Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-07-29


 New York city newspaper felt con strained to ask in it's editorial col umns, If Cleveland is elected will he or Colonel Lamont be presidentT Colonel Lamont used to tell how he came to Washington with Mir. Cleve- land. On the morning after election he casually remarked to the governor that. judging from the returns then In, he seemed to be elected. Well" said Mir. Cleveland, If I am elected, you are elected. must have you with me if go to Washington" That was all that was said about the matter.
 One peculiarity that his intimates often commented upon while he was in Washington, and which has re- cured to their minds vividly because of the manner of his death, was his keen distaste for being left alone. He always contrived that some one should be In the office with him at every min ute of the day. No one ever saw him take walk of even two or three blocks unaccompa1ied. If, when it came time for him to leave bis office, no one else was ready to go he would wait for one of the clerks. After he became secretary of war and while bis family was out of town he used frequently to drop in at the White House in the late afternoon and get one of the young executive clerks, whose company he enjoyed, to go to dinner with him at hotel He never said why he always showed such scru- pulous care to avoid being left alone. One of the first things Mfr. Lamont did as secretary of war was to weed out lot of worthless clerks in his de- partment. Six were discharged and fifty reduced in grade and pay in one day. Another incident that army off cers are fond of recalling occurred in 1895:
 Senator Harris of Tennessee was in Secretary Lamont's office when Pay. master General Stanton entered and began his explanation of the financial condition of the service, referring par ticularly to the lack of funds for the month of June Secretary Lamont asked what amount would be neces- sary to pay of all the June salaries.
 "Oh something like s50,O00," replied General Stanton.
 ''If you could borrow that amount" said the secretary. would 1t be suffi- cient?'
 You get me the money. MT. Secre- tary, and I'll make the payment all right" said the paymaster
 Well, I'm thinking about advancing 1t myself" replied Mfr Lamont
 There was a gasp of astonishment from General Stanton and Senator Harris.
 "I mean it." continued the secretary. .'The army ought 10 be paid, and the sooner they get it the better"
 ''I can only say, Mir. Secretary" said General stanton. that if you find me the money I shall make arrangements to pay of the officers and men who did not receive their salaries for the month of June"
 They used 10 call Mr. Lamont "the silent secretary" in the last years of his service al Washington. He was thoroughly methoiical In his habit and did not waste a minute
 Among the reforms and improve. ments that marked Mir Lamont's sd ministration of the war department were the abandonment of the small outlying military posts and the con. centration of the army at important railroad centers, on the seaboard and on the northern and southern frontiers, and the reduction of the term of en listment from five 70 three years. He secured the repeal of the statute mak ing ten years the maximum period of service of enlisted men He was in. strumental In securing the adoption of l the new magazine rife and carbine of reduced caliber for the army and was an earnest and consistent advocate of a general improvement of the seacoasi defenses under approved projects. in 1 the development of disappear l ing gun carriages. He brought about reduction in the number of military | posts from about ninety-five to seven i ty-five. resulting in the concentration . of troops in large commands. and by sc . doing improving the morals. discipline ! and education of the army.