Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1893-03-23
WASHINGTON LETTER.
President Cleveland and the Senate
Committees.
The Country Editor not Shut Out.
NepOtism.
From our Regular Correspondent

tied in the reorganization of the Sen
ate committees. There can be no doubt
that the Senators acted with the de-
liberate intention of putting them
selves in position to get even with
Mr.. Cleveland if he refuses to give
them what they consider their share
of the patronage. While it is the
makeup of the committee on Finance
that is most talked about, because it
will have charge of the tariff and all
financial bills, there is not a single i'm
portant committee that is not domina-
ted by Senators known to hold views
directly opposed to those of Mr.. Cleve-
land on number of subjects; and
among Democrats the threat has been
frequently made that Mr.. Cleveland
would he thwarted in every attempt
he makes to secure legislation unless
he recognizes the Influence of the
| Senators to much greater extent
than he has yet shown any disposition
to do.
1t would he folly to say that Mr..
Cleveland enjoyed being dosed with
his own medicine; he doesn't. But
being fighter of the most obstinate
sort it is not probable that he will al
low himself 10 be SO easily conquered
by the Senators. The impression is
that he will give the Senators respon-
sible for this affront to him chance
to see how they like being entirely
without influence in the distribution
of Federal patronage. If they refuse
to confirm his nominations he will
simply allow the Republican incum-
bents to remain in Office, thus plac-
ing the responsibility for the failure
of the Democrats to get the offices
upon the Senators. A Democratic
Senator, friendly to Mr.. Cleveland, in
a conversation with a personal friend,
made the prediction that before half
his term has expired Mr.. Cleveland
will be openly depending upon the Re-
publican Senators for support One
thing is certain, the Republican Sena-
tors do not propose to allow themselves
to be used by either side to whack the
other over the head. They will as
rule act as q unit and will vote for
what they regard as the best for the
country, regardless of whether it be on
the side of Mr. Cleveland or of his op-
ponents.
Secretary Carlisles order directing
that no news concerning the national
finances be given out by any one ex-
cept himself is anything else but pop
ular with the newspaper men, who
have heretofore been able to get any
information they wished by simply
going to the head of the division or
bureau in charge of that particular
matter, while now they must take their
chances of being able to get at the
Secretary. Had Republican Secre-
tary issued such an order there would
have been a Democratic howl about
star chamber methods from one end of
the country to the other.
Private Secretary Thurber has not
made a good impression on the news
paper correspondents whose business
calls them to the White House fire.
quently, and if he does not change his
method of treating them as though
they were SO many messenger boys he
will live to wish he had, unless he
dies very soon.
Last weeks rule shutting out Demo
cratic editors has been so far modified
as to allow their applications for of
fee to go in with the rest, the under
standing being that the fact of q man
being Democratic editor shall not be
used against his appointment, nor
shall it count anything in his favor.
In other words his application will be
considered without regard to the service
he may have rendered through his pa
per to the party, and where the ap-
pointing power has no personal favor
ite he may even be appointed.
"Nepotism" has been quietly drop
ped from the Democratic vocabulary
since the sons of Vice President Ste-
venson, Secretary Carlisle and Gov.
Gray, the new Minister to Mexico,
have been provided with Government
positions by their respective fathers.
Hypocrisy is a worse crime than nepot-
ism, but there are people who do not
seem to know it.
Senator Roach's trouble with the
Washington bank of which he was
cashier before he went to Dakota,
which was mentioned in this CORE
spondence when he was first elected to
the Senate, is making things very un
pleasant for him here. and may result
in his having to leave the Senate. There
is much talk among the Senators about
not associating with him, and quite a
number of them think it their duty to
expel him, but a majority seem to favor
leaving the matter to North Dakota.
not believing that the citizens of that
State will allow themselves to be rep
resented in the U. s. Senate by a man
who only escaped prosecution and pun
ishment for embezzlement because the
money embezzled was returned TO the