New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-09-20
" REFORM" WITH A VENGEANCE.
ROBERT NJ. HOOPER TELLS HIS STORY.
A ACKNOWLEDGEMENT REMOVED WITHOUT
CAUSE TO MAKE ROOM FOR A DEMOCRAT.

CAUSE TO MAKE ROOM FOR A DEMOCRAT.
The removal Of Robert NJ. Hooper from the position
of Vice Consul Of the United States at Paris
has added another to the long list OF violations Of
Civil Service rules by this reform" Administration
His experience and wek known ability had always rem
dered him valuable officer of that Consulate, and to
that fact the present Consul General as we'll as his
predecessors, has frequently testified. General
Hooper arrived in this city the steamship La Bour
gogne Sunday, and to Tribune reporter he gave
the history of his removal as follows:
Consul General Walker remained in Office until DC
tober s, 1887 when he was succeeded by J. g. kath-
bone He, that date. according TO Civil Service
and Consular regulations, rcnominatcd me; but on
October 25 he received message by cable from Judge
Edward Curtis, a Washington lobbyist and an intimate
friend of the President ordering him TO withdraw my
name and TO appoint to the position A. j. Lc Breton
Of San Francisco Cal. which he did at once Curtis
says that bargain had been made in the presence OF
the President that lie Breton should be appointed to
the place when Rathbone was nominated 70 the Con
-Generalship. lie Breton refused to serve under
Rathbone but Democrat had to be found somehow
to take the place of a Republican At the end Of
three months Mr. Rathbone was forced to appoint Mr.
Preston, q nephew of Curtis who does not speak
French and who knows nothing of the service all Of
which was against Civil Service and Consular regula
tons but the end aimed at was gained, and Demo
crat has the position.
Continuing, Mr. Hooper said: There Is good
deal Of anxiety expressed in American circles IN fars
respecting the social standing Of our ociais curing
the Exhibition Minister McLane and his vile are
both old and the latter is in feeble health so la'
they never entertain being in this respect compie'e
contrast 70 General Dix, General Noyes ana Levi r.
Morton. whose houses always open to Americans
Even If Cleveland is reelected, new Oniteu oaes
Minister at Paris is imperativcly needed as all une
foreign Ministers In Paris are invited to the numerous
and splend;d fetcs given by the Government anu ART
expected to entertain IN return. Mr.. McLane never
gives even Fourth of July God of February reccp
tion.s
These statements we're not made as mere matter
of complaint for the sake of restoration as MT Hooper
has said that could not under circumstances DC
induced to re-enter Government service and he has
already accepted much better position as Paris
representative of the we'll known law firm of Coudcr
Brothers. of this city His hosts of friends In Paris
whore he gained great popularity, and in this country
feel that he has been brutaly treated, and are eX
trcmely indignant about his summary election from an
office IN which ne had given fifteen years of faithful
service-and this too, direct violation of civil Ser
vice and Consular regulations and In spite OF nc pre-
tensions oI since proven fase OF this Cvll service
Reform Administration.