Omaha daily bee., 1889-06-29
Tho Famous Colored Man Appointed
Minister to Hayti.
CAPT. MEREDITH MADE HAPPY.
He VIII BE Chief of the Bureau of
Engraving-A Rumorcd Reci-
procity Proposition
From Canada.
WASHINGTON BUREAU, THE OMAHA BEE,
5l3 FOURTEENTH STREET,
WAsuISuTpS n C. June 2S l

Three weeks ago it was understood that the
place was TO go to ex-Congressman Richard
Guenther, of Wisconsin. Later, however,
there was so much pressure brought upon
the president to give it to a resident of the
District of Columbia that Mr.. Guenther was
set aside and colored man was reported to
have been settled upon. This colored man
was Prof. Gregory, of Howard university
who, it now turns out, was an applicant for
the same place under President Cleveland
Gregory will scarcely get the place, but 1T is
understood to day that Mr.. Guenther is to be
provided for in the consular service. The
place which is said to have been set aside for
him is the consulate generalship at Havana.
Financially the place is very good one, and
Mr. Guenther's friends hero assert 1t is his
if he will accept it,
MEREDITH APPOINTED.
The secretary of the treasury this after.
noon filled one of the three remaining bureau
appointments under his department. Late
i'll the day he sent word TO Captain Meredith
to come to the department., and when tina
gentleman responded he was received in the
inner room and closeted with the secretary
for fifteen minutes. His face wore a broad
smile as he came out, and when asked by
two or three, who were waiting in the outer
room, ii he was subject for congratulations,
he responded:
"Yes, think may tell you that 1 am.
The secretary has just given me permission
to telegraph to my wife that | am to assume
the duties of the office on Monday, the 1st
of July"
Mr.. Graves, the present superintendent of
the bureau of engraving and printing, will
scarcely have an opportunity to initiate his
successor into the duties of the oifice as he
ct fDr Tacoma w a
become the president of a new national
bank, which was authorized to do business
there yesterday. Captain Meredith will not
have the patronage at his disposal which has
been accorded to his predecessors. There
are twelve or fifteen hundred employees
in the bureau, and until within a
year they have been appointed without the
aid of the civil service, but following out the
policy inaugurated for the purpose of re-
lieviug his successor of all possible patron
age, President Cleveland extended the iuris-
diction of the commission over this Office,
and now the women who handle the sheets
as they go to the plate printers must pass an
examination before they can hope for ap-
pointments, at n dollar and quarter day.
The two important remaining positions un-
der the treasury department still to be filed
are the third authorship and the superin-
tendency of the coast and geodetic sur
vey. The present third auditor is Colonel
Williams, of Indiana, Who it is understood,
is to be succeeded by another Indiana man
about the end of July The coast sur
vey will be filled by the 10th of the month.
Heretofore the place has been an appoint
ment of'the secretary Of the treasury, but
the last appropriation virtually made new
Office of it. 1t makes the appointment sub
iect to ''confirmaton'' by the senate and
really compels the president to make new
appointment. The present incumbent is, to
all lntents and purposes, legislated out Of
office with the close of the fiscal year, and
his successor must be named within ten days
after the Office becomes vacant 1t is still
thought that the place will be given to Prof.
Gould, of Harvard university, who is one
of the most eminent scientific men in the
country.
MARSHAL OF THE DISTRICT.
In the appointment of d. M. Ransdell to
be marshal of the District of Columbia, this
afternoon, the president has practically re-
stored that Office to the social importance
which it occupied under the administration
of President Arthur. Until the Inauguration
of President Cleveland the marshal of the
district was the social right hand man of the
president, Upon HIM devolved great many
duties connected with the executive man
sion Whenever reception was in progress
the marshal was regarded as the intimate
friend of the chief magistrate. President
Arthur appointed a personal friend, but
President Cleveland selected as marshal
gentleman who was an entire stranger to
him. Mr.. Ransdells relations with the
president have been intimate, and he will be
brought INTO closer contact with the presi-
Dental family than any other man in Wash
ington, except it be the presidents private
secretary. He will assume the duties of his
new office on Monday, and will bring his
family on here later in the season. MIR.
Ransdell has wife and four children.
RECIPROCITY IN LUMBER.
An Ottawa special to the New York Sun
this morning says that the Dominion govern
ment is about to propose to the government
of tho United States an arrangement for un-
restricted reciprocity in the Interchange of
lumber and lumber products. The dispatch
seems to be based on official news and con-
veys the impression that the first steps
towards the arrangement have been taken
by the Dominion authorities ThejBritish le-
CATION attaches are naturally non-communi-
cative on this subject, and the state depart
ment people positively refuse to give any in
formation whatever Their reticence leads
to the belief that the plan has been broached
by Sir Julien Pauncefote, and this idea gains
color from the fact that Sir Julien had long
ago. Anything which may be done towards
the reciprocal exchange OF lumber
or any other products between
the two countries must, of course, be accom-
plished in the form Of Il treaty and in the
present state of feeling reciprocal treaty
cannot secure the necessary votes for rati-
ficaton in the senate. The members Of the
senate committee on our relations with
Canada VINO nave recently returned mere
say that the sentiment of the country, as far
as they could ascertain, is against reciprocity
at present, except along the border, but
there is no doubt that Il treaty having for its
object simply the unrestricted interchange
of lumber products would meet with very
general approval among the senators from
the western states, and in view of the fact
that such treaty would probably provide
for the free expectation of logs from the
Dominion it would be quite likely to get
more or less support from the representa-
tives of the states of Michigan, Minnesota
and Wisconsin in the upper house.
LAIRD IMPROVING.
Congressman Laird, of Nebraska, whose
illness 1t was thought would prevent his at
tendance at the opening of congress, is spend
ing his time at present at Atlantic City. Re
ports from him there are TO the effect'that he
Is slowly, but surely, improving In health
and strength. He walks six or eight miles
every day, and although he has not entirely
recovered from the attack which prostrated
him, hls friends say that he will be all right
by fall, and that he will surely take his seat
when the house assemblies, whether in special
or regular session. There is another repub-
lcan member OF the house who is very Ill,
and the chances ARE that he will never again
I.,s s.,l A. lfa kfa l. la.