The National tribune., 1899-06-29
CHAT OF THE CORRIDORS.

The State Department always main
taiDs a self-sufficient dignity and reserve
quite distinct from the openness and frank
ness with which public business is con-
Quoted in the other Departments. Tho
public is never supposed to know anything
like as much about the business conducted
by the State Department as about the
doings in. for example, the Treasury De-
partment, where every transaction Is open
to the scrutiny of all interested, and much
of it may be any day overhauled in the
courts, in the press, or in Congress. Much
OF the diplomatic secrecy and mystery OF the
old world "chancelleries" has been copied
in the offices which fill the south end OF the
stately building just west Of the White
House. All the officials, clerks, and en-
ployees are supposed to be highly discreet,
trusted persons, who go about daily bur
dened with secrets which may involve the
peace OF the Nation, and not made subject
to the scrutiny and criticism OF ordinary
public officials. But this dignity received
very rude shock about three years ago,
when 1t was discovered that F. j. kleck-
hoefer, the trusted Disbursing Officer OF the
Department for 20 years, was short in his
accounts more thousands of dollars than
Will ever be found out. He was imme-
diately discharged, arrested, and put under
bail, but up to this time the Government
has not succeeded i'll finding out the true
amount of his defalcation. and the officers
declare their despair of ever being able to do
so. For three years experts have been
going over his books, but he followed such
an intricate system in concealing his
peculations that they can not unrayei
them. The first indictments against him
charged the embezzlement of S31 ,466.o8,
but now it looks as if more than Sl39,0 ,0OO
can be proved against him. Even THIS
another fund from which he has been
helping himself, upon which there is no no
check. 1t is known as the "Diplomauo
Fund" and is made up OF money turned
over to the Government by foreign nations
in satisfaction of claims. By the time
these are ready for distribution the clam
ants may be dead, and their heirs unknown:
The money is kept in the Department
awaiting claimants. The fund was started
with the beginning OF the Government,
and no balance has ever been struck, SO
that no one knows how much there was In
it when Kieckhoefer began his peculations.
Gen. Henderson has already begun the
organization Of the House Committees.
His most important announcement so far
is that he will not be the Chairman of the
Committee on Rules-a position which is
usually held by the Speaker, but that this
will go to Representative Joseph w. Bab-
cock, of Wisconsin, a gentleman whose
executive ability has been shown by his
management Of the Republican Congress
sional Committee, and more recently by his
conduct of Gen. Henderson, 8 campaign for
the Speakership. Serene E. Payne, OF
New York, will remain at the head of the
Committee on Ways and Means, to which
place he succeeded on the death of Mr..
Dingley. Robert E. Hit, OF Illinois. will
remain Chairman Of the Committee OF
Foreign Affairs, and J. G.. Cannon. OF
Illinois, will retain the Craftsmanship Of the
Committee on Appropriations.
The Army canteen is not to go, and no
further attention will be paid to the opposi-
ton to it. The opinions Of about 800 Off.
GERS of the Army who are in direct command
of posts and men, have been collected, and
| they are overwhelmingly in favor of the
retention Of the canteen.