The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-12-20
State Engineers Hot Fight Against
Surveyor General Perrault.
WAR AT BOISE BARRACKS
FEUD BETWEEN SIXTEENTH IN
PANTRY SOCIAL FACTIONS.
The Colonel Coates Set Arrayed
Against the Captain Noble Con-
ingent-Chaotic State of Idaho's
neutrality-suspicious. Law May
Be Attacked Next a Clever
Crook
lsnecial Corresnondence.l

Especial Correspondence)
Boise, Dec. 1S.-The case of Mr.. Per-
rault is forming a very interesting chap
ter in Idaho's political history. Mr.. Per-
rault is Idahos new surveyor general.
appointed, but not yet confirmed, and the
protest against his confirmation and the
facts that brought about the objection
form the story. AS before related in The
Herald, F. ]. Mills, the state engineer,
has had a great deal to do in stirring
up trouble for Mr.. Perrault, also Tor
Senator Snouo. The surveying contracts
prepared to be let to an oregon party by
the department constitute the basis Tor
Mr. Mills protest He insists that these
contracts should be let to Idaho survey
orS and maintains there is nothing tena-
bic in Mr. PerraultS objections Tor reIuS-
ing to SEND on Mr. Mills formal profess
against awarding the contracts. Mr. Mills
pointed out that these contracts, although
arranged just prior TO the time MI FER
rault assumed ofnce. covered the MSS
year of his incumbency; that the former
surveyor general exceeded his authority,
and that Mr.. Perrault has perfect TIgnl
to annul the contracts.
The latter's refusal to do so has led 10
some strong statements on the part OF
Mr. Mills. who lays emphasis on the fact
that Mr.. Perraults 1%ief clerk is the son
of the oregon gentleman, Mr. FOOD. 70
whom the contracts are about TO De let.
MI Mills replied to Mr.. PerraultS re-
fusal to annui the contracts through IN
dorsement to Mills protest to the de-
partment by sending strong communl-
cation to Commissioner Hermann, 10
which he has just received an answer
which greatly encourages Mr.. Mills. Inc
state engineer and his friends claim that
it is a hard call-down for Mr.. Perrault,
ard that 1t will nave welgnt IN the ma ma
ter of his confirmation. Senator Shoup
is credited with not being overly jealous
in Mr.. Perrault's behalf; and he mas
more reasons therefor than the fact that
1Irr n
pointment over Shoup's recommendation
of another.
l am creditably informed that when Mr..
Mills talked with the senator on the SUD
ject hot words were used. The state en-
gineer is reported to have told the Sena-
Tor to keep out of this or you viii get
hurt; and, of course. no one would think
of doing the senator bodily injury.
There have been no developments in the
case of the clerks claiming the protecton
of the civil service law, who were sum
marty dismissed by Mr.. Perrault to make
places for members of the q. .. T., that
is, no developments tending to encourage
the dismissed clerks. One of these is
Mrs. Howey, a sister of the former sur
veyor general, General Straughan Great
influence was brought to bear to secure
her reinstatement without appeal to the.
civil service commission. Even Secretary
of State Sherman wrote personal letter
in her behalf, he being an old friend of
the family. But the secretary knew not
with whom he was dealing.
l.Humph said Mr.. Perrault, as he
scanned the secretary's letter, sherman
department; but I'll give him to under
stand that 1 am surveyor general OF
Idaho"
the civil service commission but the char
acter of the response was discouraglnS
to her, as well as to the other dismissed
clerks. jfss
WAR AT BOISE BARRACKS.
Boises 400 have been gossiping a good
deal of late over the strife for social su-
premacv between people well known in
the capitals smart set who live at BOISE
barracks; and a recent swell masquerade
ball given there has only added dash
of spice to the controversy. The whole
matter had it's inception in some personal
dispute between Colonel Coates, the COM
manding officer and Captain Noble both
Of whom were transferred here from Salt
Lake The two officers became so en-
FILTERED that an investigation resulted,
and it looked for a time as though a
transfer of one or the other would be ne
cessary-and it is not yet out of the queS-
ton But to return to the social features
of the case: The ladies at the post were
not long in following their officer nus
bands in lining up in battle array; and
Mrs. Coates on the one side and Captain
and Mrs. Noble, Captain and Mrs. Hat
field Lieutenant and Mrs Spence and
Lieutenant Stedman on the other. Though
greatly outnumbered, Colonel and Mrs.
Coates unflinchingly entered the contest,
and now each of the two factions is en-
gagged in superhuman efforts to outshine
tho other
The result has been to keep the society
reporters studiously engaged in writing
up post functions, which are becoming
more elaborate as time rolls on: and the
reporters only write of what they see,
never dreaming of the existence of Bit
ter social warfare that on the surface
makes life at the post a continual round
of pleasure.
; The Coates faction never invite any of
the others to its parties, and the complt-
ment is returned in kind. Lieutenant and
Mrs Walsh have alone remained neutral,
/ and when they feel called upon to enter
/ tain to keep up their end of the social
( log. they invite all alike. And that is
! how it came about that the parties came
together en- masque at the Walsh ball. 1t
I was really painful to one on the inside
I to observe some of the eye-fiashings and
! lofty nose elevations. But the party was
a success, due in gerat measure to the
tact displayed by Lieutenant and Mrs.
/ Walsh. @
! The people down town have in mea-
sure come to know of the differences ex-
/ listing at the post and some of them are
kept continually in hot water. Others,
4 it is said, are taking sides. and the dis
| cord may become disastrously infectious.
A BELATED ADMISSION.
AS strange as it may seem, Judge
Morgan was never admitted to the su-
=
I years he has been a practicing attorney,
and for six years he occupied seat on
Idaho's supreme bench. two years as
J chief justice. For months since his
/ retirement he has been one of the most
! frequent Dleaders before that tribunal
| and when the announcement was made
! in open court that he had no legal right
within that bar. it nearly knocked the
! old gentleman off his pins. Recovering
! his comDosure he solemnly handed Clerk
/ Hasbrouck his s25 and was admitted
I along with q number of brieiess Black
stonians. The judge says he does not
see how he ever came to overlook the
admits that he feels better in the knowl-
/ edge that, after all these years. he is q
| real lawyer.
STATE WITHOUT LAWS.
saw heading in The Herald the other
! day concerning the overturning or at
J tempted oyerturning of an Idaho statute
I by a sheriff that expressed a great deal
| 1t was Nothing Lawful in Idaho" That
came very near stating the case. Since
| the celebrated decision by the supreme
| court in the fee law case no one can tel
! whether Idaho has on her statute books
| a valid law. So far every act called into
been declared unconstitutional on account
of technical violations of constitutions
! provisions in its enactment. And now the
| sheriffs constables and justices of the
peace are at it. The sheriff of Kootena
/ county has, as told in The Herald's dis
I conveying of prisoners to the penitentiary
by the warden invalid and will bring then
himself hoping thereby to get the IA
fee provided under the old law.
The other day in Mountain Home two
men were arrested for catching fish out O.