Evening star., 1897-04-05
HILL AND CLEVELAND
The Formers EARLY Visit and the Advice
he Offered.
Was Never Consulted About Anything
why He Attended the White
House Dinner.


conversation with representative of The
Star today, said:
Il have never seen anywhere in print a
reference TO the call which Mr.. Hill made
on Mr.. Cleveland at the White House at
as President The popular idea is that
Mr.. Hill was never in Mr.. Cleveland's COM
pany during those four years, except on
the occasion of a dinner which he attend
ed at the White House by special invita-
ton. But that IS a mistake. Mr.. Hill did
call on Mr.. Cleveland early in March, 49,
for the double purpose of paying his re-
spects and talking over the situation. l
am reminded of the episode by the fact
that the republican program of today fol-
lows the line of the one which, in general
features, Mr.. Hill on that occasion recon-
mended to Mr.. Cleveland.
MIR. Hills Advice.
'1t was on the Sth of March, 1 think
Mr.. Hill went early to avoid the rush, and
succeeded. Mr.. Cleveland received him in
cordial way, and for probably half an
hour the two men discussed matters They
had not met before for some time, and
much had occurred that was very
we'll calculated to make a meeting
ldtHei loTIldl. but HCtninS OF tnlS was
observable. Mr.. Hill offered his hand with
a pleasant salutation, and Mr.. Cleveland
grasped it with a return compliment, and
then they drew up chairs for an exchange
of views.
After a few pleasant commonplaces. Mr.
Cleveland said: They are talking about
an extra session of Congress- But 1 don't
know about that
This being evidently a feeler, Mr. Hill
frankly responded: I approve of the sug-
he Saj
Judgment, now is the time to act The
party has been restored to power, with
instructions to do something, and it seems
to me that the sccner we go about it the
better. If l were in your place I'd call
Congress together at once, recommend a
revision of the tariff, and I'd make a little
tariff reform go long way. You have all
OF your patronage in your hands. and, al
together, are more powerful now than you
can hope to be at any other time during
your whole four years
The New York Patronage.
This last sentence caused the President
to arch his eyebrows. 1t was evident that
he didn't know about that either. Still,
he didn't commit himself at ALL He lis
tened with interest to all that Mr. Hill said
and by inquiries here and there even drew
him out a little more fully than his caller
otherwise would have felt at liberty to GO
When Mr.. Hill rose to leave, he remark
ed: W hen yoI reach the New York patron
age, 9lr. President, If you should care to
consult me at any TING on the subject l
shall be glad to serve YOU Mr. Cleve-
land response TO this was that he would
be glad 10 avail himself of the offer Mr.
Hill then added, with a smile There are
some people in New York who would prob
ably advise against your doing So Mr.
Cleveland replied to this by saying: L know
that. But they'll not succeed in making
factional President out of me- With that
az
But did Mr.. Cleveland never consult
with Mr.. Hill about the patronage at
home? was asked
Never Consulted Kim.
Never consulted with him about any
thing. The advice about the extra session
went for nothing, and one of the first ap-
pointments for New York showed that Mr..
Hill was not in the calculation. This was
the appointment of DR.. Senner to be health
officer of the port of New York Mr. Hill
was chairman of the Senate committee on
immigration. and New York was the prin-
cipal port in Mr.. Hills state, and yet when
the appointment of DIR. Senner came in
MI Hill was unable to answer inquiries as
to who DR.. Senner was. He had to make
inquiries himself in order to find out. He
never asked for anything and he never
got anythlng. Within few months of the
end of Mr.. Cleveland's s term some small
official in one of the upper counties of the
state absconded, and Col. Lamont asked
Mr. Hill and Mr. Murphy to recommend a
successor The two senators were greatly
amused at the request, but in good nature
complied with it, and the man they sug-
gested was appointed. They joked each
other good deal over the strength they
showed In the home stretch"
Why He Attended the Dinner.
What induced Mr.. Hill to attend that
White House dinner?"
"Oh, nothing but courtesy, and the de-
sire on his part to put a stop to talk. Many
OF the senator's enemies were harping OH
the fact that he never went to the White
House, and were accusing him of sulking
like boy. So when the invitation came
he accepted it. No change of relations,
however, between himself and the Pres-
dent followed the function