The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-04-10
SURVEYOR KILBURN's sCowL.

SURVEYOR KILBURN's sCowL.
A frequent visitor 10 the Collectors inner
Office these days is Paris Kilburn, the Sur
vey0r of the Port. There is no more genial
man than kilbuTn when political cOnveu-
ton is imminent To men with votes TO de-
liver or newspaper men on such occasions
he is particularly cordial. No one who meets
him when gravy is to be served would be-
lieve that he could frown if be tried to. His
happy disposition contradicts the very
thought Yet the handsome Surveyor these
days wears corrugated scOwl under his
silk beaver. He Is but formally polite.
His urbane demeanor is strictly Off
cial. He hardly knows what TO make
ont OF the commOtion raised by the pending
investigation. Every spare moment at his
command is devoted to a conference with
Timothy Guy Phelps. He runs up the iron
stairs leading to that functionaTyS room
for comfort and consolation. Nobody has
charged the Surveyor Office with any dere-
LECTION of official duty, but Paris Kilburn
cannot help sharing in the general feeling
that the atmosphere is charged with posi-
bic commissions. and that there is sOlece for
him in sitting near the good natured old gen.
AN ORACLE OF WAR.
Solicitor Hepburn Of the Treasury De-
partment is by common consent accepted
as the ayengiDg Nemesis. All bow to him.
United States District Attorney Garter re-
CARDS him with an awe that is not 10 br put
in print Hepburn wears the button of the
Loyal Legion and talks wisely about bat
ties. He was lieutenant in the Second
Iowa Cavalry, the regiment of which Major
General Elliott was at one time colonel
Elliott was regular officer and promi-
nent general at the close of the war. and
died in San Francisco, at which time he
was president OF the Safe Deposit Company.
Hepburn has been in the civil service en-
ployment since he sheathed his sword, and
wears the bureaucratic look of man long
accustomed to official austerty. There is a
profound depth of knowledge in his head
which, if dis losed, would not appall the
average seeker after information connected
with pending Custom-house revelations.
SOMETHING TO LAUGH AT.
A specially luminous halo has been
thrown over bis head in the minds of aspir.
ants for Leavy's Office as Appraiser by the
announcement that he Is to decide who shall
be the next Appraiser of this port. But
nobody versed IN practical politics believes
that Hepburn has been chosen as dispenser
OF the Federal patronage OF San francisco,
| and Collector Phelps, who is a practical
| politician, is ready to credit Hepburn with
| the humorous sense of laughing at the idea.
The story runs that the panic in the Federal
brigade in San Francisco is SO great that the
California delegation in Congress has
| surrendered its prerogative of naming the
| candidates for Presidential favors. That
they have not done so is proved by the fact
that the overland wires were nearly burned
| down yesterday 10y the number Of messages
transmitted to the White House urging the
| claims Of hackneyed politicians in this city
| for the office of Appraiser.
THE GRAND JURY.
| The Grand Jury met at o'clock yester-
1 day afternoon and were in session about &c
| minutes. There was no guard stationed al
| their door, yet nobody disturbed their de.
alterations. The Grand Jury is composed
| OF number of emiBently respectable gen.
| tIemen who will be guided in their actions
| by the wishes of the United States District
| Attorney. This official was on hand all o,
| yesterday afternoon, He was with Col
| lector Phelps most of The morning hours
| to ali inquiries for information as to his
| movements.
| A CALL reporter called upon ex-CollectoI
| of Customs Thomas Shannon last evening
| This esteemed citizen was for eight years
| Collector of this port He was in Office
| during President Grants two terms. Mr.
| Shannon had no objection to being inter
viewed, but at the outset declared that be
| bad no opinion to express as TO the guilt OF
| innocence OF any of the persons implicated
in the present Custom-bouse disclosures
| EX-CoLLEcToR sHANSoN's OPINION.
The reporter asked him: ITO whom was
| Charles N. Leayy indebted for his appoint.
| ment as Appraiser"
| well, you may quote me-" replied Mr.
| Shannon, " to this effect: Leayy made
| Phelps fight when he was running for Con-
| Press. and there was nothing for Phelps tt
1 do but 10 reciprocate by recommending
Leavy for Appraiser"
Who put ID. NJ. Cashin in as Deputy
Collector Of Customs?" was the reporter,
| next question.
I'D. NJ. Cashin was put there" replied