New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-10-07
BIRDS OF THE SAME FEATHER.
THE TWO REFoRMERs' PULL TOGETHER
BENEDICT HELPS CLEVELAND AND so HAS A
aPULL AT THE WHITE HOUSE

BENEDICT HELPS CLEVELAND, AND so HAS A
aPULLr AT THE WHITE HOUSE.
Washington, oct g. tspeciaD." Reformer" Clevc-
land and Reformer" Benedict be birds of the
same feather. The President devoted days and weeks
for which he received a salary amounting TO Si37 per
day. not including allowances and perquisites which
raise his daily wages about 300, to the preparation
OF vetoeS Of bills which would have given to disabled
and needy of the Union and to poor widows
of Union soldiers pensions Of two, four, six or eight
dollars per month In imitation Of his masters ex-
ample, Reformer' Benedict has discharged scores OF
efficient employees who had honorable discharges from
the Army or Navy, and scores of Others who arc
windows or orphans of Union soldiers He has also
discharged without scores Of other faithful and
efficient employees against whom he his iustrlOIs
brother. the chief clerk had some pique who were
suspected OF being Republicans because they did not
respond to demands for contributions to the Demo
cratic campaign fund
But Benedict did not stop there. To many of the
discharged employees small balances due on
account of pay for leaves OF absence
which they were entitled to By an act Of Congress
True to the mean instincts of petty official tyrant
Benedict has sought TO postpone or evade the pay
ment Of balances in question, which although relatively
small In amount are of great importance to many OF
the discharged employees many OF whom have peeh
trying for than year to obtain settlement
At last Refouner' Benedict has encountered
Them lie is b. F. Hackman, an ex-Confederate
soldier and Democrat, who was dismissed because
he dared to wte and publish card protesting against
political assessments. A balance of $44 is due 10
Mr. Hickman. When no applied for Is he was In
formed that he must walt until tho Deficiency bill
became a law and probably for several months longer.
Mr. HacLman thereupon wrote letter to Controller
Durham, Of the Treasury Department, asking this
question: Am / not entitled a settlement at
once on pro rata basis unless
the Public Printer sets mp the
claim that the appropriation for the current year tn
pay for leaves Of absence, has been exhaused?'
To this Judge Durham replied in writing, october
o. that the sundry Civil bill having become law on
the preceding day, Hackrnan was unquesonably'
entitled to an immediate adjustment Of his account.
Armed with this opinion, Hac lnan yesterday visited
the Government Printing Office and asked TO
Benedict. After he had been kept waiting some
time I'm an ante rOOmfOr Benedict is exclusive
and harder for workingman 10 approach than PIes-
dent Grant ever waS-tho messenger returned. and
cOllOquy In substance follows took place:
The Public Printer says he does not want to see
you"
Did you tell them that have a letter from Con
troller Durham to show him y
He said he didn't a blank II you had letter
from Durham; that old Durham had been down here
In person, and that he would find that he couldn't run
this Ofice.'
The Reformer" seems to be confident Of the
strength Of his pull at the White House, and doubt
less he knows that he do and say what he pieases
Old Durham halls from Kentucky, the electorate vote
IT which Is safe while that of New York IS regarded
at least as doubtful. even by the scared Reformer"
Of Red Top. lie knows that Benedict squeezed good
Printing Office employees last year. for the Democratic
campaign fund.- and for every hundred dollars con
trbuted then 1t IS expected that thousand will be col
lected this year for the benefit of cleveland ana
Reform