The Penn's Grove record., 1889-05-25
WASHINGTON Letter

w biitAktOh ~ " AAo S SS
President Harrison will confer a fav-
or upon an anxious score of applicants
by filling the vacancy oil the supreme
bench at once. 1t vas expected two
weeks ago and the candidates and their
friends are very impatient. 1t is hint
ed that the President is retarded by the
quality Of the applicants. If so, he is
oye particular, for certainly a dozen
men as able as Chief Justice Fuller
have presented themselves, and it did
not take Mr.. Cleveland long to select
Mr.. Fuller. The truth is that the few
men at the very front OF the legal pro-
fession could not be induced, on &C.
count Of the smallness of the salary to
accept the position. The honor would
not prov. sufficient inducement, for al
though the appointment might still
look well in q biography, the character
of the men appointed to the supreme
bench in the last twenty years has been
such AZ to lower the former standard.
The candidate most talked Of is At
torney General Miller. 1t would be, Of
course, personally pleasing to the Presi-
dent to thus honor him, but he might
find 4 serious objection in that it would
deprive him of his Oldest and most
steadfast friend In the cabinet. If lie
can do 1t without seriously incommOd-
ing himself, you may be sure that the
President will thus elevate his old law
partner. The necessary changes in the
cabinet would be easy. Secretary No
bic originally expected and particularly
desired to be Attorney-G General. The
multiplicity of annoying details in the
work of the Interior department and
the utter disregard Of sound law prac.
tice In its various bureaus, have COM
bined to make his official life a burden.
Added to this he has political ambition,
being even said to have the Vice-presi-
Dental bee in his bonnet and further II
habit OF trying to do the work of the
entire department, in 80 far as distribut-
Ing all patronage and supervising all
orders are concerned. Decidedly, Mr..
Noble would make a good Attorney
general, and the administration would
b. relieved by the transfer.
Such an event, Mr.. Clarkson would
doubtless be appointed Secretary of The
Interior, a position which he has always
coveted. To the politicians of the Re-
publican party, his selection would be
emineitly satisfactory. 1t is said that
in his present. position Of Assistant
Postmaster General he considers party
service as the first and supreme recon-
mendation for Office. HeNis a spoils-
men after the heelers own heart, though
he would mt 20 so far as to appoint a
man whom be honestly thought incom-
petent. ksxasstated when Mr.. Clark
son accepted his present position that
the first vacancy in the cabinet would
be his. AT that time it was thought
that John Wanamaker had accepted
the post. Office portfolio merely for the
honor and would soon resign. That,
however, is nov extremely improbable,
and the present is most decidedly MI.
Clarkson's golden opportunity. If
these cabinet changes be made MI,
Chauncey /. Filley, of s.. Louis, would
doubtless he selected to fill the vacancy
caused in the Assistant Postmaster
GeI.eralship.
The death of Allen Thorndyke Rice
adds to President Harrison's trials,
that of selecting a new Russian minis
ter at as early day Ms possible. The
pressure for the place commenced as
soon as the breath was out of MI.
Rice's body. Half a dozen prominent
statesmen were on hand this morning
ready to urge the claims on various
candidates. l believe that William
Walter Phelps will be the lucky man,
at least If Secretary Blaine has his will.
Mr.. Rice was one Of the least known
public men in this country. He be-
longed essentially 10 the silk stocking