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

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., but his parents soon afterwards settled
in Albany, NY, and there he has since resided.
IN 1864 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 academy to colored scholar. He read law
ana, finishing his course at the Albany law
se aHS was regularly admitted to the bar in
1870, and subsequently to the bar Of the United
states courts. Mr. Matthews has been quite
successful IN the practice of his profession. He
was republican in 1872, when he Joined the
liberal movement and then entered the demo-
cratic ranks. He is said to be a fine public
spee aad Ill, HIS wife is from representative
coiored family OF New York city, and he is q
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
70 Matthews confirmation. The probability is
tnat ne VIII be confirmed without difficulty.
MIR. DOUGLASS RESIGNATION.
MI. douglass, the present incumbent, ten
dered his resignation to the President, under
date of January s, 1886, to take effect on the
LIST inst. In his letter of resignation Mr.. Doug
lass said: I'm making this communication 7
cannot withhold the expression of nv grateful
appreciation OF your kind consideration in al
loving me TO 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 net income of about
"a 900 per annum. The office was formerly a
portion of the office Of the clerk of the court
but on the organization of the Supreme Court OF
Inc District In 1868 it was made an indie
pen0ent ONCE. The permanent force is a dep
uty, cOmparer and messenger, and such
copyists as may be necessary. The copyists are
pald Dy the folio and the others receive salaries.
In some quarters the talk to-day was that the
office was to q 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
lsts Charges of msmanagement of the Office
are indignantly denied by both the employees
and the title searcherS and others having BUSH
ness there, and it is said that for over dozen
years there has not been a 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
wen unoer his reign as under his predecessors,
although the business has within the past ten
years more than doubled.
Views Of District Democrats.
THE APPOINTMENT SURPRISE AND DIsAP-
POINTMENT.
The District democrats were considerably
surprised by Mr.. Matthews appointment, and
We're not in especial good humor about it to
day. They criticise the President quite freely
for violating what they, rule consider an
obligation placed upon him by the platform OF
the Chicago democratic convention to appoint
District men Tor District offices. "And them"
said Mr.. John s. 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.. ]. p
Willett, 'was that they imported men into the
District to fill District offices, and of course we
are not we'll pleased to have Mr.. Cleveland do
the same thing"
Mr.. r. S. DAVIS said: ''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
dfdates will feel a little sore about the appoint
ment."
Mr.. Thomas F. Miller said he had no objection
to colo:ed man being appointed to the posi-
ton, but certainly thought it strange that for
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 old
citizens should not have been selected. This is,
too, the only office where the emoluments come
altogether from the people of the District.
Mr.. William Dickson, who was the father of
the 'home rule plank in the democratic plat
fOrm said to a STAR reporter: 81 have been
asked my opinion a hundred times to-day, and
l have said every time that l am lifelong
democrat and am for the administration