit of supplies used on the trip
Cobb did not know what to make of
this demand, but he replied quietly:
Certainly, Mr.. President, l will do
So"
Shortly after this the Cabinet meet
ing ended, and Howell Cobb and Jere
Black walked down from the White
House together. 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
meanY" Black made no reply and
Cobb went on: You know what he
means, and l know you do, and now
l want you to tell me frankly what he
is up tol''
Black then related his conversation
with Buchanan. and concluded with
the statement that Buchanan had
asked for the bill In order that he
might pay it out of his W Iocket.
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 itP Well, 1 will see whether |
can't surprise him."
AT this point the conversation drop
ped. and Black and Cobb went on to
the Treasury. Every once and u while
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 it came Cobb, who
seemed to be the happiest mar of the
council. The President looked glum,
but Cobb was cracking his jokes at
everybody. The business of the meet
ing was at last concluded, and the Sec
retaries had arisen to take their depart
ure. when Buchanan turned to Cobb
and said very sharply:
"Mr. Secretary, where is that blll?'
Cobb. assuming an innocens air,
answered: "What do you mean, MIR.
Presidentp"
81 mean that bill of expenses for the
trial trip of the Harriet Lane" an
swered Buchanan sternly, ''have you
got 1t with your"
"Ohl that billIn said Cobb; "yes, I
believe I have 1t somewhere about my
Clothes" and hereupon Cobb fumbled
first in one pocket and then in another.
and finally drew out a piece OF crumpled
paper which he handed to the President
with: 81 guess that is It,"
Mr.. Buchanan took it and looked
over it item by item. His face was
full of disgust as he read, and seemed
to look, daggers at the paper till he
reached the end, when he almost
Jumped to his feet as he exclaimed:
"Why, 1t is receipted-paid in full
by Howell Cobb?"
"And who in thunder should have
paid it but Howell Cobb?" broke in
Cobb with an air of injured innocence,
sit was my frolic. Who should have
paid for itp" :,
"Sure enough sure enoughl' was all
that Buchanan said. But he frightened
up at once, and In a short time became
as merry as Cobb had been at the be-
ginning of the session. Cobb and
Black went away from the White
House together, and as they were going
down the steps to the yard, Cobb said:
Didn't 1 come it over the old Squire
then2" 1t Is needless to say, In conclu-
sion, that the government vessels were
not used during the remainder CT Blu
chanan's administration for private
nurnoseS