Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-02-18

"
JUDGE JAMES n. TYyER-
quaintance had made with him during the
war. ! had met him when he was in command
at Cairo. when was an agent at the Post Office
Department, sent to confer with him about the
mails. l said to him during the talk: 4 see
that in the making OF your cabinet you have
decided to break away from the old rule OF ap-
pointing all politicians and are taking men from
other ranks in life
".Yes. it does seem So. said President Grant.
We'll went on, you might be able to do
this II you were managing m army, but am
sure that you will find before YOU have gone
through your administration that the politi-
clans will be the best to aid you in the
management OF your administration, and that
you viii ultimately rely upon them.
THAT may be- replied the President. 4
will. however. first try the other course. but
will be honest about it, and if 1 find that am
not doing the right thing | will make the
chsnge soon as l can do So
He did find himself wrong in this respect"
continued Judge Tyner. land when met him
at Paris during his trip around the world re-
terred to nv conversation and to his change TO
politicians. and he told me that he found it
necessity.
HOW GRANT TREATED HIS C.sINEr.
"Hos did Grant treat his cabinet lninisters,
judge Tyner?" asked.
He left all matters concerning their own
departments to them.' replied Judge Tyner.
land he expected them to decide all ordinary
questions for themselves. Questions of public
policy he considered for himself and very i'm
portant matters relating to the service were al
ways brought to him. bat as rule he adopted
the recommendations of his cabinet advisers.
As an instance of his mode of doing business. a
day or so after / was made Postmaster General
took up about "a score of important appoint
ments and one or two questions involving the
expenditure of money to him. / had the briefs
concerning these in nv hand and / asked him
20 look at them. He said
d" Have you read themi'
Certainly have / replied.
Have you considered what is best to do
about them?'
Yes; here are my recommendations as to
the disposal of them
well, that is all want to know replied
Gen Grant. Il Will make the appointments
and sign the papers
But don't you want to look into the records
OF the men and see the arguments in the briefs?'
said I.
''No. DO not. replied Gen. Grant. That's
what have you for. II your judgment is not
sufficiently strong to pass upon such things and
to investigate them in the roper way 1 will
have to look around for SON. man who is out
of a job to take your place. All i want you to
do is TO look into such matters and decide them
for ME. IL you are sure they are right will
do you say And he thereupon made the
appointments and signed the papers"
HoRATIo KING on BUCHANAN's CABINET
President Buchanan treated his cabinet in
about the same way that Grant did. He was,
however, a stickler for cabinet etiquette, and
he was very particular that no outside expenses
should ever creep into his department budgets.
He got very angry at Howell Cobb. his Secre-
tary of the Treasury, one day for charging up a
junket on one of the steamers Of the Potomac
to the department. and he very particular
that Uncle Sam should pay for nothing outside
the government expenses. Horatio King,
Buchsnans Postmaster General, still lives at
Washington. He must be now well along in his
seventies. but he seems asspry as he was when he
began life printer in Maine with Hannibal
Hamlin as his partner. He came to Washington
more than half II century ago news
paper correspondent, and Amos Kendall
who was then Postmaster General, gave
him an appointment in the Post Office
Department with salary of thou
sand dollars in geld. This was the lowest salary
in the department. and he remained in it until
he went out as Postmaster General. having as
such received the highest salary that the de-
partment has to offer. Horatio King organized
the foreign mail service Of the United States
and he was for seven years assistant postmaster
general. He tells me that ex-Pres;dent Bu-
chanan was very courteous with his cabinet
ministers. and he allowed them to run their
own departments He saws that the cabinet
was lar more ulgnlned IN the days or 1859 and
1860 than ii is now. and he does not think that
any one but the cabinet ministers should be
allowed admission TO the councils Of the Presi-
dent. During my talk Mr.. King referred to
Judge Joseph Holt. who was also in Buchanan's
cabinet. and who also lives at Washington. He
has for Years been invalid. and he Is afflicted
with eczema to such an extent that be has to
remain in dark room and receives no one but
most intimate friends. His mind, however is
clear. and though he suffers terribly he is
mentally strong.
JOHN wANANAKEn TELLS HOW He WAS CHOSEN.
Postmaster General Wanamaker's appoint
nlent hung fire till the last, and he did
not positively know that he would be in the
cabinet until after the Inauguration. l talked
with him yesterday about the circumstances of
his app ointment. He sitting at his desk in
the Post Office Department and was signing a
draf. FOR $40. 500. goo, which was to be applied
toward some of the postal service expenses Of
the United States, as l entered. He showed
me the draft curiosity. When asked him
about President Harrison's cabinet he replied
Il really DO not know much about the sub
jet. / have never heard how the different
cabinet ministers were selected and L only
know the circumstances Of my own appoint
ment. I had never met President Harrison
until a month after his election. i think ii was