New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-03-25
THE SCRAMBLE FOR OFFICE.
TROUBLES OF HUNGRY PATRIOTS INCREAS-
ING DAILY.
NEW RULES ABOUT CONsULS-FRICTI0N OVER A
QUESTION OF oUoTAs"-NEw-JERsEY
DEMOCRATS IN DIssENSION-MR.
CUINCY'S LITTLE MYSTERY
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE

~
washington. March o4.-Thc troubles OF the Office
seeker continue to accumulate; day by day new
Aims confront him. One day II Is n new rule an
other day It IS II not mpcrtinent. inquiry as
10 his qualifications for the office he seeks. To-day.
for example. ominOus whisper is heard which
carries dsmay TO the hearts OF n thousand hungry
and thirsty patriots who to their country
as consuls In foreign lands. 1t emanates from the
White House itself and warns them that the man
who expects to be appointed TO consulate must be
able not only to tell in what zone and hemisphere
II Is situated but also to point ont the place on q
map globe: must not only know what Is the
language OF the country. but have some knowledge
Of II must also have q general idea I'm regard TO
the productions Of the country and its with
other nations. especially the United States. and
sufficient knowledge Of business to be able to dis
tingnish a bill Of ladlng from bill OF exchange.
OF course. II these qualifications shall be required
ard insisted upon. the number OF candidates will
shrink until II will be difficult to find Democrats
competent to fill half the places whereas there
now eight ten applicants for each place. every
one Of whom has believed that he had "rull-
which would safely land him In a consulate. II IS
said that the who called at the White House
several days ago and modesty requested that he be
appointed Consul General at Rome. Egypt" has
already left town completely disheartened. He lives
In Arkansas but spends his days the opposite side
Of the river in -.lssissppi. where he is engaged I'm
business. For that reason the Congressman from
both States refused to recommend his appointment:
the Mississippi Congressman insisted that II ap
pointed he "should be charged to the quota OF Ark
nnsas" while the Arkansas Congressman vchemontly
declared that he "must be charged to Mississippis
quota"
This "quoa" idea Is causing good deal Of friction.
TIE Illinois Democrats dissatisfied because
rotary Gresham's appointments applied the
"quota" Of that State instead Of Indanas and they
protest that II Bishop, Obery shall be appointed
TO nm office. rs they seem TO expect he shall not
be "charged 10 Illinois" because he has ceased to
vote In that State and has taken up his residence
In Washington. The good Bishop seems TO be sort
Of political orphan. Missouri Democrats complain
and declare that massachusetts has already re-
ccived than her quota" and they insist with
considerable vehemence that Mr. Hamln. who is said
10 be seated for Assistant Secretary Of the
Treasury. shall not be appointed to that or any
other Office.
The Ncw-Jersey Democrats had objection to
Mr.. AcAdoos appointment Assistant Secretary
Of the Navy but they insisted that he should not no
included In NcwJerseys "QuOta" and insisted In vain.
The Jersey Democrats do not to be entirely
harmonious among themselves The Democratic Con-
gressmen from that State feel that the Senators stole
q march on them in regard to the United States
Narshalship. For that place they have united in
recommending G. D. Ely. OF Paterson. and they were
surprised well as angry when the nomination OF
George Peifer jr., was sent to the Senate Tor that
Office through the influence and efforts OF Senator
Mcpherson and with the knowledge and approval OF
his colleague Senator Smith. 1t is asserted that
Senator McPherson's action in this was due In
part at least to the Influence OF Statesman W. j.
Thompson, better known TO fame. perhaps. as the
Duke OF Gloucester" hut this Is denied. Be that as
II NAV, the New-Jersey Representatives, in Congress
were not consulted and this fact Is pointed 10 by
Democratic Representatives from other states as an
other exhibition Of Senatorial arrogance Some Of
them also call attention TO the fact that Mr.. Nc
pberson is a member OF the Finance Committee. and
strongly Intimate that the President Is using the
patronage at his disposal "tO build up an antislVer
clique to control the Finance Committee
- In this relation observations which fell rom
the lips Of John d. Dickinson. ST. Louis Democrnt
last night are not devoid of interest. Among o'her
things he said AS outsider believe that can
coo things With clearer vision than those who are
entries In the grand official handicap. For instance,
Lave been studying the composition OF 'he eeha"
Finance Committee. find that the adVocates Vi
god money and the advocates OF silver money are
equally divided, and that man holds the balance
81 ,ower Tint nan Is George G.. Vest. Senator from
nv State Is he for silver or g0d7 j don't know,
and I don't believe that any one other tnan vest
himself does know. May be he doesn't You nave
noticed probably that he is very close to the Presi-
dent and that the men whom he indoises generaiy
get there The President Is good man. POSSIBLY
that the senate Committee Is safely free coinage.
nv the bye nine Missouri Democrats out OF ten
are white money men. They believe that Mr.. Vest
IS OF their school. In the next two years as men'-
Der OF the Senate Finance Committee he VIII nave u
chance to undeceve them or TO confirm them In Their
belief What will he do? The reason for Missoufl'S
position in the matter Is very simple 1t is debtor
State Like the Southern cOmmonwcalths IT owes a
great deal Of money the East. 1t would like an
cxpondea currency so as to BE- able to discharge this
indebtedness. Whether the silver dollar VIII really
lie worth q dollar only Go cents is o. smah mo"en'
to Missouri long IL goes for dollar ana she Is
able to use It in liquidation. / presume mat DIT.
Vest understands the situation as well as any one
Mr. Dickinson evidently places Chairman Noorhee
among the anti-sver In order TO divide the re
mainder OF the Finance Committee equally ana give
Mr. Vest q conspicuous seat g on the fence
Missouri Democrats watching with intense inter
est and anxiety the tusse between Senators vest anu
Cockrell on the side and Representative CobD ana
other St. Louis COngresmen on the other hand over inc
surveyorshlp OF customs. The former nave recon-
.rded and are exertng all their influence In favor OF
Dick Dalton Democratic farmer-poitlclan ON IN
Of the backw GODS counties, and the latter urging the
appon,ment OF Judge Specht OF st. LOUIS, TO foriy
whose claims Representative Cobb TO-DAY hled Win
the President statement showing that during the las'
fifty years the Office OF surveyor OF the port oil st ou
has been unin,erruptedly held by resident OF that
town.
Trouble is brewing over North Cardinals quota o.
the spells. 1t appears that Senator'S Ransom ana
Vance together with one or more OF the Democ'au,
Representatives, have formed a combine 10 coA'ro
the Federal Offices. and that they have a'reahy pre-
Jared a slate" which Is to be submitted 10 tHe r'e''
Aen, or his opprovai The ofccsee kcrs whose nance
are pot IN the slate and they are numefou'
bdy-nre up In arms and are preparing to hold nisa
ton meetings send monster petitions 10 the fre
dent protesting against the contemplated Outrage
Senator Vance, however. Is member OF the Conm
on Finance. ,,, :,
rh n,,v oxcen,iop that the President could make L
Mic r,,e ao.ins. "nepotlsm,, far as he Is innse
concerned. was announc d TO day. II app avs IN !"