The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1881-11-03
The Cabinet.

|
The Cabinet.
On Thursday the President nominated
Judge Folger, of New York, to be Secre-
tary of the Treasury, and Thomas l..
James for Postmaster General, and both
were promptly confirmed by the Senate.
Mr.. James was renominated in order to
obviate any question as to the operation
of that section of the Revised Statutes
which declares, in effect, that the Post
master Generals term of office expires
within thirty days after the expiration OF
the term of the President appointing him.
AS PRESIDENT Garfeld's term expired with
lis death it was held that Mr.. James
could hold only for thirty days thereafter.
This distinction applies only to the head
Of the Post Office Department. The
other members of the Cabinet may hold
office until their successors are appointed.
| 1t is said that Mr.. James will continue in
possibly until the star route trials have
ended. Attorney General cNcagh, al
though asked to remain, refuses to do 50,
and has practically abandoned his office.
His course is sharply criticised. He is
charged with having left the star route
prosecution in the lurch, and it is be-
| lieved that, anticipating a failure. he
leaves to others the management of the
cases. 1t is said, however, that the other
members of the Cabinet are not sorry to
part company with McNeagh.
Judge Folger, now Secretary of the
Treasury, was born in Nantucket in 1919
He was admitted to the bar in Rochester,
y. Y, about 1910, and rose rapidly in bis
| profession. He was at one time county
| Judge, and was elected and served several
| terms as State Senator. During President
Grants administration he was offered the
| position to which he has now been chosen,
| but declined it. He was elected by the
people a Judge of the court of appeals,
the highest New York State court.
some years ago; and recently, on the
death Of the chief justice, was chosen as
his successor, and is now the chief justice
of New York. In politics he has always
been Republican. His appointment
was we'll received in New York and is
generally approved. 1t is thought, how
ever, that he will at no distant day be
transferred from the Treasury Depart
ment to the Supreme Bench. He gives
up salary of Sl2,000 year for ten
years to accept place in the Cabinet
with a salary of $1,000, which will hardly
cover the expenses of the position. AS
matters now stand New York has two
Cabinet places, which is unusual, to say
| the least.
The positive assertions that ex-senator
Howe, of WiscOnsin-a native of Maine
would be appointed Attorney General
! appear to have gone for naught His
nomination was not sent to the Senate
before adjournment, as predicted, nor was
that OF Emory StorrS, of Chicago, whom
later reports asserted had been rendered
and accepted the nomination for Attor-
ney General. Mr.. Storrs is a successful
and able lawyer and figured in the Chi
cago convention as a prominent Grant
man. 1t is not improbable that lie is the
coming Attorney General, and he is
much better qualified for the position
than Mr.. Howe. The latest reports con-
corning the State Department are that
Secretary Blaine will not probably remain
in the Cabinet after December list. If he
remains beyond that time it will be in
compliance with the Presidents wish
| that he continue in office until his sue
cessor is selected.
1t will be seen that President Arthur
has as yet made no Cabinet changes not
forced upon him; and he has sent to the
Senate all of President Garfeld's ap-
| pointments which had not been confirm
ed, thus fulfilling the predictions made at
the time he assumed the office, by those
who know him best.