Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-01-08
AN OFFICIAL OF UTAH
OLD TINE SIMPLICITY OF THE GRO
NER CLEVELAND. OF THE WEST.

0lO 1--WE OtUlT 6aSss ~ - -
NER CLEVELAND. OF THE WEST.
A Plain Man In Simple Residence-Ihe
Governor OF Utah, His Work and His Sal
ary-No Cards and No Red Tape-Sketch
Of Governor West.
Especial CORRESPONDENCE
SALT LAKE CITY, Jan. The territorial
executive mansion of Uti.n is the simplest
structure used for such a purpose IN the
United States. 1t is a plain two story brick
residence containing II rooms. for which
the government pays a monthly rental OF
So. For six years it has been used by the
governors of Utah. 1t was rented March !,
1887, by the present governor, Caleb w.
West, during his first term of Office under
Cleyelands former administration. 1t
stands near the business district. The only
distinguishing sign is the United States
flag. which floats over it during business
hours, and the red letter box attached to
one of the wooden pillars of the narrow We
randa. In front is an unkept lawn, lined on
one side by a lockwood hedge and ON the
other By green lattice fence.
w itQ the nuNtuU VI SidtC "a
pected in few months or year at the
farthest, this unpretentious house Will be
deserted By its official occupants. The
United States flag will float over 1t no
more, and it will again become a common
residence The simplicity of the passing
territorial government is illustrated by the
way in which this building came to be Sc
lected for its present use When Governor
West first came to Utah to assume the Cu-
ties of office, he used a hotel suite for con-
Quoting business. This was a step in ad-
vance of the previous administration,
which had been conducted by the governor,
secretary of state and other officers at their
homes or business offices. Governor West
saw the advisability of bringing the terri
torial officers together under one roof.
Owing to the small government contin-
gent expense fund available for such pur-
poses he took an old residence on one OF
5he main streets This had to be given Up
IN about IL year. and the governor started
like an ordinary citizen to look for another
home within the means of Uncle sam and
selected the one now occupied.
The governors private Office, barely fur
nished with carpet, plain leather chairs and
modest desk. is in the front bay windoWed
ROOM You can always tell whether his OK
cellency is at home by looking through the
uncurtained windows from the street 10 see
if the large gray sprinkled head is visible.
II so, you just walk in, for there is no
lackey to precede you with II card. Open
ing from the governors room is the back
parlor, a general reception room, wherethc
governors son, stalwart young Koltucli-
i,,, Of ont Of nn,lcvp cotg his fn-
5her's private secretary.
Walking directly back through aside en-
Try, we find the dining room and kitchen.
or here the governor and son keep house,
with the modest retinue' of cook and 8
anitor The other side of the house con-
sists of front and two back parlors, used by
he secretary of state and his two clerks.
Here the records are kept in a large NOV
able safe. Up stairs are ten rooms. Two
connecting ones are occupied by the gov
ernor and his son, for he has no more fam
.ly-his wife died II years ago. The re-
naming rooms are mostly filed with musty
records, legislative documents and desks,
crowded together in dusty confusion.
The officers of state are as unpretentious
Us their surroundings. Governor Caleb w.
West is called the ''Grover Cleveland of the
West" AS the large, full form moves for
ward to extend greeting the visitor is
struck with similarity of the contour Of
face, the thick neck, the same cut of hair
md mustache, while the black Prince Al
BERT coat buttoned over 200 pound frame
completes the resemblance to the White
House occupant. Ii the likeness is re-
marked, the governor will modestly say
his friends sometimes joke him about it,
In Governor Vests method of doing
business strong executive ability is shown,
He receives all callers and petitioners
pleasantly, listens, but gives no sign of
favor or disfayor The next day, after he
hes slept over it, be the matter little or
great, his decision is given. He keeps his
own counsel strictly, and is Ears to many,
lips to few" ii prisoner under his life
Or death sentence is to be panoned, not
even the nearest to him in official order, the
secretary of state, knows it until the gov
arnor says, Draw up u pardon for -"
This governor, so democratic in principles,
who formerly worked N the face of bitter
hatred of multimiilionaire leaders of the
Mormon church for enforcing the Edmunds
antipolygamy law, and often going counter
to the sentiment of the non-Mormon pop
ulation, receives for his responsible serv-
ices 81 900 a year. He is not q rich man
and lives within his salary. He is lawyer
by profession, and back in old Kentucky
bore the title of Judge. He is 50 years Of
age OF him Senator Edmunds said to his
Kentucky friend, Senator Joseph Black
burn: There is only one thing | have to
complain OF in our friend Harrison's adj
minstration, that he did not keep your
xNff,a 10 ~g Il.
best governors Utah ever had"
The secretary of state. Charles r. Rich
ards, receives Il salary of 81, 500 and fees.
He is a Mormon, born in Salt Lake City 50
years ago. He is the first Mormon recog-
nized by Il president of the United States
since the appointment Of Brigham Young,
Sept. %, 1886.
The secretary's commission is dated May
6, 1898, there being an interim of A. years
and months that no Mormon held federal
Office.
The other territorial officers receive larger
salaries in proportion to their duties than
the two chief executive officers. The FIVE
territorial commissioners draw each S2,0G0,
the United States judges each 5000. A
territorial government is conducted on
economic principles.
HERBERT Haywood.
Trial by Jury.
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