The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1893-04-05
WASHINGTON LETTEh.

WASHINGTON, ID. c.. Mar. 81, 1898.
President Cleveland. if one may judge from |
his remarkable career, needs no mascot" to |
bring hfm good luck. - but an old Jacksonian |
democrat-Andrew jackson Long. of Cedar Hill |
Tennessee-doa abtless with the feeling that it is
impossible for President. or anybody else. TO
have too many good luck' bringers. has
through Representative Washington presented
him with a mascot.' in the form oil silver
half dollar, mintediin the year ofthe Presidents
birth-1sS7 which the President accepted in
the same spirit with which it was given, and in
due course Of time he will formally acknowl-
edge the gift in an autograph letter to Mr. Long
which will probably be more highly priced than
the best Office at the Presidents disposal
That Secretary Gresham intends to be the
actual head of his department. was proven by
his promptness in demanding the resignation
of DR.. F. G. st. Clair. who has been Chief of the
Consular Bureau under the last three admins
trations. for having withheld certain informa.
tion concerning U. S, Consul from the Secre-
tary. There number CO old bureau chiefs in
the other departments who dc serve to be made
to walk the plank for the same reason. These
men have been in Office SO ilong that they have
arrogated to themselves authority which be.
longs only to the head of the department.. and
their dismissal would be for the good of the
service in more respects than ore. In fat,
there are few men who can remain in q respcns-
ible goverhm ent Office for long term of years
without forgetting that they are servants. in
stead of masters. New men and new methods
are wanted in every branch of the government
service, as must soon become apparent to every
member of the cab;nent who examines into the
details of his department, and the indications
are that that is row being more thoroughly
done than ever before. -
Removing a U. s. consul by cable is very sell
dom resorted to by the Department of State, but
it was done in one case this week by Secretary
Gresham, and the man removed got just what
he deserved, The reasons for Secretary Ores
hams action are. in short. as follows: In the
early part of the Presidential campaign VIM.
b. Sorsby. of Mississippi, was acting as Con-
gresham Catching's private secretary. and
taking advantage of his position he abstracted
certain papers containing important facts re
lating to the democratic plans for the campaign
from the private desk of Mr., Catching and gave
them to Mr.. Thomas II. Carter. chairm an of the
republican National committee. In November
last, Sorsby was appointed $. Consul General
to Guayaquil. Ecquador. position which pays
5000 a year presumably as reward for his
treachery to representative Catchings land the
democratic party. .As soon as these facts were
brought to the attention of President Cleveland
and Secretary Gresham. sorsby was dismissed
by cable, and Mr.. George E. Dillard of Missis-
sippi. nominated to the vacancy.
So far from the nomination of DIR. Joseph s.
senner. of New York. to be Commissioner OF
Immigrat5 IN at New York. which went to the
Senate this week. having been secured by the
steamship influence as republicans are allegin g
twas made in direct opposition to that influ.
ence. The contest fer the sposition has been
quite spirited. there having been number OF
candidates. all strongly backed. In order to
ascertain the sentiments of the steamship men
towards each of the candidates Secretary Car.
Isle had trusty personal friend call on them
for the purpose Of discussing the fitness of the
several applicants. and as soon as his report
was mace the name of every man the steamship
men had expressed themselves as being favora-
bly, inclined towards was stricken from the list
efpossibilities.
Secretary Boke Smith is. giving the bureau
chiefs of the Interior Department some new
ideas about the service they owe the Govern
ment. Instead.ef their leaving the department
daily at O'Clock. as the ordinary clerks do,
they are compelled to remain until O'Clock.
the additional hour being devoted to coufer-
enee with the Secretary on the current business
before their several bureaux. There is some
kicking among the Chiefs but sas most of them
arerepublicans it is dene very quietly. Score
tarY Smith as already earned the sobriquet of
the steam engine'' among the employees of his
department..
1t is not often that new official is SO well
fitted toassume his duties as ex-Cong gressm an
stump. of Maryland who is to be -Snperintend
ent of Immigration. a position to which he was
this week nominated. He was chairman of the
House committee on Immigra ion during the
last Congress. and is the author of the new i'm :
migration law, which, by the way. Wo uld never
have gotten through the House. If it had noa
been for his untiring efforts in its behalf.
After the Senate disposes of the cases of the
appointed Senators. now under discussion. it
willItake up the resolution providing for an in
vestigatien of the charge of embezzlement
against Senator Roach