Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1893-04-05
Il HAVE A NAN. &C. C.
Cur, Note from the President to His chiei
Cabinet officer.

WAsuISCFo>, April i.-President Cieve-
land has assumed absolute control of all
appointments in tie departments which are
not in the classified service, and therefore
regulated by the civil service law This
statement III moii fed form has been pub
ished before, but the thoroughness OF It's
scope has only just begun TO be understood.
The rule that all appointments must be
submitted 10 the President for his personal
approval, is now said TO extend to even the
humblest messengers and doorkeepers, and
may even inclade, if the President so wills,
the charwomen ani the women who spend
weary days at cheap compensation in re-
pairing [ ncle Sans mail bags.
Secretary of the Treasury Carlisle the
other day, assuu ing that this rule was only
nominal and that the heads of departments,
according TO long established usage, would
be permitted TO dispense minor patronage
at their personal discretion, sent a note IL
the White House telling MIR. Cleveland tha,
he had selected "A c,rts,in person for minor
place in the department. He sent this
merely as matter of form, and with the
departure of his messenger dismissed the
matter from his mind. But Ten minutes
later the secretary of the treasury was as
tonished, not 10 say aRgerel, by the return
of the messenger with his note, bearing the
laconic Endorsement
IL have selected i man for this place my
self q. C."
Mr.. Carlisle was so humiiiated by this
curt Interference that he gave utterance to
a few Kentucky explosives, and then, not
wishing to make his emotions public, Sc
cluded himself in the Office TO which he re-
tires when he wishes to escape the hungry
Office seekers, to begin on the "Administra-
ton Tariff bill.
A similar story is told about Secretary OF
State Gresham, who announced to the
President his intention of appointing II
young man, for reasons personal to him
self, to an out-ofthe-way consulate. To
this Mr.. Cleveland is quoted as somewhat
tartly replying:
81 have decided to retain the incumbent
at least for the present"
A story current about the Presidents de-
termination 10 permit no interference in the
distribution of patronage runs in this wise
An intimate lady friend called on Mrs.
Carlisle in search of employment. She
wanted a clerkshlp in the treasury depart
ment, and felt if any one could secure one
Mrs Carlisle could. Mrs. Carlisle told
her; II am sorry, but it couldn't be done.
Mr.. Carlisle has no place except those with
very small salaries attached at his disposal.
All appointments are made from the White
House. In fact | may say that John is
nothing more than one of the President
clerks. If it were 10 be done over again
can assure you John would remain in the
Senate"
i,Anecdotes like this are so frequent IL
Washington as to lend color to the repor
that President Clevelaud's niasterful meth
ods have already caused serious vexation OF
the part of several members of his cabinet
The disposition of good many member.
of the House to resent Mr.. Cleveland
efforts to influence legislation, was made
apparent before the expiration of the las
Congress. The equal resentment of mem
bers of the next House at Mr.. Cleveland
assumption that the Legislature as well al
the executive hand of the government cen
tiers in the White House, may display i,sel
when the congressman learn, as member.
of the cabinet have already learned, of Mr.
Cleveland's autocratic intentions as to pat
ronage.