Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-12-27
THE RECoRDER,s OFFICE.



tive 90 the Offfce and Hts Managenaens.
'1 notice in some OF the New York, as wen a the
local papers" said Nj. simon Wolf, for nine years
recorder OF deeds to STAR reporter shat the as
sertton is made that none OF MI. Matthew'S prede-
cessoFs were residents OF the District at the time
OF their appointment. hate to destroy the DC.
tons OF the press, but the statement is NOT cor
rect. N. c. Towle was born in this city. Z. c.
Eddy was either born here or had lived here for q
long number Of years Richard n. Hall had re-
sided here for years, voted here, and was tax
payer. +. p. Cuppy was q practicing attorney In
this city at the time OF his appointment had
lived here nine years, voted here, and paid taxes
at the time Of my appointment as recorder OF
deeds, in 1869. Frederick Douglass was marshal
OF the District at the time OF his appointment as
recorder, resided here permanently, owner OF con-
siderable real estate, and, to my knowledge,
claimed no other residence
Mr.. WOlf shat Mr.. Matthews is doing what no
other recorder ever did-using his income for the
improvement on tne records Again regret to DO
In 1869, the records were indeed in the most de-
plorable and dilapidated condition, and without
as we Known BY the cisaaDs & city,
ana expended nearly ten thousand dollars In re-
binding the records, making complete new indices
like shape. And 1t was nearly year before was
relmoursed ana nom personal knowledge and
Inspection OF the office, after my retirement, and
after an interview with Col. Schayer, am led to
believe that the records at the time OF Mr. Doug
lass retirement, with the exception OF one or two
books, were left in good shape
'The trouble with the ONCE OF recorder Of deeds
Is" he went on, shat it should never have been
made presidential appointment, as the duties
Dental appointment, 1t should be saluried, not
fee Office As the Office now stands It is OF the
most independent and best paying in the gift Of
the PRESIDENT. The recorder gives no bonds, has
no responsibility, and does as he pleaseS And
these facts and opinions stated at three different
times during the incumbency OF my Office, at q
time when the emolumentS were as large, II not
larger than now, in letters addressed to Congress
and The EVENING STAR. said then, as do now,
rest OF the fees OF the ONCE should be used for a
nreproof Walt, In which the records could be kept
a better system or 1ndiceS, and the general I'm
provements OF the Office.
.'It has also been stated !" Mr. Wolf continued
'that Mr.. Matthews has to pay for the records out
OF MS income. That is true, for the moment, but
of Mr. Douglass, whose claim is to be presented at
this session OF Congress, has been regularly paid
Dy direct appropriation on the part OF Congress,
ment decided that the records belong to the gov
eminent, and, therefore, they must pay for them;
and and whenever Mr.. Matthews leaves the Office he
Will be reimbursed, as all the others were. From
the reports OF the Daily Court Record since Mr.
Matthews incumbency,I should say that his net
more, as he does not have a deputy recorder, at
salary OF 81 400 year, which his predecessors did
have.
''COl Schayer's resignation was not voluntary
but forced" he went on. 81 do not like to speak Of
this matter, knowing how sensitive Col Schayer
Is and how resOlutely he has refrained from saying
by so doing. But think it is high time that the
citizens OF Washington should know that the man
who served them faithfully for eighteen years. and
the country during the whole OF the civil war, did
not run away from his duty, but was driven away
to save his sef-respect. And to prove this asser-
ton now suggest that Col schayer should tell
q n ,Ofo f1an
documents In his possession, including four page
letter OF the President. Inasmuch as the President
which Mr.. Matthews himself stated-it is the more
necessary that the public should have clear and
concise D. knowledge OF the inside history Of this
81 have no personal feeling against Mr.. Mat
thews, said Mr.. Wolf, ''and Certainly not on ac-
count OF his color. For it was In the recorders
ployes one OF whom, Frederick Douglass r. had
been denied admission into the Typographical union
on account OF his color and then gave him en-
plOyment In my Office, thus ev1denc1ng that GER
tainly have no race prejudice Indeed, am glad
to say that feel pride In the friendship OF such
o6er as h6ngs5on John COOK and
rel with the President for appointing whomsOever
he peases but singular it is that he should violate
Which he tecte Vs. sne Rue ana S
Service, the former in not appointing some resi-
dent democrat, and the latter in not promoting
the deputy, who would have been universally ae-
the war;
THE VIEWS OF JAMES II. SMITH.
Mr.. James Fl. Smith, well known cOlored law.
yer in this Gity, In conversation with STAR re-
porter to-day, relative to the Office OF recorder Ut
deeds, said: 'My position in this matter is simply
Lh1S. believe TINT there are brains enough and
executive ability enough in this District to I'LL the
Offices in this District with citizens residing here
arm Oppose ny any one here for
white. tits no argument with me in favor of Mr.
Matthews, that he happens to be a colored man.
interests of the District and therefore on this &C
count In my opinion, is not ut person to appoint
to this position. Mr. Matthews, no doubt, is fully
him on that ground or any personal ground. The
principle evolved in his appointment is q bad
one, and ought to be condemned by every one who
has the interests OF the District at heart.
JOHN Il. sMYTHE's VIEWS.
Mr.. John H. Smythe, the ex-minister to Liberia
said this morning to STAR reporter in regard to
the appointment Of MI. Matthews:
81 am in favor of Mr.. Matthews, because he Is a
democrat, although l am myself republican.
Yet this is democratic administration, and /
think that the President has right to surround
himself with democrats in carrying on the ad-
ministration: I am surprised that it has met
Mr.. Matthews because he is a colored dempcra So
and hold out the idea that q cOlored man has no
right to be anything but a republican. II this
ored man would be destroyed. believe that
the majority Of the citizens OF the District
are opposed to MI. Matthews because he is
q cOlOred man, and think that It is duty We owe
to ourselves and our race that whenever man or
a woman show themselves capable OF rising in this
world that the cOlOred people should unite to help
them along. That Is what the white people do
and why should not the cOlOred people do the
same? Every cOlOred man or woman who rises to
positions OF influence and trust in this world reflect
credit upon the race and establish to a certain
extent its capabitty for improvement and progress
On this ground again | support Mr.. Matthews
That he is q democrat hold to be no discredit to
him, because he has Joined the party where his
interests e and that Is the test after all OF party
attachment"
PERRY CARSON WANTS HOME RULE.
"Smythe and those folks who went I'D before
Senator Ingalls, committee about the Matthews
case do not represent the cOlored people OF this
city, )" said Perry Carson to STAR reporter ssThe
cOlOred people here don't want Matthew'S We
would rather have white democrat from Wash.
ctngton than a black democrat from Albany. The
recognition from him. No, sir; We want home
rule. That's what the democrats here were work.
ing for apd what the platform OF the democratic
party promised us. How does Smythe represent
know him any better than they know Mat theWs'
VIRGINIA AND MARYLAND PosTMAsTERs.-Jona-
than c. Williams has been appointed fOurth-class
postmaster at Olney, Montgomery county, Nd,
and Mrs Alice G. Denton at Junction, Hanover
county, Va, and John B. Mckee at Grant, GraySOn
county, Va.
A PROMOTION AND A REPRESENTATIONS j.
BoyntOn, Of Vermont, has been promoted from
600 to 81 500 post Office inspector, with head
quarters ut Boston; and Warren p. Edgarton, OF
also post Office inspector has been
reduced from 81 500 TO 600.