Omaha daily bee., 1888-12-02
LINCOLN NEWS AND NOTES.
the ThurstOn Petition.
WHY HE DECLINED TO SIGN 1T.
The Union Pacific Round House Fire
business In the District
Court-The Norfolk In.
sane Asylum.
WHY HE DECLINED TO SIGN 1T.
LINCOLN BUREAU OF THE OMAHA BEE,
1929 = STREET,

LINCOLN, Dec 1.
Meeting the governor to-day The BEE
representative said to him: "As the clrcu-
lation Of the petition asking the presi dent
elect to make John M. Thurston secretary of
the interior has excited a great deal or in
terest and curiosity, | ask your reasons for
declining to sign the same"
Certainly replied the governor, mo OBJ
lection whatever to giving them The first
reason was, that it seemed indelicate to be
urging the president to appoint anyone to
his cabinet; he ought to be left entirely free
to make his own selections unsolicited or,
urged by any one, because they are his i'm
mediate associates and constitutional ad-
visers, and he knows better than any one
else whom he would like to have as such as
sociates. The second reason was. that | did
not feel at all certain that Mr.. Thurston was
cognizant of, or that he desired this move
ment 20 be made in his behalf. He was alb
sent at that time in Boston, and l
could not communicate with him. The third
reason was, the president would not, and
consistently could not, select any gentleman
who is chief attorney of the Union Pacific
railroad to be secretary of the Interior be-
cause AS such secretary that person would
have almost direct control of the relations
existing between the government and the
Union Pacific and Central Pacific railroads
The Pacific railroad bureau, the whole bust
ness of which is with those two roads, is
under the imme date supervision OF the sec
retary of the interior To transfer the at
torney of one of those roads to the position
of head of the interior department would be
a blunder worse than crime, and l GER
tainly could not ask the president to do an
act which would give black eye to his
nistr m NAT
have been started without reflection as
to it consequences. The same feeling
should exist in relation to this matter
that governs an attorney, who when trans
forred to the bench, refuses to preside on the
trial of cause in which he has been en-
ployed as the attorney on either one side or
the other. Cases are continually arising
with the above named railroads which would
require decisions from the secretary of the
interior. II would be very inconvenient for
q secretary TO be compelled TO decline TO act
In such case because of his former connec-
tion with the road Such state Of things
would prevent the selection OF one who had
thus been the attorney OF one of those rail
roads. There was no personal feeling what
ever that influenced me. There is none but
friendly relations existing between Mr.
Thurston and myself so far as know. i do
not now believe he authorized or sanctioned
the circulation of that petition in his behalf.n
ANOTHER DESTRUCTIVE BLAZE.
The fire alarm was turned on again this
morning about O'Clock, but too late to save
the Union Pacific round-house, discovered TO
be on fire at that hour. The building was a
solid sheet of flame when the fire engine
arrived at the scene, and the two streams of
water turned upon the deyasting element
made little or no impression whatever The
building was doomed and before o'clock it
was completely reduced To ashes. Nothing
was left but smoking embers. II is rare
that "a fire makes so clean sweep. An engine
belonging TO the Grand Island railroad com
pany was badly damaged. This was the
stove that Was in the building, or BY spon