The evening times., 1896-11-23
PAYING POLITICAL SCORES
Knives WhettiDg for the Official Lives
Of 0ld-Time Foes.
SOME WHO WILL GO EARLY
On the Other Hand, There Are a
Few Who Have Made Themselves
Practically Invaluable and VIII
Stay-Gold Democrats Whose Ser
vices May Be Rewarded.

With the Inauguration OF a Republican
President and the induction into office of
a Republican Cabinet comes time for the
settlement of old scores. Knives are whet-
ting all over the District to repay thrusts
suffered in years gone by. Wires are being
pulled for friends who will get the places
vacated.
Only II small percentage of the changes in
office that will be made in The coming year
can be traced to private political enIiites,
but there will be enough OF this kind Il
make it Interesting to good many men and
their friends.
How such things happen is illustrated by
the following recent incident:
a little more than three years ago move
meut was on foot to give Judge Pettus, no W
Senator from Alabama, a comfort
able place under the new Democratic ad
ministration. II is said that Senator Nor
gan rcadil Y gave his Endorsement, though he
was not very active in the matter. Senator
Pugh, whom Judge Pettus is now To sue
ceeI, was also called upon for his opinion.
He was surprised To learn that MIR. Pettus
was a candidate, but was free with his
opinion II was in the kindrst Of friendli-
ness.
certainly" he said: 1.-The iudge is an adj
mirable man and well qualified for any
position: but. Mir. President he :s too old. y
How much this had to do with it nobody
ever knew, for the President Keeps his own
counsel well; but Mr. rettus was not ap-
pointc1.
PETTUS GETS EVEN WITH PUGH.
Soft came abolt this year that j udGe Pet
tus was "A candidate to succeed Mr.. Pugh in
the Senate. As he went about among th''
legislators ne told them the story of senator
Pugh's scommc three years ago, and added:
You see, boys. IL is fact, am getting
pretty well along IN years. lf you elect me
there Will soon be a chance for some younger
man in Jour ranks and a general move up
all along the in. bat il you ChOpse Mr.. Pugh
lie will be there for no knowing how long
and YOU young men may wait
Tie story took like wild lire among th'
members Of the legislature, and the old law
yer won easily.
II is Just tins sort of thing in smaller
way that is to 20 on here in dozens OF cases
In the next eight months, or a year. Old
debts viii be paid with interest, and many
an officehpldcr VIII wonder why he should
have been singled out for dismissal when
there We're many others equally active for
the cause OF the enemy, and, wondering, he
VIII remember that some day heleft n sting
by some political move, aud ii has come
back TO him now.
Among the first who are likely to 90 out
Gpon the accession TO power OF Repub-
lican sound money government are As
siStant Secretary Of War Joseph B Doe
Auditor L. p Baldwin and Deputy Com
mi ssioncr Of Pensions II. c. Rcll.
IL may be that President Cleveland will
attend to their cases, bat this now appears
UNLIKELY. 1t is stated that no official notice
has been given OF their share III the recent
campaign, and President Cleveland does
not feel that there is cause for him to act
Independently OF such information.
Wren dismissal comes TO either of these
three gentlemen he Will not need to seel
the cause in any private Grudge. II will be
plain case OF party politics, in pursuance OF
tile theory Of civil service reform. The pO
sitionS are above those protected by tn,
rules. They belong to the Presidents ad-
visory following, and are to be filled OF
political grounds.
SECRETARIES DABNEY ANDADEE
Others who will foil ow soon after thcsC
are the assistant secretaries in the several
departments. Mr. Charles W. Dabney in
the Bepa rtment of Agriculture, II is eX
pcCted, will return 10 his position a presi
dent OF the University Of Tennessee, Il no ma
not wait fer official notification by the
Mckinley regime that he may quit.
In the state Department ii man who is
likely to be left in place, as he has been
through many administrations, is Assist
would be difficult to replace. The other
two Assistant Secretaries McSSrs. Uhl
ant Secretary y. A. Adcc. His services
and Rockhiil, are likely TO be allowed 10
resign or be reduced in rank.
Tie head of the ifurcaI Of American Re
publics, VIII not need TO look far for q
reason for a change In his case He was
for free silver, and didn't hesitate To say
So; ne is at the head OF uiStinctivcly
Republican movement, inauguratcd by the
late James q. Blaine, and his place pays
5000 a year.
There is a good deal of gossip about
the chances of Commissioner Of Pensions
Murphy. He has held the place only q
short time. and has so steadily won IL voI
and promotion in every position to which
he has attained that many consider il
likely he Will be retained. Others assert
that his place is the key To the govern
ment's pensions Eolicy and Major Mckinley
could not afford to have this work IN the
hands of any but an aggressive Republican
leader of national reputation, and tn,
change should be made at the earliest los
isbie moment The position is mech GOV.
eted for the honor it gives. for the oppor-
tunity to serve the veterans wisely and
50 win distinction. and it pays $1,000.
MIR. ECKELS MAY STAY.
Comptroller of the Currency Eckcls feels
pretty safe in his mold on Office. The stat
ute provides that he shall have a five-yeat
term and is not to be displaced except FOL
cause. Mr.. Eckeis has been one OF tht
foremost champions OF sound money and
made Il vigorous use of his personal and
political influence to help keep Illinois in
line. 1t would be no surprise for him to be
retained i'll his present place even to the
end Of the administration, as a recognition
of the gold Democracy and its services
in the election of Mckinley.
In the District offices there is n likeli
hood that Commissioner Ross will remain
and that Register of Wills McGill, accord.
ing to a usage that has come to be recog-
nized, will be allow ed to serve out his four
year term, carrying him far into the new
administration But there is c. II. ]. Tay-
lor, of Kansas, already under condemua
ton from the Civil Service Commission,
who has only one friend TO hold him in
place. and that friend will have no power
after March 4.