St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-09-10
HARRIsoN,s COAL DEAL.

President HARRISON may not mean
to do it, yet he is making series of UNI
fortunate mistakes in his appointments,
and they will rise up against him with
the staying qualities of Banquo ghost
if he ever comes before the people for
reelection. The impression has gone
abroad that in the matter of appoint
ments he has more regard for personal
interests than for the public welfare.
Whether he does this knowingly, or
merely permits himself to be made the
tool of designing politicians, is matter
of no consequence to the public. The
fact that 1t is being done Is enough to
arouse popular indignation and to Gre
ate a popular disgust for all admins
tration that hasn't wit enough to take
care of its own reputation. A fresh
illustration of the presidents weakness
in this respect is furnished by the late
appointment of two delegates to repre-
sent this republic in the American con-
gress to be held next month. To the
average citizen an appointment of this
character seems to be an empty sort Of
honor. There is no salary attached to
the place, nor any special power be-
longing to it. Yet when we come to
view it in connection with certain inter-
ests we find that there is more in it than
the ordinary observer would suspect.
1t is a notorious fact that the
Brazilian Steamship company has for
long time been besieging congress for
subsidy, but owing to the popular pref
udice against subsidies of all deScrip-
tons, they have failed to get nickel.
The subsidy scandal has grown to such
proportions under former congresses
the people determined to wipe the
whole subsidy business out of exist
ence. Yet that has not deferred the
steamship companies from devising
new schemes for influencing congress,
and it has been openly alleged that one
of the purposes of this American con-
gress was to further the interests of the
steamship companies i'll this subsidy
matter. In view of all these facts, it is
all the more singular that the president
should have appointed as one of the
representatives from this country Mr..
FLINT, of New York, who is a director
in the Brazilian Steamship company,
and who has all the time been one of the
foremost advocates of steamship subsi-
dies The other representative, eX-
Senator DAVIS, of West Virginia, is not
known to be connected with any steam
ship company, yet there is a peculiar
tact associated with his appointment
which might give rise to the suspicion
that personal interests cut bigger
figure in this matter than the public
welfare. Mr.. DAVIS is the presi-
dent of a large coal company operat-
ing in Maryland and West Vir-
ginia. A popularity of the coal that
comes from his mines is that it has an
excellent Steam-generating quality, and
finds its principal sale to the ocean
steamships. Pretty much all the ocean
steamers now use it except those en-
gagged in the South American trade. which
persist in patrOnizing the British coal
dealers. The coming congress will af
ford Mr.. DAVIS an excellent opportunity
to call the attention of the representa-
tives OF the South American govern
ments to the superior qualities of his
coal, and by a combination with the
Brazilian Steamship company he may
succeed in finding a new market for the
output of his mines. And another fact
not to be lost sight of is that President
HARRISON is partner with Mr.. DAVIS
in the coal business. If Mr.. DAVIS
will vote for Mr.. FLINT's subsidy reso-
luton, there is but little doubt that Mr..
FLINT's steamship company will agree
to buy coal from the DAvIs-HARRIsoN
company. And thus the much-talked-
of American congress will be converted
into a genuine Tickle me, Toby, and
I'll tickle you'' affair.