The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-01-19
WASHIN GTON GOSSIP.
APPEALS TO THE PRESIDENT FOR
HIS INTERVENTION

had an opportunity this morning, says
T. G. Crawford in Washington letter to
the New York Tribune, of seeing the Presi-
dent as he received a number Of visitors,
and of witnessing for a short time his
method OF doing business. When l first
came into his room he was standing up with
a trim, handsome, boyish-lookiug West
Point cadet, who was at attention. The
boy was in the uniform Of tie academy.
He was a reguler-featured. blue-eyed
blond, with a face indicating an amiable
disposition and a tendeacy, perhaps, TO
wild spirits. He was not bad boy by any
means It was evident from the talk that
he had been made tho subject Of discipline
at the academy, and had made an appeal to
the president. He was young Virginian.
the son Of q distinguished Virginian, who
is on most friendly terms with the presi-
dent did not hear the boys plea, but 1
heard the Presidents reply. He looked
straight into the blue eyes Of the fearless
youngster as he said:
If wore to follow my own inclinations,
l should first, on account of your father,
and second on account of yourself, restore
you at oncs to your standing in the acad-
envy. But there is principle of disciple
involved. No great organization can be
conducted without discipline As | under
stand it, you have violated that discipline,
and. however great your personal merits, or
however fond [ am of your father, can
make no exception for you. II | were TO
use my powers arbitrarily 20 put you back,
it would set q bad example, establish sys-
tenn Of fsvoritisn, to which | am opposed"
The young soldier looked the President
straight in the eyes, and said formally,
Va1 eli ri grr 70 ra4Nye% sNf
Mr.. HarEison's almost fatherly talk. The
abruptness of his decision was softened by
the suggestion that the young fellow should
make his peace, If possible, with the Score
tary of War, and to obtain that he probably
would have 80 make his peace with
the authorities at the academy.
Anything that could be done in
was based upon discipline and no
favorit.sm would be done. The little man
saluted, bravely choked back the big lump
Ia his throat, aud withdrew to go to the
war department. de is altogether too ener-
getic youngster to be suppressed. A few
moments before had seen him drive up to
the white house with Senator Daniels Of
Virginia. He had paid the cabman, in spite
of tne senator's vigorous protest, asserting
bis own independence against that of the
senator. 1t was no wonder that he had been
disciplined at the academy.
The second demand upon the President's
attention came from district delegation,
which called in the form of q solemn-faced
committee to request the President to veto
railroad bill securing certain rights of
admission into the city of Washington. Ii
is long and weary day when no delegation
from the district calls at the white house to
protest against something. Every i'm
provement in Washington has been steadily
resisted by a district delegation at the
white house. l know nothing about the
merits Of Incorporation against which they
protested to-day, but mention the case, as
the President, in replying TO them, enun-
ciated his idea Of the duty of President
toward congress aud what he Thought
of the veto power. The President said thau
in the first place it would be impossible for
him to go Into the merits OF the proposition.
That was something his time would not per-
NIT. Railroads, whenever, they entered
any town. injured certain properties. That
was the history of every city. Large sec
tions Of property in his own city of indian
apolis had been almost ruined by the en-
croachments Of railroads. Yet 1t was clear
that tho town could not get along without
the railroads. The chairman here inter
posed, and said that was bad measure and
he hoped that the President would refuse to
sign it when it came from congress. The
President then gave his views upon the sub
Jecb of the veto power. He said:
II often sign bills passed By congress for
which | would not have voted if III congress.
! hold that 1t Is not sufficient for @ PreSi-
dent to be opposed to a measure to venture
to intorpose his veto. / believe that the
veto power Is only properly exercised when
some act has been passed by congress with
out sufficient elaboration or care, or where
some manifest error has been committed.
know that different view has prevailed at
times, and that the vetoes have multiplied
within recent years. But do not ses how
the President has any right to set 1p his
judgment against the manifest will of con-
gress when that will has been expressed Ia a
thoroughly dsliberative manner, after care
full consideration of the subject and where
no manifest error or encroachmsnt upon
constitutional rights has been made"
This view, which was expressed ofhand
to district delegation, is of great interest,
as il shows that the President has conserve
tive views upoa the subject of the veto
| power. 1t is an interesting subject,
| whether or not, after such an opinion as
| that, one would be justified in arguing that
| the President would veto free coinage
| bill This measure is certainly receiving
| due consideration, 80 far as debate is con-
cerned. All of its evils have beea faith
measure. 1t will pass the Senate by a
| large vote. It may pass the House; but
the opponents of the measure have had
| great confidence that the President would
veto it. Such an expression Of opinion as
| that given above, however, does not look
| favorable to q veto. The President is not
| Ia the habit Of expressing an opinion in
which he does not believe. The principle
expressed above is general one, bat it I'M
doubtsdly represents his exact convictions
upon the exercise of the veto power.
| After this a senator presented candi-
date for an Office which is soon TO be filed
| by the President. The President listened
with great courtesy. / have been told that
he shows great GOODNESS when the subject of
business is presented by an applicant for
Office. There was nothing OF the sort in
| dictated in this interview. he listened with
great civility and care, EVEN when the appli-
| cant assured the President in response to an
Inquiry that there was no one that he knew
| of in the entire United States who could do
as much work as he could in this particular
business. He was ready to place his enorn-
GUS talent and powers OF industry at the dis
posal of the government. The President,
after listening attentively to his description
of his individual merits. said that be would
give him reply after be had gone over the
| claims Of all the candidates. He indicated
| in no manner what he wonld do, although
| the applicant was accompanied by one OF
the most influential Of the republican states
men at Washington.
| rThara now ramninad IN tina ranm "a large