The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-05-11
BLOUNT IS MINISTER.
The Commissioner Will Succeed
Stevens at Honolulu.
EckLes' VIEWS ON BANKS.
Ne Thinks They Should A1A the 0ev-
srpnens In . Crisis-A Batch
Of Appointments.

WAsHryaToy CRY, May l0.-The presi-
dent has appointed James II. Blount, OF
Georgia, envoy extraordinary and minister
plenipotentiary to the Hawaiian islands,
succeeding John L. Stevens. Blounts
commission bears the date Of yesterday,
and 1t win be sent to him by the next
mail for Honolulu. II il understood that
the change was decided on 1t the cabinet
meeting yesterday. A report from Biount,
mailed in Honolulu during the last week
in April, came to Secretary Gresham yes
terday morning and was taken by HIM to
the cabinet meeting. Owing to its con-
fdentiAi character Its contents are Kept
secret, but IL is presumed that il contains
such information that the president de-
termined TO lose no time in commission
ing . new minister to succeed Mr.. Stevens.
At q banquet tonight, given in honor OF
the new Comptroller Of Currency Eckles,
in speaking Of the national banking syS
tenn. he said in part:
/ believe in placing upon every national bank
. moral obligation that it hold itself in readf.
ness 70 assist the oficers OF the government In
every time OF distress in maintaining the ma
tons credit am aware that no legal reasons
exist for such course, but having drawn 90 much
of the wealth and power TO themselves
through the enormous dealings OF the govern
ment with them, the banks OF this country
can III afford to place themselves In an attitude
OF looking with indifference upon the anxiety
Of the financial representatives. of the treasury
when the financial integrity OF the government
ia threatened. prefer OF help from them at
such times. spontaneous in its character and
patriotic in its motive, would disarm thousands
oil critics who loud in their deuunciation.
ana reconcile them 70 the system.
Immigrant Inspector Conkling, IN his
official report made to the treasury de-
partment as TO the violation of the alien
contract labor law, among other strong
statements says:
The pa6rone system IL the most dsmnabe,
outrageous and injurious TO workIngmsu OF any
system that was ever praetteed in the United
Btates, and there Is no denying the tact that II
exists In almost every city in this country
where there 10 an Italian colony The report
details how Italian iaborers sre brought into
this country. coached and instructed on tne
journey over that when they arrive by false
swearing they may eiude the inspectors. Conk-
ling says that railroad contractors need not be
closely watched in future in regard TO the
violation of The alien contract labor law. as an
Italian banker and padrone. formerly in part
nership with another padrone. furnishes money.
and newly arrived Italians are supplied In hun
dreds 10 work on American railroads, to the ex-
ciusion Of American workingmen-
The report was called forth by instruc-
tions issued by Assistant Secretary of the
Treasury spaulding last March to look
into the Illegal landing Of ten Italian
iabore:s. As result two months ago
Labor Inspector Conkl ing arrested Fill
lppi Cheone. a padrone, on whose per-
jared affidavit ten Italians wero landed.
The case is regarded rs an important one,
and will be tried IN New York state courts
this month.
The decision Of the United States naval
authorities TO send the warship Atlanta to
look after American interests in Mica
fagaa shows that they are more concerned
about the condition Of affairs in that coun.
try than they were at first willing to adj
NIT. This change of interest il due to
representations from the Nicaragua canal
people that their property 10 in danger.
and also from . number of American
firms having coffee interests In Nicaragua.
1t is said At the state department that
there is no further official information
about the revolution than that contained
in the dispatches from the United States
consul at San Juan de Sur on Friday last,
but the officials are satisfied that the stu.
alton 10 serious and that American inter-
ests in that republic demand protection by
q man-of-war. Indeed it is highly prob
able that two chips will be sent to that
quarter. The Atlanta has orders to sail
immediately from New York to Greytown,
the headquarters Of the Nicaragua canal
works.
Another proposition which Is being seri-
ousiy considered is to send the Alliance
from San Francisco to San Jose on the
Pacific side, to look after the interests Of
American cotton planters. Word was re.
eeiyed today that this vessel would be
ready TO leave on May Is, and If the situa-
alton does not improve by that time she
will doubtless receive orders TO proceed at
once to San Jose. This late trouble in
Nicaragua has again caught the navy nap
ping. and Is foreible reminder of the wis
dom of keeping warships at sea.
Hon. Carl SChurz had a conference TODAY
with Secretary Gresham. Ii is understood
that the Russian extradition treaty was
the topic OF conversation. Sehurz tonight
dined formally with President Cleveland.
His visit is not believed To have anything
OF political significance.
The pension department has unearthed
what appears 10 be a series of gross PEN
siou frauds by w. K Drewsy, pension
attorney for Norfolk, Va. who is now
under arrest. A year ago he was dis
covered in frauds and debarred from rr.c-
tice in pension cases. Investigation by
the present administration shows that he
had leo pensions granted. mostly to Il.
literste negroes, and that 90 per cent. of
them we're fraudulent. notarie.' name. and
seals being forged. The extent of these
frauds can be better appreciated when il
IL stated that all the PEGS ons secured
carried arrears. The matter will come I'm
in the United States court at Norfolk nex,
Monday. The frauds will probably reach
&ioo cco
Gen. SchoSeld has received a telegram
from Gen. MeCook. commanding the De-
partsnent OF Arizona, repeating the dis
patch from Col. Hunt, IN charge Of tn.
troops in the field, stating that the .Itua-
tion in the Navajo country was sppar-
entity quiet. The dispatches make no
reference 20 the reported killing of Lieut.
Plummer by the Navsjoes. This satistie,
the department that the latter report W..
without foundation.
Secretary Hoke Smith ha. received a
communication from the secretary Of war
transmitting the Recommendation OF Gen.
schofeld. in which he concurs that Fort
Duchesne, Utah. be abandoned in order
that the troops stationed there NAV
be withdrawn and, with tnose a,
other remote stations. concentrated
al new posts constructed for them.
In his reply the secretary strong
~ objects - the proposed abandon
meUs and SAYS there are questions Of I'M
re,rfauex ..HotItug IN his Gersrspsart ,,>.