Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-03-05
FRED DOUGLASS SUCCESSOR.
A C0iOred Democrat from Albany NOmi.
mated for the Office Of Recorder Of
nAQS1s

The PRESIDENT sent to the Senate yesterday
afternoon the name of James C. Matthews, OF
Albany, N. Y, to succeed Mr.. Frederick Doug
lass as recorder of deeds for the District of
Columbia. Mr.. Matthews is a colored man, 40
years OF age. He was born in New Haven,
Conn., out his parents soon afterwards settled
in Albany, NY, and there he has since resided.
In 1854 he graduated from the Boys academy
In that city, taking the first prize for the best
English essay, and also the Beck literary medal
His diploma was the only one ever issued by
the AGA denny to a colored scholar He read law
ana, finishing his course at the Albany law
school, was regularly admitted to the bar in
lS.O, and subsequently to the bar of the United
States courts. Mr.. Matthews has been quite
successful I'm the practice of his profession. He
was a republican in 1872, when he Joined The
liberal movement and then entered the demo-
cratic ranks He is said to be a fine public
colored family of New York city, and he is a
reiatlve OF bishop John Loguen, the well-known
colored divine.
THE NOMINATION IN THE SENATE.
While some democratic Senators to-day said
they do not like the appointment, there is no
indication that any opposition will be offered
10 Matthe VS. confirmation. The probability is
that he will be confirmed without difficulty.
MIR. DOUGLASS RESIGNATION.
Mr.. Douglass, the present incumbent, ten
dered his resignation to the President, under
date OF January 5, 1886, to take effect on the
ASS Ahs'e III Ills leJter OIL resignation MT. Doug.
lass said: I'm making this communication I
cannot withhold the expression of my grateful
appreciation OF your kind consideration in al
rowing me 10 choose both the time and the
manner OF my retirement from the office have
SO long held subject to your pleasure
THE OFFICE WORTH ABOUT FOUR THOUSAND A
YEAR.
The office of recorder of deeds is supported
altogether by fees. Under Mr. Douglass man.
agement it is believed that after paying the
expenses it has yielded a net income of about
$4,000 per annum. The office was formerly a
portion of the office of the clerk of the court
put on the organization of the Supreme Court OF
the District in 1863 it was made an inde-
pendent office. The permanent force is a dep
uty, comparer and messenger, and such
copyists as may be necessary. The copyists are
PAID by the folio and the others receive salaries
IN some quarters the talk to-day was that the
once was TO a great extent run in the interest
OF the coiored people, for under Mr.. Douglass,
outside the deputy and the messenger, there
nave been few white people employed as copy
lists. Charges of msInanagenlent of the office
are Indignantly denied by both the employees
and the title searchers aud Others having BUSH
ness there, and it is said that for over dozen
years there has not been single paper lost, nor
mas there been any material mistake made In
copying the instruments left for record. Mr..
douglass will leave the office, it is said, with
pride because the work has been kept up as
well under his reign as under his predecessors,
although the business has within the past ten
years more than doubled.
Views Of District Democrats.
THE APPOINTMENT A SURPRISE AND DISAP.
POINTMENT.
The District democrats were considerably
surprised by Mr. Matthews appointment, and
were not in especial good humor about it to
day. They criticise the President quite freely
for violating what they, a rule, consider an
obligation placed upon him by the platform OF
the Chicago democratic convention to appoint
District men tor District offices. "And then,'
said MIR. John 5. Miller, in speaking of the mat
ter ito go out of the District and import a col
ored man Is adding insult to injury
''Our complaint against Grant, Hayes and
other republican Presidents" said Mr.. j. p
Willett, 'was that they imported men into the
District to fill District offices, and of course we
are not well pleased to have Mr.. Cleveland do
the same thing
Mr.. r. S. DAVIS said: 1.-THE President has more
political wisdom than all the people that criti-
else him put together. He has demonstrated by
this appointment that the democrats are as
good friends of the colOred race as the republic
d1dates will feel little sore about the appoint
ment"
Mr.. Thomas F. Miller said he had no objection
TO colored man being appointed to the posi-
ton, but certainly thought it strange that TOR
an office like that of recorder of deeds, SO init
mately connected with the property interests
OF the people of the District, some one OF our old
citizens should not have been selected. This is,
too, the only office where the emoluments come
altogether from the people Of the District.
MIR. w lillian Dickson who was the father of
the "ho1ne rule" plank in the democratic plat
fOrm said to a STAR reporter: II have been
asked my opinion q hundred times to-day, and
l have said every time that l am a lifelong
democrat and am for the administration"