New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-08-05
A SCATTERING ADMINISTRATORS.

"This Goyernment"-as the present Admins
trotion is loftily STYLED by some Of It's members
and attaches--secms TO be having pretty good
,,mes those DAYS The National Treasury has
been made pleihoric with borrowed money;
syndicate Of bankers has bound itself to Keep the
gold reserve intact at least for sixty days to
come. and Leonidas Bowler stands ready ana
alert clad in all the panoply of his great office,
grimly determined TO protect the Treasury vaults
from unconstitutional appropriations by greedy
Congress as well as from the demands OF I'M
nortunate and rapacious creditors With the
public credit and public purse thus safely guard
ed. some of the other members and pillars of the
Administration naturally feel justified in casting
aside for time the grave cares and mighty re-
sponsibilies Of their respective Offices while sun
other members and pillars who are slaves 10
official duty devote their time and strength 10
official inspections which seem to be matters OF
urgent necessity and Importance at this season
The fact that most Of the cost OF these vacations
and inspections is borne by the Government ana
by generous transportation companies Is COM
paratiyely small consideration. The taxpayers
who pay large share Of the expenses, are glad
to do it, and the railroad and steamship COM
panies cannot help themselves.
Everybody knows or ought to know that the
life of a Cleveland office-hoder even If he he
member Of the Cabinet. is by no means "one long
holiday" but it is q fact that the official vaca-
ton. whatever may be the name given to 1t, Is
growing longer year by year. President Cleve-
land himself set the example, and II mas been
and Is being religiously followed by the members
Of the Administration and their innumerable
slborlinates. Persons who can remember the
incidents and events of ten years ago may be
able to recall the thrill Of joy and pride they cx-
perenced when the great Reform President
declared according 10 reports, that nobody
seemed to be authorized to deny that vacation
OF thirty DAYS in each calendar year was all that
any official servant of the American people
whether President Cabinet officer or subordinate
Of any grade-had a right 10 demand expect.
Those were indeed halcyon days-days Of "Jeffer-
sonian simplicity" Junkets under the name Of
official inspections" were not only dscoune-
nanced. but sternly forbidden; the Government
horses and carriages that had been kept at Wash
ington for the official use of heads Of depart
ments and bureaus were sold by auction. and
even Cabinet officers trudged 10 and from the
White House or paid fares in public conveyanccs
OUT of their own pockets. while clerks in the
executive departments were compelled to buy
soap and towels TO remove the stains Of their
daily toll or go forth unwashed TO mingle with
their fellow-ciizens. Times have indeed changed.
The number Of Government horses and carriages
in official use" at Washington is three times as
large as il was before the bosom Of Democratic
reform swept through the Administration
stables ten years ago. one Cabinet officer. IT is
reported, has provided himself at the expense Of
the National Treasury with halfdozen vehicles
more or less, and filed his official stable with
horses Of fine blood and superb action for the
Official" use of himself and members of his
family while his coachman and footman are
borne on n Government payroll We do not be-
licvc, however that the livery those mcnials
wear during the gay season In Washington Is
furnished at the expense Of the Government.
Neither do we speak of these things In order 10
criticise or complain of them. nor do we believe
that the taxpayers, who foot the bills, ought to
complain. On the contrary, We hope they are
grateful for the boon which n political provi-
dcnce has bestowed upon them In the form Of
Democratic Administration. We desired. first TO
show that times have changed since 1881, and
that "Jeffcrsonian simplicity" does not now
mean exactly what it meant ten years ago. when
the integrity of the Government and the per-
pctuity of republican institutions were alike men
accd by the existence Of big surplus in the Ma
tonal Treasury: and. second to suggest that
President Cleveland himself is mainly entitled
to the credit for the change. There is no longer
anything to fear account of the surplus
The use by President Cleveland within the
last two years Of Government vessels in his pur-
suit of piscatora and other pleasures has set
| IN in .rl, :. Al
ton circles" He is an unfortunate official, in
deed, who cannot enjoy an outing Of five or six
weeks or longer nowadays the cost Of which
must be borne In whole or in part by the Govern
ment. The work Of official inspection" which
by remarkable coincidence appears to be con
fined to those salubrous regions where The gran
deur and bcautie. Of Nature soolhc the worn and
jaded Cuckoo office-hoder and ~ the same time
rcawaken his enthusiasm beauties and grandeur
which tempt society to lngcr through the sum
mcr months-must be pleasant and cannot he
laDorious We have spoken Of the coincidence
AZ remarkable. but it must not be Inferred mat
we regard ii as unnatural or subject To adverse
criticism. II Is a natural ctilorcsccncc which
everybody will enjoy who enjoys this sort of IN
Administration. We would scOrn 10 notice the
criticisms Of partisan anti-AdminIsratlon news
papers which seek to impugn the motives of that
gallant tar, Secretary Herbert, whose patriotism
and courage have impcled him a, this stormy
and Indictment season 10 cruise along The rock
bound coasts Of New England and explore the
mysterious waters and shores Of Newport, Buz-
yards Bay and Bar Harbor. As everybody knows
who reads the Administration newspapers, Sec