The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-06-30
FOSTER MADESECRETARY
he GIVES UP $4,000 A YEAR TO
TAKE THE PLACE.

p by the Senate Without Being Re-
ferred to the Foreign Relations
Committee-He Is Thoroughly Fa-
miliar With the ONCE and Its Duties
and Very Popular.
WASHINGTON, June 29-President Har-
rIson to-day settled the problem of tem-
porary successor to James G.. Blaine at the
head of the state department by nomi-
mating John w. Foster OF Indiana to
the Senate as Secretary OF State, the SEN
ate paying Gen. Foster the compliment OF
confirming the nomination within Ave min
utes on the motion of Chairman Sherman
of the foreign relations committee without
referring 1t to the committee, an honor
wholly reserved for members of the Senate
nominated for the cabinet.
Everybody viii approve the appointm snt
except, possibly, ex-Seoretary Blaine. who
was disposed to resent the presence and
power OF Gen. Foster In the state
department., where, as special counsel
or special envoy as the case might be, at a
salary of $4,000 year, Gen. Foster has
practically carried on in the Presidents
name and by his direction the business OF
the state department for year or two.
DEPEw's DECLINArIoN.
The President offered tho state portfolio
first to Chaunoey NJ. Depew, who said that
he could not afford TO take it for the res
mainder of the Presidents term, but will
gladly take 10 for four years IL the President
should, as he anticipated. be reelected. The
President, it is stated, then assured him that
he should be appointed Secretary of State
in case the republican ticket was elected in
NOVnmhar tn atar
as the member of his cabinet on whom he
had relied for counsel during the Chilean
and Bering sea episode, and asked
him TO take the state portfolio during the
rest of the present administration. Secretary
Tracy expressed his unwilllngnsss to do this,
preferring to finish his work at the head Of
the navy department, but the President was
hopeful up TO the last moment that he would
cousent, having in view the appointment OF
New Highlander to represent the unrepre-
sented section in the cabinet, as Secretary
Tracys successor.
TAKES 1T IA A LOSS.
Finding Secretary Tracy firm In his de-
termination. the President turned to Gen.
Foster who. as his friend as we'll
as his counselor, could not well re-
fuse to accept temporarily the secre-
teryship Of state. although the honor will
cost him at the rate of perhaps $25, 900
year, owing TO the inevitable sus-
pension of his relations as counsel
FOR the legations Of Mexico, China,
Spain and other countries, represented
here, as well as the loss Of $1,000 year in
his state department. salary. As he has
comparatively little income apart from his
professional fees, this means a great deal to
him. The change in his position involves
loss, as well, to the ad-
minlstration, for he cannot per
form as Secretary Of State certain services,
which, as special counsel, were quite within
his dignity. But his eminent fitness. not
only as our only professional a nd expert
enosd diplomat, but as the master Of all the
details of our recent diplomatic transactions,
together with his warm friendship with
Pre9ident Harrison, ,outweiRhed all opposing
considerations. To all ll1ntents aud purposes,
Gen, Foster has been Secretary OF State for
fully year.. and great deal
more, 80 that bis appointment
gives him new dignities rather than now
duties. He will simply move from bis
office into the next room, which Is that OF
Secretary Of State. and accept the rsduo-
tion Of bis salary to $4,000.
FOSTER VERY POPULAR.
Secretary Foster is very popular with the
diplomatic corps, all the older members Of
which are his personal friends and have
been his clients. He is the first Secretary Of
State who could converse with them flu
emily in either French or Spanish. Score
tary Foster, though nominally an Indiana
lao is really a resident Of Washington,
where he has lived, when not abroad, for
twenty years. His wife and he live in a
comfortable home on 1 street, be-
tween Franklin and Mcpherson
squares, right around the corner from
ex-Secretary Blaiue's old home on
Fifteenth street, aud not far from the New
York Avenue Presbyterian church, OF
which Secretary Foster is a ruling elder and
where Ex-Seoretary Blaine used to have q
pew.
Secretary and Mrs Foster entertain de-
lightfully. They have two children, at
traotive young women like their mother,
both now living in Watertown, N. Y, one
the wife of Rev. Allan Macy Dulles, Pres
byterian minister, son of Rev. DR.. Dulles
OF Philadelphia, aHd the other the wife of
Robert Lansing, lawyer. Mrs Foster il
one Of the most charming and popular
women IN Washington society.
John w. Foster was born 10 Indiana
March Q, 1886. He was graduated at the
Indiana University and the Yale Law
School and began the practice Of the law at
Evansville. He entered the civil war as a ma
jor in 1861, and rose to the ranks Of colonel.
After the war he edited the Evansville
DdIty journal Tor awhile and was then
appointed postmaster Of Evansville Presl-
dent Grant appointed him minister to
Mexico in 1878, and President Hayes reap
pointed him in 1880. In 1881 he was trans
ferred to the Russian mission and held the
place until November, 1881. He returned to
this country and began the practice Of the
law in Washington. President Arthur ap-
pointed him minister TO Spain in 1888 He
resizned that place in 1886. Since that time
he has rendered considerable diplomatic
service.