The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-07-18
WAR APPOINTMENTS.
An Interesting Instance-The Horn OF
Plenty at the White House.

w washington Letter III New 1OTk GOSC.
AS an instance of the way war appoint
ments go, the creation of the office of mill
tary stOrekeeper, with the rank of captain,
for Charles ID. A. Loeffier, is interesting.
stood. During the civil war there were a
number of military storekeepers, with the
rank of captain, but under the present sys-
tenn there is no call for such an office
Neither was there any expectation, when
Congress passed the bill creating the posi-
ton, that Mr.. Loeff1er would actually serve
as military storekeeper. He has been for
many years the Presidents doorkeeper, and
in that position he has been asked to re-
main So far as any duties are are concerned
many hours, might just as well have estab-
lished the office of custodian of the arch
ent of military Insignia as that of store
keeper. Congress created an office which
nobody wants and which nobody expects to
idents desire in recommending it, was to
provide slightly better salary, with mill
tary rank, and pension upon retirement. for
an exceedingly worthy and trusted officer.
Mr.. Loeffler came to this country from Ger
many in 1850. He enlisted in the regular
army in 1S5S-forty years, almost to the day,
the war he was a special courier for Cen
eIal Mcclellan, and at its close became at
tached to the White House staff, where he
has since remained He is a very useful
man; every President in turn has retained
his services When this war broke out Mr..
Loeff1er wanted to CO. and SO the President
hit upon the plan of giving him the honors
and emoluments of military service, includ-
ing eligibility for the retirement pension,
but with his ordinary duties of peace times
to remain unchanged.
AS an indication of thu Presidents desire
to do a good turn for those associated with
him. it is worthy of record that nearly
every one of the White House staff has In
some way had his salary raised during the
present administration. Mr.. Montgomery,
the head of the Geographic service. has been
transformed from an 81. 800 clerk into a cap
tain of the signal corps, detailed for duty
at the White House. Mr.. Pruden, whose
duty it is TO carry the Presidents cOmmuni-
cations from the White House to Congress,
and there formally present them on the
floor, has had his salary raised from 81. 500
to 81 800 per year. For Mr.. George l.. Cor
telyou. the Presidents stenographer and
personal secretary, the additional office of
| assistant secretary to the President has
been created. with a salary of $3.50. His
capability has already been referred to in
these dispatches. Any attaches of the White
House who have not found in MIR. Mckinley
an advance agent of prosperity are natural
ly feeling aggrieved. 1t is said that during
| the eight years that Mr.. Cleveland was at
| the White House the salary of no clerk or
attache was increased This doubtless had
| it's justification in the fact that the salaries
| already paid generally equaled those al
| lowed for similar services in the outside
| world But this is strikingly true of nearly
| all government salaries.