New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-26
OFFICIAL CARRIAGES.
Nat 50 Many of Them IN Washing
TIM as Is Generally Supposed.
rvpo,1 NE TRrBUNE BUREAU.

.a- Ian. 25-Careful investigation into |
"~.ant 10 which horses and carriages PAID ior |
ths .intained out Of the national Treasury are |
Ena = government officials indicates that Repre-
usl 20 lands either was misinformed or greatly
Isl~~.tes conditions when nc charged as the |
n-so Tor the resolution Of inquiry which orlgi-
e. With him that the system had grown INTO an
- outside Of the members OF the CABINET and
8 assistant Secretaries OF the state war navy
" treasury departments. the government fur-
AZ 90, carriages for the use OF its employees.
LIZ rebpet members have two-horse carriages
IL ~. +re others have one-hoTse depot wagons, or
- r-an's carriages as they are taceuousy
- beeause they can be used as closed car
]egss IN winter and open il summer. IN oeIencs
I, Ne system which allows the Assistant Secre-
- IN these four departments to use govern
- conveyauces. It IS urged that they frequently
- "a discharge the duties Of the secretaries. aho'
80 that their places Of sufficient impor-
-. 10 antltle them 10 the consideration WHICH
- earahlished precedent has gwen them
TSe use Of government carriages by oihelats Is no
= extensive to-day than it was several years
= While il IS true that there is no direct war
= OF law for some Of the carriages tohIIolier
,r.,syeu has approved the bills, because ne Iouno
=. .it,,arion as il now exists in vogue Wheh no
i' 80 a,d Ia decided that long established
.5.-r justified him in continuing the practlce'
e has expressed qualification over the prospect
mat Congress Will, at last SPECIFY eN1O'4'
.4f.ials are 10 have the nse OF CARRIAGES
,ba President are his personal property, ana no
- er,-lovs his own coachman. Practically al
~ the exnsuse the government sustalns lot "Inue
House equipages is the maintenance OF the s'ssOI1
Secretary Loeb has two-horse carriage ana as
.i.-orr secretary Barnes has one-horse depot
WAGON which he uses chiefly IN carrying messages
from the President the Capitol.
The state Department owns six horses
rrougbarn. q victoria, surrey, two depot wagons
and a covered mail wagon Two horses ana ulS
trougham victoria and surrey are at the uispoS4l
~ Gecretsrv Hay. The brougham and victoria were
$3.50 .econd hand between fifteen and twenty
vsars ago and have often been repaired. In order
TO keep them serviceable- Two horses ana the
dsuot wagons were bought last year under speclnc
,Dnronriation for that purpose. and are used by
Assistant Secretary Loomis and Third Assistant
co,ra+er,, Pejrce Second Assistant Secretary Adee
ssl5on, uses a carriage; when he does he pays fol
II from his own pocket Assistant Secretary Looms
often hires a carriage at his own expense rather
man use the unofficial looking depot wagon, when
M has important business at some or the en-
bassies When the chief clerk is required to visit
the embassies or legations, as often happens. he
uses streetcar-
In the Navy Department there are a carriage and
q depot wagon, the former for Secretary Moody
and The wagon for Assistant Secretary Darling.
The War Department boasts Of three eQuipages-
q carriage for the Secretary and depot wagons for
the Assistant Secretary and the chief clerk.
Secretary Shaw Of the Treasury Department has
a
three assistant secretaries and Chief Clerk Hills
Assistant Secretary Taylor has his own horses and
carriage, and they are kept IN the government
stables. Instead OF using the carriage formerly at
the disposal OF Frank A Nanderlip and Milton Z.
Allies, his predecessors. Assistant Secretary Keep
rides in automobile which costs the govern
nent nothing. As chief clerk Of the Treasury De-
partment Mr.. Hills IS required frequently 10 VISIT
buildings in different parts OF the city in which
bureaus OF the Treasury are located. Captain
Meredith director OF the Bureau of Engraving and
Printing who also a25 TO 40 Et qe a OF ds0
wagon. The Treasurer of the United States and
had carriages but these were dispensed With some
years ago -,
Tnent. Secretary Hitchcock has one. and Pension
Commissioner Ware has another. When General
Black was Commissioner Of Pensions a carriage
allowed 10 him. because or the injuries he sus-
tanned in the Civil War. and it has remained in the
department ever since.
The only officials in the Department Of Justice
who ride at government expense.
Secretary Wilson OF the Agricultural Department
has carriage, and Willis L Moore, chief Of the
Weather Bureau, has a depot wagon.
Secretary Cortelyou Of the Department of Com
Inerce and Labor and Postmaster General Payne
the only officials Of those departments for
whom the government furnishes carriages.
The CHIEF clerks IN some OF the departments oc-
casionally use the carriages or their superlors az
times when they otherwise would be idle. 1t is said
that IN or two instances chief clerks have kept
horses Tor their own use by carrying theIn as exts
horses. but there is reason TO believe that this
practice has ever been widespread.
That all the government carriages are sometimes
officials say that this is Inevitable They also hold
that the evident intention Of the government IN
that they might not only uphold the dignity Of thei
places but transact departmental business in the
The governlnent carries no coachuen or footIner
as such the rolls The carriages are driven anC
attended by 'laborers" and messengers, who arr
detailed for that work.