The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-08-23
AFRAID OF HOT WEATHER
Cabinet Members and ASsis-
tants Find Convenient Ex-
CuSeS to Travel.
PENNY.WIsE ADMINISTRATION
The Treasury Literally Robbing
Peter to Pay Paul
Day by Day.

WASHINGTON, D. c., Aug. 22.-This
is the season for fishing excursions, and
for pleasant summer junkets at Uncle
Sans expense. 1t is too hot for the Off
Gals to work. The President himself sets
the example by going fishing IN Buzzards
Bay. The Secretary OF War found 1t abso-
lutely necessary to make tour of the
great West to inspect military posts and
reservations; Hoke Smith has been eating
watermelons in Georgia; the Secretary Of
the Navy has been taking a sea voyage on
the Government dispatch the Secre-
tary of the Treasury is on trip on the
great lakes aboard a Government tender;
his son, Logan Carlisle, returned a week or
two ago from Europe, where ne went with
Assistant Secretary Curtis on business
connected with the Government finances;
that is to say, to see the English pawn
brokers. The Assistant Secretary of the
Navy has just returned from a sea trip;
Secretary of State Olney is away, also
Assistant Secretary Uhl; Assistant Secre-
tary of the Treasury Hamlin is in Massa-
chusetts.
The Commissioner of Railroads took a
junket to the Pacific States and returned a
few weeks ago; Carlisle's private secretary,
Van Sender, went on an excursion to Cali
fornia and Oregon to look after business
connected with the mint; the Civil Ser
vice Commissioners will soon begin a tour
of the entire country; Supervising Archi-
tect Aiken leaves next week for the far
West ''to look after public building con-
struction"; the Director of the Mint finds
it necessary to go out to the coast to help
Van Sender in the mint business.
The executive officials always find that
the ''exigencies of the public business"
must take them out of here during the hot
months. The private secretary of one of
the Cabinet officers is casting about for a
reason that will demand his presence in
California, as he has never visited the coast
and wants to see the country.
The Secretary of the Navy, although he
is now away on a junket himself, does not
believe in vacations for mere clerks. His
own private secretary was away on little
excursion and overstayed his leave of abb
sence. He was promptly "docked" by the
Secretary of the Navy in order to make a
horrible example.
This seems to be penny-wise, pound
foolish administration.
1t is related that when Cleveland came
into the Presidential Office in 1885 the cash
in the treasury was counted to see whether
the wicked Republicans had been tapping
the till during their twenty-five years in
cumbency. After laborious count, last
ing many weeks, the officers reported that
all was found but 1 cent, and this was
afterward discovered in crack. A few
weeks ago President Cleveland was for
warded cent to make his salary account
balance, thus showing the precision and
accuracy of the trea sury's bookkeeping.
But although the present regime is care
full about pennies, they let the dollars take
care of themselves.
The officials were very scrupulous in
their honesty when they forwarded the
President his l cent, but the payment of
$1,000 coo to the Louisiana sugar-growers
and $250,OO0 to those in California was
quite another matter.
Secretary Carlisle is really responsible
for Comptroller Bowler's action. Mr.. Car.
Isle wants to save every cent possible to
the treasury, in order to make as good g
financial showing as he can. The treas.
ury is literally robbing Peter to pay Paul.
But, Notwithstanding all the efforts of the
administration, 1t is generally believed
that Uncle Sam will soon have to visit the
pawnbroker's Office again.
The desire of the Secretary of the Treas.
ury to husband his treasury funds is the
real reason why the Postoffice buildings al
San Francisco and in other cities are not
commenced.
1t is suggested by facetious Washing
ton man that if the administration is sc
. anxious to save few dollars it might
be well to call in its horde of summer
iunketers.