The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-03-14

Laboring on Its Committee Kcorgani-
zatIon.
WASHINGTON, D. c., March lathe
report that President Cleveland had
told Congressman that he did not in
tend to appoint Newspaper men to Office
for the reason that he might be accused
CT subsidizing the press, does not hold
good.
Congressman Dockery, DeArmond,
Cobb, Burns and Morgan, OF Missouri,
called on the President to-day for the
express purpose of ascertaining the
truth about the "no journalist need ap.
ply" rule.
Dockery asked President Cleveland
point blank whether it were true or not
that he had Disseminated against
newspaper men, and the answer came
just as straight as the question, that
there was no such intention.
From this and other statements made
by the President the delegation went
away satisfied that the story had arisen
through the same misconstructio ton OF
other statements, and Dockery is very
firmly convinced that the report arose
from remark attributed to Postmaster
General Bissoll, in substance that he
would not give postoffices to editors.
Bissell's statementto Dockery amounted
only to this: That he would not give
fourth-class postmasterships to men who
could not give their whole attention to
the work of the Office, and this rule
would apply to everybody, including
editors, who would not relinquish their
other business while transacting that of
tho Government. Several newspaper
men were among those who called at
tho White House this morning in the in
forest of their applications.
One OF these was Charles n. Taylor,
of Kansas City, Kans., colored man who
ator Martin who spoke u good word for
his candidacy for recorder o. deeds for
the District of Columbia. Speaker
Crisp brought II. w. Rucker, Colonel
blackburn, of Atlanta; and Lindsay
johnson, OF Rome, all applicants for
office. Blackburn and Johnson want a
foreign mission and a consulate respect.
lively, while Ruckor aspires to the dis
trict attorneyship for the northern dis
trict of Georgia.
There was noticeable falling off in
tho number of visitors who saw the
President to-day, but the crowd was
still Of fair size. At one o'clock Cleve.
land held a public reception in the east
In view OF difficulties encountered by
Senators and members in meeting the
wishes OF their constituents as to execu-
tive appointments, the memb ers OF the
Alabama delegation have como to-
gether and adopted the following pro-
gramme, which it is thought will be
followed by delegations from other
States: Tho plan OF the Alabama Sena.
tors and Representatives to secure har-
mony and fairness in making recon
mendations for appointm ents to Offices
in Alabama to DO filled by the President
is az TO lows: Many good men and
stsunch Democrats arc applicants for
several Offices in Alabama 10 be filled
by tho Presidential appointment, and
most of them have called upon each OF
the State, for recommend alton.
We do not assume to dictate
such appointments, but feel that
we should not altoge .hor refuse
to make Communications therefor, and
at 1T is the best for US, in the interest
OF harmony, fairness and prompt action,
to unite in doing SO upon Il basis that
Will give such weight as may be &C.
corded to our joint Endorsement to men
OF uDquestioned fitness and faithful
Democratic service, and who shall be
fairly apportioned over tho State.
with that end in view, we shall
meet at the capitol in Washington
tuesday, the 2Sth day OF March, and
unless conditions then existing shall be
such as to satisfy US that such action
will not secure harmony, which we now
believe will result from IL, we shall
then consider fairly, fully and carefully
all applications that have heretofore
been or may up to that day be submitted
to us for such Joint recomme ndatioD,
together with all papers filed in support
OF each application, and shall act upon
the same"
Az tho Interior department. as at the
other departments, there was a falling.
off in the number of callers. Secretary
Hoke Smith sees all who call and gives
each as much of his time es he can
spare. He is just now devoting much
OF his attention to syste matizing mat
ters and in short time he expects to
know some of the details of his great
department, which is undoubtedly the
most important in the executive branch
Of governm ent.
One of his bureaus is that of pensions.
where the Disbursements last yoar ag
gregated over $40, tOp, 600. In this work
clerical force of nearly 2 600 is kept
constantly employed AS can be
readily imagined this bureau needs
constant attention by the head of the
department., and Secretary Smith will
very soon make it his business to look
into the methods Of doing pension bust
ness, and if there are reforms needed,
as has often been contendad, he will
apply the remedy and that speedily
No nominations were received by tho
Senate from the President at to,day's
session. a number had hb.n eXnected