Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1900-05-03

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Der received at the White House
when Mr.. Cleveland was president.
Nearly all of the letters that are sent
to the White House are answered.
Some of the most foolish are ignored,
but those which make legitimate re-
quests and which seem to be written
by person who are neither crazy nor
ugly receive reply. OF course Presi-
dent Mckinley can neither see, read
nor even sign replies to a hundredth
part of the letters that are received
and sent. Only the letters of great
est Importance are brought to his at
tention. He signs but few of the let
tiers and only those to close, personal
friends.
LARGE FORCE OF CLERKS.
Letters received at the White House
relating to business OF the government
are answered and then sent to the
proper department. The time was
when all such mail was referred to
the departments without answer from
the president. During Mr.. Cleveland's
incumbency more attention was Civ
en- to White House mail, and since
Mr.. Mckinley has been president it
has been his wish that all letters sent
to the White House should receive a
reply if deserving and the subject
then referred to the proper depart
ment for action. This has necessitated
largely increasing the force of clerks
at the White House, and the rooms
used for offices of the chief executive
are crowded with desks and tvpewrit-
ers, while the clerks in these crowded
rooms not only work all day, but
often until late into the night. This
is especially the case at the beginning
OF the administration, when many APP
pointments are being made. The
tendency of the time is to do more
work at the White House. Chester
A. Arthur was the last president who
insisted that nearly all official work
that could be done in the departments
should be performed there and not
brought to him at the White House.
Under both Mr.. Cleveland and Mr..
| Harrison the executive work was CEN
tralized at the White House. and Mr. .
Mckinley has continued the practice.
~ ARTHUhS TIME.
Senator Teller of Colorado, who
was in President Arthur's cabinet, was
talking upon the subject and
said that in Arthur's administration
men came to the cabinet officers to
consider executive matters and espec-
tally appointments. While it was
true that the president made some
personal appointments, he never made
them in any department without first
consulting the head Of the depart
ment. while in most cases, even like
the selection Of governors OF
the territories there were
many territories then-it was left 10
the cabinet officer. Senator Teller,
while secretary of the interior, nam
ed I. +. Warren governor of Wyom-
ing and Watson c. Squire governor OF
Washington. Both returned in later
years and erved as fellow senators
with Senator Teller. Warren is still
in the senate. President Arthur in
leaving so much to his cabinet officer;
made his term at the White House
less burdensome than have been those
of his successors.
MIR. sHATTUC WAS CHALLENGED.
William b. Shattuc. who represent:
a part of the city Of Cincinnati, deyot
ed many years to railroading and i'm
mediately after the civil war was par
ticularly interested 10 reconstructing
and re-establishing different lines in
the south and came in contact witt
many men who still adhered to tn,
"code." Oae day dispute arose al
TO the condition of a certain road, snt
| in a letter which Mr.. Shsttuc wrote
he said that the statement of some
man was entirely untrue. The man
much offended, sent word that h'
would demand the satisfaction "du'
one gentleman from another" -
made some inquiry, said Mr.. Shattu'
land | found that this meant duel
according to the ideas prevailing a
that time. and for about four or fv,
days l was resting under challeng'
and as uncomfortable as q man coulC
be. did not want to stand up anC
be shot at, especially as the man haC
killed two or three men in similar en-
counters. Finally. after a consulta
ton with General Beauregard, it wa
arranged that in case an investigation
should show | was wrong in my con
illusions regarding the statemen
about the challenge | was 70 apollo
rize. As the man who challenged
me did not want an investigation
made. he wrote that the apology wa
ample and sufficient. and that ende,
/ - -, l,,o3 I aver bod any pOuupc