New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-03-28
rs DR. ST. CLAIR A SCAPEGOATs
HIS SUDDEN DISCHARGE AFTER LONG
SERVICE.
YOUNG MR. QUINCY NAY BE TRYING TO
MAKE HIM RESPONSIBLE FOR HIS
OWN BLUNDEF
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.

lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE ThIBUNE.J
Washington, March 27.-There was a
mild sensation at the State Department todny when
the news was made public that DR.. F. o. ST. Clair,
the Chief OF the Consular Bureau, had been practically
removed from Office. DR.. ST. Clair has been at the
head OF the Consular Bureau for twelve years, and
supposed to be indispensable In that place as
any bureau chief could well be. On saturday evening
Secretary Gresham wrote to DR.. st. Clair that his
immediate resignation would be acceptable to the De-
partment and that his assistant, W. G.. Faison, OF
North Carolina, would after to-day assume control
OF the Consular Bureau
II Is understood that Secretary Gresham charges
DR.. St. Clair with having held back certain commun-
cations from consuls abroad the ground that they
not official papers but simply his own private
correspondence. Some other personal complaints were
alleged and the Chief Of the Consular Bureau. al
though he Indignantly declared the charges unfOunded
did not succeed In postponing the Secretarys decision
TO force him at once out OF the Government service.
DR.. St. Clair has visited almost every American con-
sulate now open, and has unequaled knowledge OF
the conditions and needs Of the consular service His
displacement will prove q decided obstacle to any
Improvement I'm the service said to be contemplated
under the present Administration. There must be
very serious political personal motive behind
his abrupt discharge from the State DEPARTMENT where
he has had continuous employment for some twenty
eight years.
1t is said by DR.. ST. CaIrs friends that his re-
mova Is simply sequel to the unfortunate Curry
incident last week, and that the chief Of the Con-
suar Bureau has been sacrificed to shield Assistant
Secretary Quincy from the Odum OF the bunder
which he committed in appointing Curry without
authority md without proper inquiry. AS Is well
known Mr.. Quincy directed Mr.. Currys appointment
and had his commission made out and signed three
four days before he had himself taken the oath
OF Office. Besides this, he gave Curry his old post
on simple verbal message carried by the appl
cant from the White House, nnconfrmed and
authenticated, without taking the trouble to ask who
Curry and whether he acceptable to the anti
shopper leaders in New-York. When Mr.. Hanlon,
the anti snapper patronage agent for Upper New-York
found ont that Curry had been appointed, he took
steps at once TO have the commission cancelled with
entire The President and secretary Gresham
both saw that Mr.. Quincy had made a startling
bunder. first In appointing man before he had any
right TO- and secondly In giving him Office without
credentials or inquiry. Though Mr.. Quincy was
clearly and solely TO blame. means were nken to
shield him rs far as possible, and 1t was announced
by Mr.. Quincy himself that Mr. Curry had never
been actually appointed, and that his commission.
II signed had been signed without proper authority.
These statements were mere subterfuges, OF course,
and easily confuied. 1t found necessary, ac-
cording the theory Of ST. Glars friends, to divert
the blame 10 other official Of the department,
and, DR.. st. Clair had introduced Mr.. Curry to
As ore OF these critics OF Secretary Gresham said
today:
The fact OF the matter Is that the Adnlnistra-
ton Is still trying to exIicate itself from the difficulty
into which It has been put by notwithstanding
Ouincys Appointment ~ ID. y. Curry consular agent
ut Yarmouth, y. :. To do this II has been found
necessary TO SHIFT the blame upon shoulders where IT
does not belong and to dismiss one Ct the most
valued officials I'm the Government service to-day
That man Is DIR. L. o. 81. Clair 1t Is not that DR..
st. Glars work Is unsatisfactory that Ec has been
guilty OF any Official deIeliction There is something
else behind this whole business In short. IT Is TO
shield young Mr.. Quincy and Indirectly the Admins
from the responsibility and disrcpue OF having
appointed Curry and then recalled him when 1t
found ont that he was .H man.
Just WHY Dr. st. Clair should have to shoulder the
responsibility Is not clear, for the only part he
played in the matter OF the appointment Of Curry
10 present him Assistant secretary Quincy and to
say that no had held the position under Mr.
Cleveland and through nearly the entire Admnistra-
ton OF Mr. Harrison, and that he had made
crcditabe record. etc. Whether the real for
Dr. -. Cair's removal h. the Curry incident not
Quincy will not be able shift the responsibility
for that bunder from his shoulders to any one clses,
and the discharge Of DR.. ST. Clair. II made on this
ground alone. will prove one of the most despicable
acts of the second Cleveland Administration.