The Portland daily press., 1893-04-05


or to one of his cabinet ministers he
writes in confidence He does not
write for the purpose of having his let
ter given to the public, either through
newspaper reporters or through the
Congressional Record. The president
and his cabinet ministers are in duty
and common courtesy bound to hold
such communications in confidence.
Again and again have had candidates
for office come to my desk, when in
government position, and beg permits
sion to see the papers of rival canai-
dates.
/ One old man from a northwestern
state went so far as to intimate that he
would give five hundred dollars for per-
mission to see the papers of one of his
rivals. The appointment clerk replied;
''You wrote letter here stating that
that man had committed heinous
crime. The department has investi-
gated the matter, and finds that your
statement is untrue. How would you
like to have me show that man youS
libelous letter concerning him? He is
in the city and would like to see IT.
The old man saw the necessity of hav
ing himself protected, and then was
able to see the necessity of protecting
the other candidates. Every scrap OF
paper written to one Of the executive
departments in Washington is held in
sacred confidence. No power can com.
pei the executive branch of the govern
ment to violate that confidence. The
TT,;+aJ Cf.+oc con 70 NOV st,.aco1unt opd
re-resolve, but cannot compel the pro-
duction of papers Of that nature
Hence, throughout all time, If our pres
idents understand the situation, as they
probably will, the senate will be
obliged to consider executive nomina-
lions in secret session.
The trouble which would arise from
the publication of all facts concerning
presidential nominations would be very
great, but, in comparison with other
troubles which would result, the SEN
atorial phase would be small. There
are about six thousand presidential APP
pointments, while there are nearly
seventy thousand post Office APP
pointments. If the facts concerning
the candidates in each presidential Of
fee were given to the public, the people
in all towns and villages would have a..
right to know why certain appoint
ments were made, and they would de
mand, reasonably enough, the publica-
ton of all facts in each case. You can
scarcely realize what this would mean.
There are always from two. to twenty
candidates for the small post offices.
Why, even on the frontier prairie
where a new town is starting every body
wants to be postmaster; not that there
is any money in it, but for the honor OF
it. These candidates ascertain who the
other candidates are and write all man.
fner Of scandalous gossip concerning
them tending to demonstrate that all
other candidates are either dishonestor
in some other way unfit for the posi-
ton. If the rival candidates in some
mining camp in the mountains, or in
some new town siteon the prairie, could
only know the contents of those let
tiers there would be rifles, revolvers and
bowie knives in the air. Villages would
date their local affairs from the time
when such and such a man was killed
at such and such cross roads. Every
neighborhood would be in fegment and
feuds would blossom upon every grocery
counter in the hamlets and at the cross
roads. These things would ultimately
result from open executive sessions of
the senate
During the last session Of congress
there was an important nomination
pending for one of the middle states,
and distinguished senator. whom
many believed might be nominated for
the presidency, appeared before CON-
nittee and made statements which
would have caused trouble If they bad
been seen in cold type. If the case re-
ferred to had been considered in open
session, the senator would have been
compelled to cause trouble in an i'm
portant city. I do not believe that we
shall ever have open executive sessions.
SMITH d. Fry.