Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-02-28
Cs.nsrntulating sIr. Wilson.

CGngratulating Mr.. Wilson.
When Representative Wilson of West Vir-
giria came to the House today he was sur
re ended by members who congratulated
him upon his. forthcoming promotion to the
cabinet. The nomination had not then
reached the Capitol and Mr.. Wilson told
his friends they were premature in their
congratulations, but was apparently In
good-natured frame of mind. His friends
say the appointment has been determined
upon for some time.
Representative Wilson spoke freely to
reporter of the fact that he had known for
several days the Presidents intention.
Being somewhat run down in health and
wearied from his work In Congress, Mr.
Wilson will rest for some time, probably
his new office Part of his vacation will be
pc ssed in West Virginia and part of it in
visiting friends elsewhere.
Democrats Pleased.
Democrats express very general gratifica-
ton at the selection of Mr.. Wilson for
cabinet place. Though there was no es-
pecial quarrel between the democrats of
Congress and Mr.. Bissell, there was always
a strangeness. The pressure he was SUBJ
jected to by members and Senators with
relation to post office appointments was
often annoying to him, and disappoint-
ments and delays were sometimes irritat-
ing to the members. But they are speak
management of the Post Office Depart
ment, and say that he has the business in
such shape as to make it easy for his sue
CeSsor.
1t is understood that Mr. Wilson had the
choice of the Mexican commission or this
appointment, and he selected to be Post
master General The cabinet position will
not pay him as well as would the Mexican
mission, but he preferred the greater honor
to the larger salary. Mr.. Wilson Is not
man of wealth, and the obligation which
falls upon a cabinet officer to entertain is
likely to render the position an expense
rather than profit to him.
Democratic members say that 1t will be
very gratifying to them to have in the de-
rartment man with whom they have
been long pleasantly associated, but that
they are above all glad that Mr.. Wilson
should receive the honor. Mr.. Wilson is
one of the most popular men in the House,
and if 1t depended upon the votes of his
colleagues, they would give him the high
est office he could aspire to. The comment
of many was that for his sake they would
have been glad to see him get a better
and less exacting position.
There is no suspicion or fntimation of
any sort of conflict or disagreement be-
tween Mr.. Bissell and the President.
Approved by Senator's.
Senator Faulkner of West Virginia was
presiding over the Senate when the nomi-
nation of Mr.. Wilson was presented to the
Senate. Mr.. Faulkner said the appointment
was splendid, and could not be better. He
was pleased to have West Virginia so rec
ognized and so ably represented in the
cabinet.
Senators Voorhees, and Villas also spoke
highly of the appointment. Senators Villas
and Mitchell of Oregon, members of the
post office committee, said they expected to
see the appointment confirmed at the first
executive session without going over a day.
as is the usual custom with appointments
Mr. Wilson remained In the room of the
ways and means committee for some time
after his nomination had been sent to the
Senate, and many members, regardless of
party, found him and offered their con-
gratulations.
The New Cabinet officer.
The appointment of Mr.. Wilson to the
cabinet is likely to give general satisfaction
in this city, where Mr.. Wilson has long
been a prominent and popular resident. He
holds the degree Of doctor of laws, con-
ferred upon him by the Columbian Uni
versity in 1883, and in 1854 he was ap-
pointed one of the regents of the Smith
sonian Institute. Mr.. Wilson was born in
jefferson county, Va, In 1Si3, and was
educated at Charlestown and at the Co
Slumbian University, where he graduated in
$3.50. He served in the confederate army
aud after the war was for several years a
rfofessor at Columbian. He afterward re-
Lurned to Charlestown, where he ent cred
upon the practice of law. His first ap-
pearance in politics was in 1880, when he
was a delegate to the national democratic
convention at CINCINNATI. In 1888 he re-
signed the position of president of the
West Virginia University, which he had
held fer only few months, having been
nominated and elected to the Forty-eighth
Congress. He had been reelected to every
term since until last fall, when he was de-
feated for the Ffftyfourth Congress
William L. Wilson is best known to the
country in connection with his recent tariff
work in Congress. He has been a tariff
student since he first entered congressional
life in 1882, but 1t was not until the present
Congress that he became chairman Of the
WAYS and means committ0e. and a such.