Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-04-04
WASHINGTON NEWS.

~S-N~AAI i4SAo dOd
proclamation opening to settlement
all that portion of Oklahoma
Territory covered by the bill
passed during the last hours of the
Fiftieth Congress. The land thus
opened TO settlement embraces
nearly 100000 acres. The
proclamation has been nearly
ready for a week OF ten days but
the pressure of other matters
prevented its completion.
The nomination of corporal"
James Tanner Of New York, to be
Commissioner of Pensions, is
enthusiastically received by theoold
soldiers, particularly those who
carried muskets in the ranks.
They regard the appointment as a
special recognition of themselves.
Ii the sentiments expressed by
ex-soldiers, from a large number
of states, temporarily in Wash
ington, are fair sample of those
existing throughout the country,
this appointment bids fair to be
one of the most popular evers'made
by any President.
The only objection raised@~to the
appointment Of Corporal" Tanner
was that he was too friendly to
the old soldiers. Gen. Harrison
quickly told the parties who had
the bad taste to make such an
objection, that it was for that very
reason that he proposed to make
him Commissioner of Pensions.
No man should ever fill the posi-
ton who is not friendly to the old
soldiers, and it would be difficult
for him to be too friendly toward
them.
The important appointments are
being slowly and carefully made
and now that the President has
had time to show the politicians
that he does not propose to do
anything hurriedIy, there has been
a perceptible 'let up" in the
pressure upon him. He bears the
claims Of all patiently and after
careful consideration, appoints the
one who, all things considered, he
will best fill the position.
Among the more prominent
appointments made last week were
Edward Willet, of Michigan, to
be Assistant Secretary of Agricul-
ture; J. M. Shackleford, of Indiana,
ito be Judge of the u. S. court for
the Indian Territory; Thos. B.
Needles, Of Illinois, to be u. S.
Marshal for the Indian Territory;
M. c. Moore and O. C. White of
'of Washington Territory, to be
Governor and Secretary of that
Territory; H. N. Blake, of
Montana, to be Chief Justice of
the Supreme Court of Montana;
Frederick D. Grant, of New York,
to be Minister to Austria; John c.
New, Of Indiana, to Consul
General at London; Whitelaw
Reid, editor of the New York
Tribune, to be Minister to France:
Julius Goldschmidt, of Wisconsin,
to be Consul General at Vienna;
w. w. Thomas, of Maine, to be
Minister to Sweden and Norway;
IS. R. Thayer, of Minnesota, to be
Minister to the Netherlands; Mr.
Whitfield, Of Ohio, to be Second
Assistant Postmaster General and
A. d. Hazen, of Pennsylvania, to
be Third Assistant Postmaster
General (Mr. Hazen filled this
position for many years until
asked to resign by Cleveland in
1885, besides number of
appointments to similar places,
and postmasters, collectors of
customs, and promotions in the
Army and Navy.
Gen. Harrison stated in
conversation day or two ago that
the West must have the Public
Printer. This has had the effect
of knocking out all the Eastern
candidates and of bringing in
several new ones from the West.
1t IS a very important position and
the President does not propose to
make mistake in filing it. As it
now stands it is thought the