Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1895-04-26
All About Fitz Lees Appointment


All About Fitz Lees Appointment
The appointment of Gen. Fitz Lee to fill
the unexpired term-twO years and half-Of
Capt. Hambleton Shepperd as Collector of
Internal Revenue, was announced last week.
Gen. Lee is such an especial favOrite with the
Augusta and Valley people that we give a
full history of the appointment:
HE GOT IT WITHOUT ANY AID FROM THE STATE
POLITICIANS.
Washington letter April 18th. in Richmond
Times.l
The story of the appointment of General
Fitz Lee as internal revenue collector is ex-
ceedingly short. have the story from the
highest possible source. Yesterday Secretary
Carlisle received a letter from General Fitz.
Lee, in which he stated that he would accept
the position if the President saw fit to con-
slider his name. Mr.. Carlisle took this letter
with him upon visit to Woodley last night
and when Mr.. Cleveland read it, he requested
the Secretary to make the, appointment. At
8 o'clock this morning the commission was
made out and when the President came in at
/ o'clock he Immediately attached his sigma
ture to the document.
The appointment is peculiarly and par
ticularly personal one, on the part of the
President, and his own letter is said to have
been the only paper filed in the case.
The sudden termination of this matter be-
fore the fight was fairly on. prevented the ar
raging of support by the leaders in the State.
1t is said at the Treasury Department that
neither of the senators nor Governor OFFER
rail- had made any recommendations as yet.
1t was rumored here tonight that General
Lee was in the city, but a circuit of the hotels
failed to find him. It is more than possible
that he will arrive later tonight or, to-
morrow.
Congressman Swanson endorsed George
Helm for the collectorship; and Mr.. Meredith
| this morning presented Mr.. J. j. Jamison at
the Treasury Department..
Congressman Harry Tucker arrived in town
this morning, and proceeded at once to the
| White House, but owing to the fact that the
President did not come in from "Woodley,"
he did not see Mr.. Cleveland. Hesubsequent-
ly called upon Commissioner Miller, and de-
clared himself in favor of Judge Brown. OF
Nelson county, for this position. Mr.. Tucker
is said to have claimed to the Commissioner
| that inasmuch as the Fifth district supplied
! the District Attorney, and the Seventh district
| the United States marshal, and the Eighth dis
| trict full quota of departmental appoint
ments, that he considered that the Tenth
district was entitled to this appointment.
! Washington letter April 18th, in Richmond
| Dlspatch.]
| (Nonnroccpop TuoEor arrival hara this
morning, and in the afternoon Judge j..
Thompson Brown, of Nelson county, who
was candidate for Collector. also arrived.
He was met at the station by Mr.. Tucker, who
gently broke the news that it was too late. as
General Lee had been appointed.
When Mr.. Tucker calledat the Treasury this
morning to find out what had been done he
discovered Secretary Carlisle in the act OF
making out General Lees appointment.
Congressman Meredith was also in town to-
day. He was very quiet, and could not be i'll
duced to state whether or not he had presented
candidate for the collectorship. 1t is gen.
orally supposed, however, that the member
from the Eighth had man.
It is understood that while Senators Dan
iel and Martin we're here they called on the
|
ed by Mr.. Cleveland indicated that he was
not then considering the name of General Lee,
for, it is said, they questioned him with a
view to finding out whether OF not he had de.
cided upon any one.
The President said "We" (meaning the Sec
Rotary and himself) "had name for consid-
Grafton, and Commissioner Miller thought he
ought to be appointed, but cannot recall the
! hame.'
The Senators Immediately concluded thai
| General Lee was not figuring in the contest,
and they went away probably intending to al
once agree upon their candidate. 1t seems
that Briscoe Bouldin, of Charlotte, was the
gentleman Mr.. Miller wanted appointed
He is in the service. and the Commissioner
thinks great deal of him.
Richmond letter April 18th, in Petersburg
Index-Appeal.]
One of Lees closest friends telegraphed
the general not to accept. Lee, he said, hai
about determined to be candidate for.gover
nor, and had great political future, which
would be ruined by accepting this position
Senator Martin was here today. Half al
hour before the appointment was announced
he was asked about the collectorship He
said there were many candidates and efforts
were being made to get meeting of the Yir
ginia delegation to agree upon some one fol
the place. The appointment of Lee at thi!
particular time was certainly great surprise
to Senator Martin,
FIGHT SHUT OFF.
} Washington letter in Alexandria Gazette.
1t is stated that the President had previous
ly heard there would be fight for it between
the two Virginia Senators on one side, an(
} Governor O'Ferrall on the other, and that he
gladly availed himself of the opportunity t,
nip that fight in the bud, and to the satsfac
ton Of a large numter Of the people Of Vir
ginia.
! THE STATUS OF THE REVENUE EMPLOYEES.
From the Lynchburg Advance April 18TH
, General Lee was asked yesterday if in cas-
he received the appointment he would remove
any of the present force. In reply he asked i
they gave satisfaction, and on being told tina
their records were first class. he stated that un
j.. der those circumstances hecould see no neces
T sity for any change. General Lee has charm
ng family and if in the future, he should
bring them to this city. Lynchburg would b.
much the gamer thereby. His children ar,
Misses Ellen and Mamie and young Fit;
and George
ITS POLITICAL ASPECT.
Washington letter in Richmond Times.1
A very prominent Vlrginian, discussing the
matter this morning with knot of friends a
the Riggs" House, said; "Fitz. Lees hold
upon the affections of the people Of the Soutl
and particularly those of his own State is TOT
strong to be shaken by matter that should
only affect his personal Or business interests
and will be as strong gubernatorial candi
date or as great vice-presidential possibility
filing the Office, of collector Of internal rev.
enue. as lie would have been had he nreferred