The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1893-04-07
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, March 27, IS9:

government OF presidential ap-
pOintments, announced from time
to time since his last Inauguration,
are entirely praise worthy; but,
unfortunately for him and his
fame, there is. one little draw back
to his occupying the proud place
in the conntry's esteem TO which
such an excellent set OF rules
would seem TO enlille 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
oftenest reiterated, but it is now
claimed that it was only devised
for the purpose of letting down
easy a lot OF men. who held office
between 'S5 and 'o9, but who have
since lost their grip and become
Ineligible in the eyes OF Mr.. Cleve-
land. as a number of lexis" have
already been appointed to some of
the most desirable positions.
When Mr.. Cleveland was asked
by congressman to appoint one
of the presidents forty Eleventh
cousins to an insignificant office he
became indignant and read the
congressman scorching lecture
on the evils of nepotism, receiving
therefor the plaudits Of the coun-
try, but it did not take long to find
out that the rule against nepotism
was like all the rest-made to be
broken. The knowledge was OBJ
tanned by an enterprising citizen
who filed an application for the U.
s. conselship at Sheffield, Eng
land-one of the best in the ser
vice-now held by Mr.. Benjamin
Folsom, Mrs. Cleveland's first
cousin. He was informed that
the anti-nepotism rule did not ap-
ply to ''cousin Ben," who was al
ready in office. SO that public office
is still family snap, not with
standing that "public trust" busl-
ness.
A portion of the reciprocity
work of the last administration is
soon to be undone. A friend of
Mr.. Cleveland is authority for the
statement that he will shortly
withdraw the discriminating du-
ties imposed. by President Harrison
Oh coffee an hides from Venezue-
la, Hayti and Columbia. 1t will
be remembered that these duties
were imposed because OF the fail
ure or refusal of these countries
to negotiate reciprocity treaties
with us, and now If they can have
the same privileges that countries
enjoy which did negotiate recip-
rocity treaties with lis it stands to
reason, that some Of those coun-
tries will atrogate the existing
treaties by which products
and manufactures Of the United
States are allowed entrance upon
better terms than are enjoyed by
those of European countries, as
countries, like individuals, will
seldom pay Tor what may be had
for nothing. ...
There is nothing like a little
firmness occasionally. The repub
lican senators in caucus positively
refuse to sanction the demo-
cratic programme for the cleo
tion of new officers of the senate
at an extra session, even when
coupled with Senator Gorman's
proffered compromise, providing
for the election OF officers now
and their being sworn in July 1st,
next. It was a matter oil, principle
with the republican senators; they
believed that the unbroken custom
of always waiting until the open
ing of the regular session should
be followed by the present senate,
and they notified the democrats
that they intended filibustering
to prevent the election of these
officers, if they perished in the at
tempt. The democratic caucus
has not officially decided to aban-
don the attempt to elect officers,
but enough democratic senators
have expressed themselves individ-
ually to make it almost certain
that the election will be quietly
allowed to 60 over to the regular
session. 10 .,rF2:gHar1
Every new order issued by the
administration isn't a reform by a
jug full. For instance, the order
shutting out visitors to Mr.. Cleye-
land on Mondays, and closing the
Offices ,ef-the, heads of the depart
ments tevisitors oil cabinet days
Tuesday and Fridays. This is
something entirely new, and sem
ators and representatives are doing
some rather hard kicking about it
as it only leaves them three days
in the week to see the Dresident