The Hazel Green herald. [volume] (Hazel Green, Wolfe County, Ky.) 1885-19??, 1895-07-11
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Special Correspondent
& -. .a. WAsHINGToN. July 81 1896

T.. .sa WAsHtNGToN, July s, 1895.
| Western silver men who come
ITO Washington donot talk rs CON
ifidently Of assistance from south-
ern Democrats Us they did d few
weeks ago. Indeed, some Of them
do not talk of it at all, except
where they know what they say
will not get into print. Privately
they do not hesitate te express
the opinion that many southern
Democrats who have been promi-
nent as advocates of silver in con-
gress are already hedging and that
they will soon be found on the
Cleveland side of the financial
fence. Senator Carter, of Mon
tana, who left Washington for
home this week said Just before
going that he was perfectly conf
dent that the Republican national
convention would recognize silver
in a substantial way, even if it
failed to grant all that will be
asked of it by the silver Republic
cans of the west. As Senator Car
ter has recently been in consulta-
ton at different times with nearly
| all the Republicans of national
prominence his words are con-
sidered significant.
About the most important event
connected with the opening week
of the new fiscal year was the
removal Of Prof. Harrington, who
has been chief of the weather bu-
reau ever since it passed under the
control Of civilians. About the
middle of last month President
Cleveland asked for his resigna-
ton; but he declined to resign.
Prof. Harrington says he was re-
moved because he would not give
his consent to replacing skilled
scientists employed by the bureau
with politicians. Secretary Nor
ton refuses to discuss the matter,
but his friends say that the whole
trouble has come because of the
failure Of Prof. Harrington to rec
ognize that he was subordinate
of the secretary of agriculture.
You can believe either you please.
Every once in a while there is
more or less agitation on the sub
iect Of taking our consular service
out of politics and putting it on Il
strictly business basis. One of
those agitations is now on. 1t was
started by Secretary Olney before
he left Washington on his vacation,
by the announcement of his in
tention to revive a rule originated
by President Grant, requiring all
applicants for consulships to pass
an eXamation before being appoint.
ed to office, and it has been kept
up since, and will be heard from in
congress. Representative Liyings-
ton, of Georgia, just back from 4
visit to Venezuela, talked interest,".
ingly on the subject. He said:
"The contrast between the average
British consul and the average
American consul is so marked as
to be apparent even 10 the most
preiudiced American who goes.
abroad. The Englishman is COM
stantly seeking To divert trade TO
his country and to secure the inn
Epoftation Of English goods. He isl
business, first, last and all the
| time, and everything hedoes is for
the good Of England Our consuls
want society, and they sit around
drawing their salaries. There are
some exceptions. Of course, and /
am not mentioning names. ] do
think, though, that there ought to
beachange inthe consular service.
Asa Congressman ! have done my
share iii recommending men for
these. places, bit ! am willing to
quit and have consuls appointed
Through some other agency than
political recommendation. Sena-
tors and Congressman are much TO
blame for the way they pay their
political debts by procuring APP
pointments of consuls. The troub-
lie is not with the President, but
with the system. II we could have
our consulsappointed because they
were qualified and if, after APP
pointment, they could be sure Of
promotion for services rendered,
we would see the trade Of this