Mohave County miner., 1889-06-29
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Correspondence OF the NisER.

When Commissioner OF Pensions Tam
ner came on from Brooklyn to assume the
duties Of bis position, he brought with
him an ex-employee OF the New York
custom house, who was promptly install.
ed as his confidential clerk. In former
administrations, the private secretary TO
the Commissioner has been quite hum.
bic individual, who has simply drawn his
$500 per annum salary and occupied the
back ground. But Capt. George B.
squires had soul above all this and
thirs,ei for power. lie had not been In
his office thirty minutes befors he was
Colonel.
And then began Two months Of the
administration Of the private secretary"
No caller need see the Commissioner. II
was only necessary TO obtain the ear Of
the private secretary for any action, when,
presto, it was done. Claims were made
special without the formality Of comply
ing with tho Department requirements.
Scores Of cases were pushed through by
the doughty Colonel. The rag tag and
bob tail OF the clerical force who fawned
upon the new autocrat were loud in his
praise, and in return were promised all
sorts OF fayors by him. They were to be
assistant chiefs Of divisions and special
examiners galore. lie was made com.
mander Of a Grand Army post, and his
deluded followers tried to join the post in
body. This cheerful lot Of hyenas had
but one watchword, George"
And George might have waxed long in
the land, il he had not commenced to
sign official letters George 3. Squires,
private secretary, and write in the first
person and become personally responsible
for great amount Of gratuitous informa-
ton. The amenities Of official cores
pondence must be observed, and when,
for the first time in Departmental history
the private secretary usurped the province
Of his chief, old fashioned people were
shocked.
Without warning, George was last
removed TO an inferior position in the
land office, and his heelers were left 70
mourn. II was the shortest and most
brilliant administration that ever graced
Bureau. In Its metoric career It recalls
the Kaleidoscope reigns during the
French revolution. 1t is now even said
that the chief supporters of the late die
tator will be removed, and indeed two
we're discharged on Saturday.
The local press has contained no word
Of the inner history Of this case. Indeed,
the Star exercised itself TO give the pub
lie the impression that Commissioner
tanner was most reluctant TO part with
his conf iential clerk. This is the course
Of the Washington payers in every case.
Never since the time Of Don Piatt has
there been Washington paper that has
had the courage to lead the attack against
any abuse. Perchance after some out
side paper has led the way and everyone
is abused, the Washington papers may be
led to reluctantly follow the lead.
The clique that first revealed the crook
edness Of the Washington aqueduct con-
struction found that the city newspapers
turned deaf ear to their story. As US
ual the first revelation reached the public
through the correspondents Of the out of
town papers. Aggressive General Boyn-
ton, Of the Cincinnati's Commercial Ga
zette, sent out the first statement Of the
scandal. Even then the local papers
followed the dictates Of the War Depart
ment officials aud pooh-poohed it. That
did not affect the Generals perseverance.
He hammered away until official inves-
tigation had established the existence Of
a gigantic swindle. To day there is going
on an investigation Of the almshouse
officials. The charges are serious and the
defendants make only a feeble protest.
Yet not one word editorially has been
said by any Washington paper. And
this is one Of the reasons why Washing
ton people read out Of town papers to
get the news.
The average postmaster becomes 80
attached TO his Office that 1t is almost
impossible to seperste him and the object
of his affection. While this is an honor
able love, and does credit to the post
masters unselfish generosity, it may lead
its victim into devious paths. Several
commissions have been withheld for a
few days when they got into the hands Of
the man about to be disposed. The climax
seemed reached Saturday when tele-
graphic notice was given the Department
by Texan who was recently appointed
that he had not received his commission.
On inspecting the records it was found
that the original commission had been
mailed him May I6, and the duplicate
June Z. An investigation has been order
ed, but will probably be without any
practical result. In the meantime, the
Democrat there had one extra month Of
official existence.
The number of Office seekers has in
creased in the past week, and one again
sees many Of the faces that were familiar
in March. The faces are not 80 cheerful
now as then but they look immensely
wiser and even chastened as the faces of
those who have UNEXPECTEDLY toyed with |