Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-04-07
HILL AND CLEVELAND.
The Formers Early visit ana the
Advice He offered.

Advice He OHereu'
washington Star. independently
A friend of ex-senator David Il. Hill 5
In conversation to-day, said:
Il have never seen anywhere in print
reference to the call which Mr.. I'M naue
on Mr.. Cleveland at the White House a.
the very outset Of the latter $ seconu
term as President. The popular idea Is
that Mr. Hill was never In Mr.. Cleveland
company during those four years, except
on the occasion Of a dinner whlch ne at
tended at the White House by special m
vitation. But that is a mistake. Mr. hin
did call on on Mr.. Cleveland early in
March. 1893. for the double purpose or
paying his respects and talking over the
situation. / am reminded Of the episode
by the fact that the Republican pro-
gramme Of to-day follows the line OF the
one which, I'm general features Mr.. Hlli
on that occasion recommended 10 MT.
Cleveland.
MR.. HILLS ADVICE.
ut was on the sth Of March. l think
Mr.. Hill went early 10 avoid the rush, ana
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 well
calculated to make a meeting rather Tor
NAL. But nothing of this was observable
Mr.. Hill offered his hand with pleasant
salutation, and Mr.. Cleveland grasped II
with a return compliment, and then they
drew up chairs for an exchange OF views
After few pleasant commonplaces'
Mr.. Cleveland said They are talking
about an extra session of Congress. But
don't know about that
This being evidently a feeler. Mr. Hill
gestion, Mr.. President he said. In my
judgment now is the time 10 act The
party has been restored to power, with
instructions to do something, and ii seems
10 me that the sooner we go about 1t the
better. If / were I'm your place Ia call
Congress together al once. and recon-
mend a revision of the tariff, and I'd
make a little tariff reform go a long way.
You have all of>s our patronage In your
hands, and, altogether, are more power
full 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 re-
marked: When you reach the New York
patronage Mr. President, If you should
care 10 consult me at any time on the
subject, / shall he glad 10 serve you Mr..
Cleyeland's response TO this was That ne
would be glad To avail himself OF the
offer. Mr.. Hill then added, with smile.
There are some people in New York VINO
would probably advise against your doing
so Mr.. Cleveland replied TO TINS by say
ing: Il know that, but they'll not sue
coed in making a factiOnal President out
Of me- With that the interview closed.
but did Mr.. Cleveland never consult
with Mr.. Hill about the patronage at
homer" was asked.
NEVER CONSULTED HIM
Never consulted with him about any
thing. The advice about the extra scs-
sion went for nothing and one OF the
first appointments for New York showed
that Mir. Hill was not i'm the calculation.
This was the appointment Of DR.. Sem
ner 10 be health officer OF the port or
New York. Mr.. Hill was chairman o.
the Senate Committee on Immigration,
and New York was the principal port
in Mr.. HIS State, and yet when the
appointment of Or. Senner came in Mr..
Hill was unable TO answer inquiries az
to who Or. Senner was. He had TO
make inquiries himself in order 10 fins
out He never asked for anything, and
he never got anything. Within few
months of the end of Mr.. Ceveland's
term, some small official in one OF the
upper counties of the State absconded.
and Colonel Lamont asked Mr.. Hill anc
Mr. Murphy 10 recommend a successor.
The two senators were greatly amused
at the request, but in good nature com
piled with il. and the man they sug-
gested was appointed. They joked each
other a good deal over the strength they
showed i'm 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 stop TO talk.
Many OF the Senator's enemies We're
harping on the fact that he never went
to the White House and were accusing
him of sulking like a boy. So when the
invitation came he accepted it. No
change Of relations. however. between
himself and the President followed the
function"