Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-05-27

Secretary Proctor, who returned to the city
Saturday afternoon, received a telegram this
morning from his home in Vermont, annouuc-
ing that his twelve-year-old son is dangerously
ill, and the Secretary left at II o'clock. The
illness OF his son was one of the reasons why
the Secretary went on to Rutland on his recent
trip, but he returned with the belief that the
patient was convalescent. The sudden news he
received this morning was great shock to him.
His departure at this time may cause a delay
in the settlement of several matters now pend
ing between the White House and the depart
ment, which, it was expected, would be de-
cided this week.
AS TO GEN. DRUMS SUCCESSOR.
The most important of these is the selection
of ah acknowledgement to succeed Gen. Drum,
who will tomorrow be placed on the retired
list of the army on account of age. This mat
ter, it is said, is giving the President consider
able bother, and there is a rumor to the effect
that the influence behind the two leading candi-
dates, Whipple and kelton is 80 strong that
the President. not caring to ignore either by
recognizing the other, is going to cut the
Gordian knot by selecting third man for the
place. In this event Col Chauncey Mckeever
would probably be the appointee, for the only
man between himself and the head Of the list,
barring the main candidates, is Col. Robert
Williams, who is in such bad health as to put
him out of the race. But this conclusion is not
generally expected, and the current belief is
that either Kelton or Whipple will be selected.
A doubt has been expressed of Gen. Sherman 8
energy in backing Col. Whipple; and if it be
well founded that officers chances are not as
bright as they were commonly thought to be.
ANOTHER OF THE FLOATING STORIES
is to the effect that the President has declared
that he will not appoint staff officer to the
vacancy in the maiorships caused by the change
of acknowledgement, but that the assistant
must be selected from the line of the army.
In support OF this Is argued, the strong feeling
that is known to exist among western people
in favor of the line against the staff. But on
the other hand it seems improbable" said an
officer to-day, ''that the President would
make such declaration and establish
such principle, which is practically a
warning to all the military cadets at the
academy that if they study so hard and do such
good work that they will be put into the staff
corps, they will destroy their chances ever
afterward for promotion or advancement by
transfer from their staff to another. Thus
continued the officer, 'if a cadet graduate into
the engineer corps according to this principle.
he will perforce remain an engineer although
an opening may come In another corps for
which he may be better adapted or in which
there is better chances for advancement. In
other words, he asserted it would be putting a
premium on lnQluerent Work at the military
academy.
THE ARMEs CASE.
The Secretary's absence will also cause
another delay in the already long-pending
Armes court-martial case, which has been at
the White House for several weeks. It is not
probable that the delay is occasioned by a de-
sire on the part of the President to return the
case to the court, but rather that he has not
had an opportunity to go over it with the Sec
retary.