The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-09-13
STRIKES A BIG SNAG
EXTRAVAGANT HOkE SMIIH Runs
AGAINST AN OHIO BOWLER.
He Orders n JOO Set of Harness, but
the Cruel Controller of the Treas
ury Refuses to Pay the BIZ.
sneciaI 70 the INDIANAPOLIS journal.

Special to the Indianapolis journal.
WASHINGTON, Sept. II. Secretary
Hoke Smith, the Sancko Panza of Presi-
dent Cleveland's Cabinet. has run up
against a competitor before whom even
the doughty Don Quixote would have low
cred his lance, to say nothing of his squire.
Some time ago Mr.. Smith, who rides in a
government carriage, drawn by a govern
ment horse. determined that he needed a
new set OF harness. He ordered a set OF
harness such as he deemed suitable TO the
dignity of the high office whose
the harness would serve. When high gov
eminent officials want anything they simp-
ly send out and get il. The government
does the rest. That is, generally. But in
this case il would seem that there Is an
obstacle in the shape of one Bowler, one
Robert Il. Bowler. to-wft. OF Ohio. This
man Bowler seems to be a most ordinary
man with no soul for harness commensu-
rate with the dignity of weighty govern
ment officials. But an unkind fate has
made Mr.. Bowler the First Controller of
the Treasury, and, until he approves an
account against the government, no mat
ter how high the authority that incurred
the expenditure, that account don't go. Mr..
Bowler doesn't like Mr.. Smith and he re-
fuses to pass the bill for Mr.. Smiths new
harness, which bill, by the way. amounted
TO some $500. Mr.. Bowler holds that Mr..
Smith might have himself hauled around
town by the governments horse and in
the governments carriage with a less ex-
pensive set of harness. He fatty refuses to
audit the bill and the harness-maker is
looking ruefuHy to Secretary Smith for his
$500.
New government officials and fresh gov
eminent officials who become reckless in
spending the governments money for their
private conveniences sooner or later nave
an encounter with this odius Bowler, the
First Controller of the Treasury. And
they learn then that the First Controller
of the Treasury is no small potatoes. Like
the coroner of England, who is higher
than the Queen. the First Controller of
the Treasury is higher than everybody else
in the world. His ruling under the statutes
is supreme. There is no appeal from his
decision. The Supreme Court of the United
States has decided that no moneys can be
paid on any draft or warrant without his
approval. Congress may pass laws, but
the First Controller can nullify them by
refusing TO pay the appropriation those
bered when a Controller of the Treasury
decided that the law passed by Congress
increasing the pay of the members of the
Marine Band was faulty drawn and he
refused to be ruled by it. Against this
dreadful person has Mr.. Hoke Smith, the
centaur Of the Cabinet, steered full tilt.
There is no doubt as to the result. Sooner
or later Mr.. Smith must humbiy ask Mr..
Bowler what he thinks is the proper thing
in harness for a Secretary of the Interior,
and then Mr.. Smith. being a man OF high
honor, will go down into the privy purse
and pay out to the harness maker the diff
ference between his ideas OF a suitable
harness for a Secretary of the Interior and
Mr.. ROWler'S.