The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-08-02
CUNNING JEROME.
Collector Wise fleets With
His Match.
DEMOCRATS ARE DISGUISED.
A Shrewd Republican Who Manages
to Hold On to a Good
Fat Office.

Republican politicians are INDUCING In
quiet but hearty laugh at the expense OF
the newly appointed Collector Of the
Fort. wnlle the Democratic aspirants for
ofnce are grinding their teeth with impo-
tent rage. And all because Deputy Col
lector jerome is allowed to retain his
position under the present administration.
1t Will be remembered that when Mr..
Wise was on his way back from Washing
ton with the laurels of victory still fresh
upon his brow he announced with a great
deal Of gusto that one of his first official
acts would be to force Mr. Jerome to walk
the political plank. This he told not only
to his friends but to the newspaper cor
respondents, and at once the faithful ad-
herents of his party lifted their eyes in
thankfuness to find that they had discoy-
cred one Simon-pure Democrat at last
who would lose no time in turning the ras-
Gals out.
AT last Mr.. Wise reached home, arranged
his private affairs, took up the burden
laid down by L. q. Phelps, and one of his
hrSt acts Was 10 reappOlnt the Republican
chief deputy. Then casne the rumpus,
and the lapsing weeks have in nowise
stIlle the loud murmurs of discomfort.
A member of the Congressional delega-
of the entire matter gives this version Of
the story: "Mr. Jerome has fought and
bied in the Customs Department for nearly
quarter OF a C, injury. and during that
time he has thoroughly familarzed him.
self with the customs, laws and treasury
rulings. No man on the coast has knowl-
edge anything equal to his, and for that
reason he has bern held to be we'll nigh in
dispensable by the collectors in the past.
AS long as the Republicans held power he
found no difficulty in retaining his posi-
ton, but when Cleveland was elected in
1884 it was believed change would take
place.
''At any rate Hager was chosen Col
lector aud it was whispered that Jerome
would be turned adrifI. The latter was
not unprepared, and when the new Col
lector had been duly sworn in he handed
IN his resignation, with the very polite but
urgent request that it should be accepted
at once. Hager was taken back by the
suddenneSs of the action of bis deputy
and ex. lained that he could not allow him
to retire for at least six months, as 1t would
take fully that time to familarize the sue
cessnr with the duties of the office.
"'Sorry that such is the case explained
jerome, but it is necessary that should
be relieved at once. The fact is that when
Mr.. Cleveland was elected l supposed. Of
course, that Democrat would succeed me.
aud for that reason | cast about for an
other opening. found a chance to engage
in business and My arrangements are all
complete. TO delay now would be to CON-
pei me to abandon my private business.
and that cannot afford to do
"Hager protested and argued the mat
ter, but all to no purpose. and tho result
was that he found himself forced to re-
appoint Jerome for four years.
''When Mr. Wise secured this place he
recalled the fact that he had been chief
deputy to Collector Washington from 1856
to 1860. and to his friends he cOnfded the
belief that for that reason no mans SER
vices were necessity. Mr.. jerome would
be dismissed. and If no one else could be
found he could do the work himself. Wise
found in few days. however. that a great
change had taken place in the servi.e in
thirty-three years. and when Jerome
handed in his resignation Wise found him.
self in a position Identical with that which
had bowled Hager over. He was simply
at loss. and the deputy that was to walk
was reappointed. to the disgust of the hun
dred or more Of the faithful who had ex-
pected to fall into an easy BERTH"
TIE rumor is that Mr.. Jerome has
contract for four years and that he will 60
on as in the past.