The National tribune., 1897-02-11

Army is soliciting and receiving presents. and
if So to report bill to prevent such practice.
Friends of Gen. Miles, headed by Mr. Coils 2.
Huntington. have been collecting subscriptions
for several months for the purpose of purchas.
ing home for the Army's Commanding Gen.
eral in Washington. The paper which Mr..
! Huntington is circulating recites this fact,
speaks of the eminent services of Gen. Miles
during the war, and refers especially to his
| prompt action in dealing with the mobs at the
| time of the Chicago riot. This last reference
| is especially displeasing. it is said, to Senator
Allen, who obtained one of the paper, had 1t
| in his hand when he introduced his resolution,
| and would haye read and discussed it had any
body given him the opportunity. 1t is under
stood that $4,000 has already been collected.
1t is intended to secure $4,000. There is no
law prohibiting Army officers receiving pres
snts from friends, but the consent of Congress
has always to be obtained whenever foreign
Government presents gift to an American, be
he an Army or Navy officer or civilian.
K
It is supposed Mr.. Aliens main purpose was
to obtain the opportunity to make one of his
characteristic Populistic speeches. Itwould be
rather hard on Gen. Miles if he was not per-
mitted to do what his iilustrious predecessors
have done before him. Gen. Grant, after the
close Of the war, received q magnificent present
| of United States bonds, and when he came to
Washington as General of the Army took as
gift splendid and spacious mansion paid for
by private subscription. When he became
President this same mansion was bought from
him with funds raised by private subscription
and presented to Gen. Sherman, who succeeded
him rs General of the Army. Gen. Sheridan
also received substantial appreciation from his
fellow.citizens.
If Maj. Mckinley really promised that col.
ored man who was with his regiment dur.
ing the war the position of Private Door
keeper, he did it in a moment OF for
getfulness of the incumbent. When the
Major is reminded of this he will certainly
find some other place for his negro friend
The Private Doorkeeper of the White House ID
Comrade Chas Loeffler, who is an ideal man
for the place, and who has occupied it under
all the Presidents since Gen. Grant. Loeffier,
who is a good comrade of the GAR, and
member of Kit Carson Post, of this city. was
an enlisted man years before the war in that
famous old regiment, the I'd U. S. Cav, OF
which Albert Sidney Johnston was Colonel.
Il. Z. Lee, Lieutenant-Co Colonel, and Geo. II.
Thomas and w. J. Hardee Majors. Fitzhugh
Lee the present Consul General to Cuba, was
his Lieutenant, and was severely wounded in
an Indian fight in which Loeffier distinguished
himself Locffier served through the rebellion
in the same regiment
When Gen. Grant became President, in 1869,
Gen. Orville E. Babcock at once hunted up
Charley Loeffler, aud appointed him to the
position which he has held ever since. He
probably knows more public men than any
other man in the United States. and knows
more about their standing aud estimation. He
has unfailing tact in receiving them and usher
ing them into the President, and his services
are as well-nigh indispensable as any one
mans can be. OF course Maj. Mckinley knows
him we'll, aud has no IDEA of dispensing with
him.
The aforesaid cOlored man says that the
salary of the place "is $1,000 q year. besides
liberal tips" ! am glad to say that he is in
error in regard to the latter. Thank heaven,
the vicious system of tipping has not reached
any Department Of the Government. and Ger.
tainly not the honored steps OF the White
House. The United States Government pays
all of it's employees decent wages, and that
shameful form of begsary involved in tipping
is unknown anywhere in the public service.
The public service is composed Of self-respect-
ing Americans. who are far above the cringing
funkeyism of foreign customs.
X
Secretary Olncy has received from President
Eliot, of Harvard University. an invitation to
fill the chair of international law at that in
stitution after the expiration of his term of
Office in tho State Department The Secretary
has taken the offer under consideration.
4
Senior Andrade accompanied by Secretary
Olney. called on President Cleveland last week,
bearing testimonial from the Governor and
people of the State of Zulia. Venezuela, in
recognition Of the good Offices of the President
and Secretary Olney in the matter of the
boundary dispute. The testimonial consisted
of a rosettc composed 172 samples of rare woods
from the forests of Zulia, and a cane made Of
I25 pieces of these woods.