The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-12-28

"s pTihIS tne following story:
Caoinet gossip Is again current. 1t has
been stimulated by the the visits TO Now
York of Senator Villas, Senator Vest.
senator Gray. Senator Brice and other
politicians and by the assertion tn ut the
President elect has really begun the
delicate and important tasl, OF choosing
his executive advisers.
Eight years ago Mr.. Whitney did not
know that he would be invited to enter
tho Cabinet until the Friday before in
auguration day, when Mr.. Cleveland ex-
pressed to him the desire that he should
accept the naval portfolio. Even atser
arriving In this city to take the oath Of
ONCE, MIR. Cleveland broke the Cabinet
slate that he had arranged, andh history
Is to repeat itself, the absolutely acc,ar-
ute complexion OF the Cabinet will
hardly be known until the 4th of March.
Long before that time, however, two
thirds OF the eli! hit names which will
constitute the list of the Cabinet cf!cers
VIII be known for a certainty Indeed,
oiore are some prophets now who aim
that they can discount the future, and
predict 1T least three or four Of the for
tuna'e ones. For instance. it ia gener-
ally conceded on all hands that Mr..
One treasury. IL has been stated with
some show of authority, although not
by tho Senator himself, that he viii! ac.
oept the position.
II he finally concludes TO relinouish
his seat in the Senate it will be with
the understanding that he is to conene
his abilities to tho solution OF the flran-
cial and tariff problems that will oon-
front the new adm inistration, and not
Dlp1 n n1aN Chn OF.
cations that will pour into the Treasury
Department for utflcial position
1t is also interesting To note that
there Is some talk of a Cabinet position
being offered to Col. d. S. Lamont, WHO
is so pleasantly remembered in Wash
ington as Cleveland's private secretary.
The place accorded by gossip to Cola
lamont Is the Secretaryship OF the
| Navy Ever since he left the White
House four years ago Col. Lamont HAS
! been identified with rho system of
street railroads in New York, Of which
MIR. Whitney is ohie' 81, ckholder, and
no has boon promoted 10 the position
| OF president, with salary of S25, 600 a
year 1t would Sc. m strange II he vol
UNFAIRLY resigned this lucrative Office
for one paying only $4,000, but If tAe
mater was made personal one by the
President-elect there Is no question that
he would come to Washington.
1t was owing to Mr.. Cleveland'th that he
achieved prominence in the last ad-
ministration; it was through Mr.. Cleve-
land that no met Mr.. Whitney, who has
befrieDded him so materially since that
timo, and II MIR. Whitney. the former
Secretary Of the Navy. should also sug-
gest to his protege that there was some
thing moro than mere money to be
gained by bringing to completion the
magnificent navy that he himselfinaag-
urated 1t would be q pressure that Col.
onel Lamont could not Withstand.
Besides this there was On incident in
Col Lamont's life in Washington which
shows that he does not always look to
tho matter OF dollars and cents. just
before tho Harrison ministrationcame
into power 1t was suggested in Congress
mat the salary then paid to the private
secretary of the President, S325O, was
inadequate. 1t was increased without
the slightest objection to 81, 900. Rep
r"Sentative Scott, OF Pennsylvania who
was the mouthpiece OF Cleveland on the
floor, moved an amendment so that the
Legislation might be retroactive and in
ci dde tho entiro term OF Col. Lamont's
occupancy of tho Office. This was also
agreed to. and was virtually an appro-
priation of $4,000 for the colonel. On
the following morning Mr.. Soft arose
and asked unanimous consent, which
was granted, that the amendment be
stricken out. Col. Lamont had refused
to accept the money.
BESIDES tho names of Senator Carlisle
and Colonel lamont there is q good deal
OF talk about EdwardJ. Phelps, of YER
mont, for Secretary OF State. Mr..
Phelps was unknown. in national affairs
until he was appointed minister to
England by Mr.. Cleveland, but filled
that position with signal ability, espe-
cially during the correspondence on the
means, wide learning. and of acknowl-
edged capability.
| lie is also indf pendent as shown dur
| ing the recent campaign, when he with
held the fervent appeals OF his friend,
| bradley Il. Smalley> Of Vermont, to de-
| liver some speeches for Cleveland in
Connecticut, which WAS felt to be in
| anger OF casting her electoral vote for
| Ii arrison.
| Senator GDay, Of Delaware. who made
the.greatess speech against the force bill
delivered In the Senate, is also slated for
place in the Cabinet, and SO Is John
Randolph Tucker, Of Virginia, and so is
| Patrick \. Collins, OF Massachusetts,.
But General Collins does not want and
will rot take Cabinet position. It is
doubtful IL Missouri gets recogni lion,
but Illinois may succeed in securing a
place Tor Morrison. Indiana Democrats
have grave doubts whether Gray will be
asked to form one of the Cabinet, and
tho salk about Chief Justice Pinuey, of
Wisconsin, who has been urged bv
Senator Villas, ia very nehulous. Amid
ali tho Tx, however, one thing So, ma
certain. as has been said repeatedly in
the Post. and that is, there will b Ia,