Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1893-04-04
wAsHIxeroN LETTER.


WASHINGTON, D. G., March ~, '93.
Mr.. Clevelands rules for the gov
ernment Of Presidential appointments,
announced from time to time since
his last inauguration, are entirely
praiseworthy; but, unfortunately for
him and his fame, there is one little
drawback to his occupying the proud
plscs in the country's esteem to
which such an excellent set OF rules
would seem to entitle him. He
doesn't live up TO them, except in
cases where the applicant hasn't
"pull" enough to impress him. The
rule against the appointment Of ex-
Office holders has been the ofteneat
reiterated, but it 10 now claimed that
It was devised only for the purpose
Of letting down easy . lot Of men
who held Office between 1895 and
1889, but who have since lost their
grip and become ineligible in the
eyes of Mr.. Cleveland, as a number
Of "ex's" have already been appoint
ed to some Of the most desirable po.
sitions.
When Mr.. Cleveland was asked by
= Congressman to appoint one Of the
Presidents "forty eleventh" cousins
TO an Insignificant Office, he became
indignant aud read the Congressman
. scorching lecture on the evils of ne
potism, receiving therefor tho plau.
dts of the country, but il did not take
long to find out that the rule against
nepotism was like all the rest made
to be broken. The knowledge was
obtained by A. enterprising citizen
who fled an application for The U. 5.
Connselcrsbip at Sheffield, England
one Of the best in the service now
held by Mr.. Benjamin Folsom, Mrs
Cleveland's FIRST cousin. He was in.
formed that the anti-nepotism rule
did not apply to .cousin Ben," who
was already in Office, so that public
Office is still family snap, notwith-
standing that "pnblic trust" business
A portion Of the reciprocity work
OF the last administration Is soon to
be undone. A friend OF Mr.. Ceve-
land is authority for the statement
that he will shortly withdraw the DIS
terminating duties imposed by Presi-
dent Harrison on coffee and hides
from Venezuela. Hayti and Colum-
bia. It will be remembered tina,
these duties were imposed because OF
the failure or refusal OF these coun-
tries to negotiate reciprocity treaties
with us, and now II they can have the
same privileges that are enjoyed by
countries which did negotiate reci-
procity treaties with US, it stands to
reason that some OF those countries
will abrcgate the existing treaties BY
which products and manufactures OF
the United States are allowed en-
trance upon better terms than are en-.
joyed by those OF European countries,
a. countries, like individuals, will sell
dom pay for what may be had for
nothing.
There Is nothing like little firm.
ness occasionally. The Republican
Senators in caucus positively refuse
TO sanction the Democratic program
for the election of new officers Of the
Senate at an extra session, even when
coupled with Senator Germans prof.
fered compromise, providing for the
election OF officers now and their be-
ing sworn in July LIST next. 1, was a
matter OF principle with the Repub-
lican Senators. They believed that
the unbroken custom Of always wait
ing until the opening of the regular
session should be followed by the
present Senate, and they notified the
Democrats that they intended Glibus-
teriog to prevent the election of these
officers, il they persisted in the at
tempt. The Democratic caucus has
not officially decided to abandon the
attempt to elect officers, but enough
Democratic Senators have expressed
themselves individually to make ii al.
most certain that the election will be
quietly allowed to go over to the reg
nlsr session.
Every new order issued by the ad-
ministrstion isn't Il reform by a Jug
full. For instance, the order shutting
out visitors 10 Mr.. Cleveland on Mon
days, aud closing the Offices of the
heads OF departments to visitors on
cabinet days-Tuesdays and Fridays.