The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-05-31
THE PRESIDENT WORRIED,
Raum and Ills Pension ONCE The cause Of
Irritation.
LATEST PHASE OF BEHRNG SEA CASE
p,..,. n,n.s. and it's Erect on the Admin
istration-The Glen Echo cha'a"P""
Angling In tho Potomac

,vo,rv;no the President so much as tne GU
60 oesco n,uddle. Secretary Noble ms
taken a determined stand against o"s'o''
Commissioner Raum. He has maze al ~ III
lute demand that Commissioner hauii ','"
no dismissed. but in the same connec'ion ."'
la. ,ba president the widest discretion IN 'no
-oa.tor Secretary Noble is now out west
,vbsre he has been for several weeks anu IL can
no statad as a positive fact that nc Will
not return TO Washington to resume uuSy 80
chief Of the Interior Department uh''l Oo",-
.n;ss;oner Kauu shall have been removed
c..ro.arv Noble is so determined IN tnis
-, that he has left his resignation IN ,n e
bordeof a friend who Is prominent 9lioi" 81 20
the administration, TO be d enve[Teu - ~ 80
president in the event be snail. w
$3.50 Rem Rut from the best information
ohtainabie there IS no douutsOL 'n0
Commissioners early removal
soBLR DETERMINED.
o.o .ho denarture of Secretary Noble
e. tha West TIE TIMES stated that ne npu
Ia down his ultimatum that either ne or
En- should retire. This was during the
prasident,s absence on his campaigning W.
Mr. Noble in very emphatic language III
formed Commissioner Raum tna1 DI1n u
.,;n;stration At the outset he demanded
pa,,r~s Tesicnation. The latter refused 70 re-
49,, aax,ino he had been invited by the Presi-
lent 10 take charge of the PENSION bureau
and that he would not lay down ms once OK
cept by order of the President. III was th1n'
- "a that either he or Raum must retire.
,Tbe Secretary went TO his home in st. LOUIS,
,,bere he now is. and the President has been
informed of his purpose to resign unless haum
shall be retired: D:,,. I'D
since the return of the latter ne mas gwen ven
large share of his time to the Pension Once
middle.
HARRISON BEET on DENOMINATION.
Harrison is now employing every energy
md deyotinr all the power of his adminlstra-
tion 10 obtain q denomination. Upon his re-
turn from his tour his first intention was 10
enrnnarilv bounce Raum, but the latter
brouohy~ considerable political influence to
bear in his favor His friends advised the
President that the removal or Kaum would
nroyoke the indignation of the Illinois Repub-
iicans. and would probably result in arraying
the party of that State against Harrison. This
presentation caused the President to suspend
The axe which was already raised to dispatch the
Pension Commissioner Harrison Is too ANXIOUS
TO secure the support OF the ILLINOIS delega-
ton to the next National Republican Conven-
taeonism in that State. Ex-senator Farwell
is openly opposed to him because OF alleged
mistreatment in the disposition OF patronage,
and Senator Cullom is an avowed candidate
for the presidential nomination. 10 vent his
spleen against Harrison, Mr.. farweli
has actively espoused the cause OF
Raum. and TO facilitate his presidential
boom Cullom has joined with Farwell
Hence it is plain that the President has
cause to worry about Illinois. But for this
complication and the threats of Raum, backed
by farwell and Culom. there would have
been a change in the Pension Office before
now. The President is not willing to disrupt
his Cabinet by accepting the resignation of
Secretary Noble; and at tho same time he
hesitates 10 invite the open antagonism of
Raum and his friends. This is the present
situation.
THE BEHRING SEA CONTROVERSY.
Secretary Banes illness has not only seri-
ously crippled his presidential boom, but 1t
has embarrassed the administration i'll arriving
ut a settlement of the international questions
now existing. The illness and absence of the
Secretary has led TO n marked change of front
on the part of this Government In relation to
the Behring sea controversy. As the matter
now stands our Government has virtually as
scented TO the proposals of Great Britain.
Secretary Blaine while directing the affairs of
the State Department resisted all demands OF
England and stubbornly contended for con
cessions which Salisbury had refused.
When Mr.. Blaine was so suddenly
stricken the negotiations were temporarily
stopped, the suppositlon then being
that the Secretary's illness was OF
only trivial character, and that he would
soon be able TO resume control of the subject.
When it became apparent that Mr.. Blaine
was really seriously afflicted, and after his
physicians had prohibited him from giving
any thought or attention to business for at
least several months, the administration
seemed to get ratified" to use q common
but very expressive phrase, in regard to the
Behring sea controversy. The Government
revenue cutters were being held at San Fran
cisco. awaiting orders as TO what course should
be pursued in order TO suppress seal poaching.
Meantime the season for seal catching was
RAPIDLY approaching. The whole determine
ton of the question rested upon Secretary
Blaine and he was in no condition to consider
any vital question. Then the President was
requested by Secretary Foster TO take cog
nizance of the subject and really TO act for
Secretary Blaine. Several conferences were
held between the President. Secretary Foster
of The Treasury and Secretary Tracy of the
Navy. The case presented dilemma from
which not even the President could propose a
solution. kilograms were sent inquiring the
prospect of Secretary Blaines early recovery
and as unfayorable responses came a special
messenger was sent to him in New York
attending physician, who expressed the pro-
fessiOnal opinion that the Secretary of State
needed long and absolute rest from all work
As there was not the least prospect Of obtain
ing the advice and services of Blaine
Secretary Foster counseled moderation, 9
virtual retreat. After several days of per.
turbation the President assented, and orders
we're sent To the revenue cutters which direct
them 10 keep violent hands off of any Cana
dian poachers, but to gently warn them
against killing seals. Meantime the Govern
ment is TO assent TO the British proposition 10
defer the killing of seals until the questions
at issue may be settled by arbitration While
this is retreat, many able men in public life
believe II was the wisest policy 10 adopt as
they hold that the original contention of the
United States concerning Behring sea could
not be legally and successfully maintained.
BLAINE's CONDITION.
There are many persons in Washington who
believe that Secretary Blaine will never re-
sumo active public service. and there are
friends of the Secretary who quietly confess
that they do not expect him TO recover from his
present attack. Within the last few days the
impression that the Secretary is not likely to
recover has become quite general. All the
diplomacy Of the attending physician and the
cheering reports given out by the Secretary S
family fail 10 conceal the fact that. he is
IN dangerous condition. But aside from
ali these signs the President has received adj
wees that Dir. Blaine cannot possibly resume
MS uutles~ or even give any attention TO pub
nc matters before next fall The Presidents