The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-08-04
Mac Saturday Chat


hearts of the soldiers OF this country as
is this erizzlcd veteran
While Commissioner OF Pensions he
administered that exactlng Office with
such distinguished ability as to bring
to himself sufficient honor 10 satisfy the
average man for a lifetime.
Even though Il Democrat whom almost
cvory Democratic Union soldier was
looked upon with a sort OF suspicion
as to his loyalty. Gen. Black escaped tho
popular criticism which came TO his
Democratic comrades. Republican sol
dlers knew, or they believed. that Gen
Black was sincere and honest.
Republican Presidents honored and re-
spectcd him. He was entitled to all he
received NJ their hands. and more. 1t
was. therefore. not surprising to those
who have watched his career TO know
that Republican President had placed
him at the head of the United States
Civil Service commission. II IS known
that rs chairman of that commission, SO
far as he can personally look into de-
tails, that he Will enforce the Civil Ser
vice laws TO the letter and without fear
or favor,
II Is, therefore, painful to his old
friends In this city TO know how COM
pletely the Civil Service laws have been
over-ridden by the present Postmaster
of Salt Lake. Arthur L. Thomas has
Vice commission, cvaded Its authority,
played fayorites In oflce, carried on the
pay-rolls persons not legally in the SER
vice. and when directed 10 deslst. he,
1guratiyely speaking, told tho commits
sion to go to-
No one who knows Gen. Black believes
that he would tolerate such a thing for
a moment. They know that he would
not chance bringing his commission into
dlsrepute by permitting Thomas TO trl-
umph over II. even though Thomas is
supported by the political apostle OF the
Mormon church and by n not too scru-
pulous United States Senator
Some or these days Gen. Blacks atten-
tion Will be called TO the sixteenth re-
port OF the United States Civil Service
commission. On page sol OF that report
is the record OF an order directing Post
master Thomas TO separate his son and
another clerk from the service, This
was away back ln 1899. and yet Postmas-
ter Thomas dened the commission and
did not separate one of these persons
from tho service until early this year,
when local newspaper made public his
defiance.
Many persons think the bounds of rea-
son are oyerstepped when the Civil Ser
Vice commission pursues with such yieor
employees OF the Government who are
unduly active in politics who commit
tridins onenses against the Civil Service
laws, etc, when postmaster in one OF
the most prominent cities in the country
can laugh at tho commission and 20 un-
scatheG.
Some day Gen. Black Will have this
brought TO his personal attention and
then what he will not do to Arthur L.
Thomas Will scarce be worth the atten-
tion OF any man
Probably the reason that Mutton Bill
Jones-the man who stole 100 or more
articles from the Salt Lake County In
and possibly would have carried
on the inlrmary Itself had he have had
the physical ability TO do So
Is not prosecutd for his felonles is be-
cause he is one OF the most widely
known and influential stockholders in the
new Smoot organ.
The chicken shooting season opens the
10Th OF this month. Great sport Is In
slght Tor local shootists, and fortunate
Is the man who. when he cannot go after
this toothsome game himself. has a good
friend who Is sufficiently thoughtful to
remember that It is more blessed 10 give
away some of the game than to tote 1t
home and become a porker.
Speaking about shooting, did you ever
so turkey hunting? Ever see a long
legged, scare-eyed gobbler duck into the
bushes and run like tho wind at the
first hostile noise he hears? Well. If
you never saw a sight like this you can
get some Idea about what 1t is like by
rejecting on the recent attitude OF the
Junior United States Senator in with
drawing from his law firm following the
filing OF the land fraud cases. Talk
about turning turkey, That Is the most
beautiful specimen of getting from under
1t is possible TO direct attention TO at
this time.
This fearless and distinguished states
man and L. ID. S. sycophant could never.
never think of remaining with a firm
that proposed standing by its client in
the hour of trouble! 1t was all right TO
enjoy the fees of a firm when there was
no possibility OF an inquiry being made
as to the irrcgularity of a clients trans
actions, but when once the limelight
was turned on, 'Gawge' would not take
chances OF having his senatorial scalp re-
moved by continuing to participate as
the legal adviser Of the offending con-
Germ.
Senator Sutherland may have put him
self In an attitude that will permit him
to explain his connection with the coal
company to his colleagues, but what
benefit this may be to him will probably
be more than offset by the notoriety
that has come TO him by deserting
client that is under the ban of the Fed
eral government and permitting govern
ment officials to profit by the advantage
of Sutherland's hasty flight.
Men have been dsbarred for deserting
clients In the midst OF their perplexities.
Senator Sutherland however, may have
reasoned on this matter very much like
the duffer who said something about
being for his country, right or wrong.
He may have concluded that even though
his client the offending coal company,
was right and the government wrong, he
preferred to keep himself on the side OF
the government.
The junior Senator is having some time
explaining. too. 1t is said he has worked
himself up into such a sweat about
throwing his old client overheard that
among the many reasons he assigns is:
For many long years 1 served them
quite well, but since they're In trouble
they can go straight lowell For I'm a
Senator! What would / be il my col
leagues should Burton OF Mitchellize
me? I'd leave any client OF mine I'm rho