Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-09-27

THE EX-REGIsTER OF WILLS WRITES ABor
HIS RECENT oFFICIAL DECAPIIArlnN

THE EX-REGIsTER or WILLS WRITES ABOUT
HIS RECENT OFFICIAL DECAPiTATioN.
Mr. III. j. Ramsdell, late corresI onaent of thu
Philadelphia Press and late register OF wills OF
the district, writes Ia the Press lroia Taga Pa,
To which place, he says. lac went "A fnttnilsht ar
more ago from Washington ITO master up NV
poor old head, SO unsklifuiig anl,utated ~
PRESIDENT Cleveland. referring 10 TINS ampa-
tatlon, Mr.. Ramsdell says:
ION the morning OF that unhappy "a day az
July, 1881, President Garfield q III ne the honor
To appoint me register Of wills Tor the District
OF Columbia-the last official act OF his lie Tor
lew hours after signing my commission ha
was shot down by the accdrscd mu. wunIp
Uulteau. Ine Office Il one OI dignity ana re-
sponsibiiity, and worthy the ambition of ono
oil more consequence than /, but 4 never an.
plIed ior IL L continued 10 hold the office
until a little over "A month ago when I was
suspended by President Cleveland Who at the
same time appointed the negro cArpet-bagger
Matthews, from Albany, TO the important office
OF recorder OF deeds after he had been rejected
Dy Tue senate by more than "A two-Ihiras MAJ
9ority Oh democrats and republicans alike.
Let not those who are unfriendly To me i'm.
agine that L complain of my removal. ann
lar from complaining or objecting. Had (
been In his place should have removed tho
republican register OF wills of Washington
within week alter my Inauguration, merely
because ne had been bitter and relentless
repuDilcan- But that was not Mr.. Cleyelands
way. He wanted to carve the cheese not cur
IL The idea that u political striker like MIR,
Cleveland should plead the absurd baby act or
civil service reform Is too funny. 4 have no
doubt he laughs in his own face when ne sees
himself Ia the mirror roIorIncr. lie. no
douDt, had Inc 'on the list but did not Know
what reason TO give the senate.
he summoned number OF the most con.
splcuous lawyers at the bar-all democrais-
ana questioned them about the efficiency OF
my administration Of the Office OF register OF
Wills. Many OF them. and 1 am pretty sure
all of them, reported that was a bitter repub-
Hcan, Dut That taere was not "A better conducted
Office In the country than mine. 80 lie Ma
estopped from practlclng his demagogical m ake-
shit oil Civil service reform i'm nay case Then
ne asked about nay offensive partizanship. he
learned that. although L Sill declared myself
a nghtlng republican, L had mad the good
taste 10 refrain from writing speak ing on
the subject Oh politics while holding Office ua.
DER "A democratic adm stratlon. EsLopped
again. Then a letter was senL me asking ii
served In the army or navy OF the United
States during the war, in what capacity, etc,
and also the number of my pension rtilicate.
II had any pension. Ny answer Ia this WAS
tnat enlisted as a private soldier prii ., sol:
lhaL served In the neic untll the battle OF
AntletaIn, where L WAS wounded; hat / was
subsequently sent TO AN army hos "a. la " ASH
lngion, where 4 was discharged Tor disability,
and that never applied Tor a pension Eyi-
uentiy tilat record ala not furnish "A reason for
my removal 80 lar The President nad found
no reason he thought adequate tor the s>euaIa
ior lay removal. 80 he let the Senate adjourn
without "a NOMINATION.. Previously. however.
Senate committee on the District of Columbia.
10 consult HIM on certain District matters.
During the conference the President VoIuH-
tcereu the statement tnat he had occl led To
make no change In the Office OF reg lister willis
l should here state Thai never SAW the Presi-
dent but once, when Was invited 10 his bridal
reception. never wrote him "A line, nor did
ever ask a friend 10 gs To him in my behalf;
nor DO believe any friend al mine ever went
10 hin in my behalf The President, however.
nad written a letter 10 George W iiiiam turIis.
good ana efficient officers on political grouudA
so some reason must be found"