The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1893-03-24
6UR WAsHINaToN LETTER.


Cleveland's ThorouGhness in Everything
WASHINGTON, March 20.-President Cleve-
land was ffty-siX years old Saturday, and his
numerous callers did not forget to tender
congratulations and wish him ''many happy
returns" The day was not celebrated in any
way at the White House, unless the unusII-
ally hard days work put in by the President
and his assistants can be called q celebration.
That the rule against the appointment of
eI-ofiicials is not an iron-clad affair was
demonstrated when Representative Springer,
of Illinois, at the head of 4 delegation, pre-
sented the name of Mr.. l.. w. Chambers,
who was postmaster at Jacksonville, ILL.,,
under Mr.. Cleveland's last administration, as a
candidate for reappointment. The President
at once reminded Mr.. Springer Of the one
term rule. ''But Mr. President" replied Mr..
Springer, "this is an exceptional case. Mr..
Chambers was the best postmaster the town
ever had and the citizens generally wish him
| reappointed. Besides. he was not allowed to
serve out his term" "Ah," replied Mr..
Cleveland, THAT makes quite difference
Please put the facts in writing and submit
to me-"
His thoroughness with everything that
comes before him is what surprises those who
come in contact with President Cleveland
more than any other trait in his character.
A case in point came under my personal
observation several days ago. The President
the next morning to hear an appeal for eX-
ecutive clemency for condemned murderer,
whose crime-the deliberate murder OF his
young wife and her brother-was one of the
most brutal ever committed in Washington
At the time the President knew little more
about the case than that a last appeal to the
Supreme Court of the United States in behalf
OF the prisoner had failed day or two be-
fore, but he sent for complete record Of the
case and when he met those who came to
make the appeal he was as familiar with the
case as they were, although he had been COM
PEELED to remain up nearly all night to acquire
the knowledge. Ofcourse they were surprised
t find all Of their arguments SO well met by the
President, but after seeing how thorough
ly posted he was on the case they were not
surprised at his refusal to interfere with
the carrying out Of the sentence. This is
only one case, but it furnishes fair sample
of the methods of the President. 1t was be-
cause he did not possess the knowledge about
Hawaii that he deemed 1t necessary to intelli-
gent action that the treaty was withdrawn
from the Senate and Congressman Blount
sent to Hawaii in search Of the desired infor-
nation. He is never precipitate in anything,
hence his reputation for making few mistakes,
and for being safe man.
So MANY sensational stories have been told
and printed during the last week about the
President being disappointed at the commit
tee assignments of the Senate, and about
those assignments having been made by a
majority of the Democratic caucus in def
ance of Mr.. Cleveland's Wishes that | have
taken special care to obtain the sentiments Of
the Democratic Senators regarding those
stories. AS the result, it can be positively
stated that the President made no attempt to
interfere in the slightest manner with the com
mittee assignments, which were made in the
usual way, in accordance with the wishes Of
a majority of the Democratic Senatorial eau
Gus. Therefore he could not have been disap
pointed. There can be no doubt that the
President regrets that the financial views of
a majority OF the Democratic Senators do not
entirely accord with his own, but neither he
nor they anticipate any clash on that ac-
count, as all good Democrats have precisely
the same end in view-the prosperity of the
country; and that a legislative programme
can be arranged upon which all can unite is
not doubted in either the White House or the
Senate.
Representative Enloe, of Tennessee, who
has for a long time been fighting the many
abuses for which Pension Commissioner
Raum was responsible. has the satisfaction
of knowing that he was directly the cause of
Raum's resignation being asked for and re-
ceived by Secretary Smith. Mr.. Enloe has
no candidate for the office all he wished
was to see Raum Stirred out" of the Office
which he has in various ways disgraced and
he did not rest until that was an accomplish
ed fact. 1t Is expected that the new Demo-
cratic Commissioner Of Pensions will be ap-
pointed within the next two weeks. Mean
while, Deputy Commissioner Davidson is
acting head of the Bureau. AS to the new
man, Secretary Smith says he is determined
to get the best man In the country for the
place The right sort Of a man at the head
Of the Pension Bureau will have an unexcell-
ed opportunity to make a national reputa-
ton, by saving some OF the millions that are
annually squandered upon fraudulent and
undeserying pensioners, and that's the sor of
a man who will be selected.
Secretary Morton has started in well. One
of his first official acts was the dismissal of
torty-odd employees whose work he consid-
ered unnecessary. G. A. s.