Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1897-02-27
COMMITTEE INVESTIGATION
May Lead TO Scandai--The Presi-
dent can Appoint Commissioners
Excellent Arrangements for
the Inauguration.

WASHINGTON, FEB. AZ. 1897 The
Investigation now being conducted by
the Senate Committee on Public Lands
may lead to scandal involving Mr.
Cleveland, although every patriotic
American will hope not The inves-
tigatiou is Of land patent recently
issued by Secretary Francis to Mr..
Perrine, Mrs. Cleveiand's step father,
and his associates. The patent covers
a, 900 acres of land in Florida. and If
it has been legally issued. the present
occupants of the land will have to
move or to make terms with Mr..
Perrine The original grant of this
land was made to DR.. Perrine, father
of the present Mr.. Perrine, and his
associates, in IS4I, and the contention
of the settlers on the land, who are rep
resented by Ex-Congressman Brook
shire, of Indiana, is that it was for
feited by failure to occupy it within
the legal limit The odd part of the
issuing of this land patent is the man
ner in which it has been hurried along
since Mr.. Francis became Secretary of
the Interior, and the apparent anxiety
of Assistant Attorney General Lion
berger. who was put in Office by Sec
rotary Francis. toget the patent issued
for the land before the close of the
present administration. The Com
mittee may find the transaction all
right, and that the relationship OF Mr..
Perrine to Mr. Cleveland has not fig
ured in the matter at all, but there is
lot of ugly gossip about it just now,
and it will probably get into court
anyway.
The smart alexis who have been in
dustriously circulating reports as to
the intention of the House Committee
on Coinage to smother the Senate bill
authorizing President Mckinley to
appoint delegates to any information
monetary conference called by any
other nation. or to one called by him
self, if in his discretion, he sees fit to
call it. got knock down blow when
that Committee reported the bill favor
ably to the House with two amend
ments, one broadening the authority
of the President by authorizing him,
if he sees fit, to appoint one or more
special commissioners or ENJOYS TO
negotiate with other nations for the
calling of such conference, and the
other repeating the Act of 1895 tor the
same purpose, SO as to prevent any
complications that might arise from
two acts on the same subject.
Congress did a sensible thing in
abolishiDg the title of Private Secre-
tary to the President" and making the
title of that very important and useful
official Secretary to the President /"
OF late years, especially during the
first term of Mr. Cleveland and dur
ing ex-President Harrison S term, this
position has been filled by men who
have been in reality confidential adj
visers OF the President, and it was tar
cical to designate them as private
secretaries, in view of the popular
idea of the duties performed by a pri-
vate secretary. The change was made
in compliance with request of Presi-
dent elect Mckinley.
While no Republican in Congress
believes that the reelection of Sena-
tor Kyle, by the aid of Republican
votes in the South Dakota Legislature,
was brought about by any deal, there
is general belief that Senator Kyle
will, if necessary, help the Republi-
cans Of the Senate to pass tariff bill
at the coming extra session. And
owing his reelection to Republican
votes will not be likely to make him
antagonistic to other Republican
measures. So long as straight-out
Republican could not be elected, there
is no occasion for Republican grum-
bling at the reelection of Kyle. His
populism is much less fanatical than
that OF others who might be named,
and personally he lisa very likable sort
of fellow.
Nothing but praise is heard OF the
arrangements that are being made for
the inaugural parade by Gen. Porter,
chief-marshal. His idea of making
the parade attractive by its quality,
rather than imposing and tiresome by
its quantity and length, is generally |
approved. At previous inaugurations
few of the spectators, except those
who were obliged to remain, saw the