St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-03-12
Col. "Billy," of st. Paul, Is
Raised to Rank of Pay
master General.
His Friends Rejoiced Over an
Honor Altogether Unso-
licited.
The Loyal Legion Enjoys An
other Of Its Reminiscent
Banquets.
A Hot Contest at Hamline
Over the DemopeSt Sill
YER Medal.

In these days it so seldom happens
that the Office seeks the man, and not the
man the Office, that the nomination by
President Harrison yesterday of Lieut..
Col. William Smith, now paymaster
of the department of Dakota, to
be paymaster general Of the United
States army to succeed Gen. Roch-
ester, retired, was truly refreshing and
deserved tribute to popular aud eff
cient office. The appointment OF Col.
Smith was surprise to him as we'll as
to every one in the official circles of the
army. In the paymaster's corps of the
regular army there are now or were
forty-One officers. divided as to rank as
follows: One brlgadier general, two
colonies, three lieutenant colonies, and
forty-fve majors. Up to major the pro-
motions 60 by law, but. when it comes
to filling vacancy like that Occasioned
by the retirement Of Gen. Rochester,
the president selects the man from the
entire list. In the point OF seniority
the first place was held by Col. Rodney
Smith, brother of the man selected.
Next to him stood Col. William IL.
fucker, then Lieut.. Col. William Glib
son, then Lieut.. Col. William Smith.
There was a general scramble for the
office, all of the colonies, excepting Col.
Smith, applying for the appointment,
as we'll as many of the majors. Lieut.:
Col. Smith, of st. Paul, was estopped
of the fact that his brother
outranked him, and with the idea OF
advancing this brothers cause Col.
Smith went to Washington, where he
made so favorable an impression that
the president dropped all of the candl-
dates in the field and named Col. Smith
for the Office.
This appointment will be received
with particular favor in st. Paul, for
the reason that Col. Smith is regarded
as citizen of the SANITY City, having
been appointed from Minnesota and sta
toned here the greater part of the time
during the last twenty-five years, dur
ing which he married daughter OF Col.
McAllister, one of st. Paufs well-knoWn
citizens.
COL. SMITHS CAREER.
Col. Smith entered the United States serV
ice from Vermont in August, 1861, receiving
the appointment of additional spaymaster at
that time. In August, 1861, he went 70
Washington and remained there until 1862
when he was assigned to Louisville, KY
Here he remained until 1864 When ne WAS
ordered to St. Paul. The next year he was
breveted lieutenant colonel, and was finally
mustered out of the service ST; Paul in
1866. During the next year Col. Smith
and Capt. Cutter operated a saw
mill at Anoka. But civil life
was not at all to Col Smiths taste, and in
1867, when he was appointed paymaster
in the regular corps and ordered to teport, at
Louisville In 1869 he went TO San Antonio
Tex, for one wear; then to New Orleans Tor
two years; Sioux City, one year, and then st:
Paul for seven years from rs to 30, 1881
and 80 were spent at Washington; 'S3 to, So
found The colonel at st. Paul; ''S7 and 'SS
at Chicago, returning to st. Paul again in
the fall OF 'SS, where he has been stationed
ever SINCE The new position carries with s.
the title as well as the emoluments OF a briga-
der general aud, of necessity residence in
Washington.
The officers of the department of Dakota
were highly elated over the presidents ac-
ton in this case, and could Col Smith have
heard the many kind words spoken NJ Of him him
helped feeling fattered, modest and unas-
Stunning as he is.