The Arizona sentinel., 1889-01-19
PRIVATE SECRETARIES s.
Cosby Chat About the Predecessors O
 Popular Dan Lamont.

Cosby Chat About the Predecessors Of
 Popular Dan Lamont.
 There was no secretary to the Presl- dent prior to 1S48, but 1885 Congress authorized clerk to the President ito sign land patents" and President Jack son appointed Andrew Jackson DOnel- son, his nephew, as ''signer of land patents Later, Major Donelson changed his name, and he appears in the Congressional Directory for the second session, Twenty-fourth Con- gress, as Andrew Jackson, Jr."
 Martin Van Buren had for his signer of patents Major A. Van Buren dur ing his whole term. Whether or not General Harrison appointed any one to the place IS not certain, but the next succeeding directory gives the name of John Tyler, Jr., and that gen. tleman took to himself the style and title of ''secretary," to sign, etc., al though there was no warrant of law for it.
 President Polk appointed his nephew, James Knox Walker, and that gentle man in 1915 became the first private secretary to the President" under a law passed at the second session of the Twenty ninth Congress.
 Sidney Webster who afterward be- came the son-in-law of Hon. Hamilton Fish, was the private secretary of Franklin Pierce, and following him James Buchanan had his nephew, James Buchanan Henry, for secretary, who like Major Donelson, changed his name, and in the latter part of his term of office was known as James Buchanan, Jr.
 Colonel John Hay is another private secretary who was never a private secretary. Mr. Lincoln's secretary was John G. Nicolay, and Colonel Hay was given an army commission in the volunteers and detailed for special duty at the White House.
 Prior to President Jackson's time the clerical labor at the Executive Mansion was performed by clerks de- tailed from the various Executive de- partments, but as the country grew in population the executive labors in- creased and legislative aid was given to provide an authorized force, and in 1865 Congress not only added an ''as- sistant private secretary" but promoted the ''signer of patents to be secretary for that purpose.
 Colonel Robert Johnson was secre- tary during all of his fathers incum- bency of the Presidency, and Colonel Robert Morrow, who afterward com mitted suicide while on duty at San Francisco, was the first assistant. Mor- TOW was succeeded, in 1867, when he was appointed paymaster in the army, by William Wallace Warden, who now resides here, practicing law. During Mr. JohnsOn's time a detail Ot army officers was placed on regular duty at the White House, and the detail in- cluded General Reuben D. Mussey, Colonel Browning, w. G. Moore (now chief of police here) and Wright Rives and Captain Andrew K. Long. In the Congressional Directory of those days they are styled 'secretaries," and it was that precedent that brought about the de- tail of Generals Dent, Porter and Bab- cock for General Grant.
 President Arthur's private secretary was Fred Phillips. President Hayes private secretary was Colonel Rodgers, a good-natured gentleman, who filled the office satisfactorily. He was not a pronounced character and was chiefly noticeable for his thrift and ready rec ognitiOn of the main chance. - WdSb- ingt0n Letter.