The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-03-27
THE FEDERAL OFFICERS.
important Nominations Submit
ted by President Harrison.
Prominent Appointments-in the
Diplomatic Service.

The President has sent to the Senate the
following nominations:
Thomas W. Palmer, of Michigan, to be
Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Pleni-
potentiary of the United States to Spain.
John F. Swift, of California, to be Envoy
Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary
to Japan.
John D. Washburn, of MASSACHUSETTS,, to
be Minister Resident and Consul-General OF
the United States to Switzerland.
George c. Tichenor, Of Illinois, to be As
sistant Secretary of the Treasury, vice Isaac
II. Maynard, resigned.
The nominations were formally laid before
the Senate as soon as the doors were cioSeu.
There was disposition on both sides OF the
chamber to confirm ex-senator Palmer as
Minister to Spain without reference 70
committee, but it was decided not TO
break over the regular rule, and so the nom
ination was sent to the Foreign Relations
Committee along with those OF john u.
Wasnburn for the Swiss mission and John
F. Swift for the mission to Japan. George
C. Tichsnor's nomination for Assistant Sec
retary of the Treasury went into the tlnanco
Committee All this took less than ten
minutes, and when it had been done the
Senate adjourned.
Thomas Witherell Palmer, of Michigan,
who has been nominated to succeed Perry
belmont, OF new dS CLlISI OVdtca
Minister to Spain, was born at Detroit on
January 25, 1880. His father, Thomas Pal.
mer was one of the pioneers Of Detroit, and
his neither was daughter Of Judge James
Titherell.
In 1855 he married Miss Lizzie P. Merrill,
daughter of Charles P. Merrill, and then
entered the lumber business with the latter.
AS the successor of his father and ather,ln-
law he is one OF the largest owners Of lumber
property and saw mills in the Northwest, and
Is the possessor of large fortune.
In 1875 no was elected to the State Senate,
and in 1883 he was elected to the United
States Senate for the term which closed on
March g.
John F. Swift, of California, who has been
nominated to succeed Ex-Governor Richard
B. Hubbard, of Texas, as United States
Minister to Japan. was born in Missouri about
fifty years ago He went in 1852 to Califor-
MIA, and became one Of the leading lawyers
OF the Pacific Coas:.
He has travelled nearly all over the world
and possesses fund of information of places
and people He has written several books,
among which are "Going to Jericho" book
of travel, and Rupert Greathousa.n novel.
Colonel John D. Washburn, Of Massachu-
settS, who has been nominated to succeed
Boyd Winchester Of Kentucky, as United
States Minister Resident and Consul General
to Switzerland, is native of Boston and is
ffty.six years old.
He has served in both Houses of the Mas.
sachusetts Legislature, was chief Of staff Of
Governor Bullock during the war, and has
held various places of honor and trust in con-
nection with charitable institutions. He is a
man of wealth. and at present is not engaged
in business.
Mr. Tchenor was soldier of the Union,
commanding an Iowa regiment. He was
appointed in the Government service in 1875.
and has been in continuous emp.Oyment
since, most of the time ss a special agent Of
the Treasury. A great leal OF his time has
been spent abroad in investigation Of the
matter Of undervaluations. and he has be-
come the most proficient Of all the special
agents in that line Of work.