Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-02-28
BISSELL RESIGNS.
The postmastei-Ceneral Soon to Stop
Down and Out.
WILSON TO SUCCEED HIM.
The West virginian's Name 10 be
Sent to'sse senate ro-p"'-The Re-
firing omcer and the President on
the Development.

WASHINGTON, February N.-Pos'mas-
ter-Ceneral Bissell to-day set at rest all
doubts as to his purpose Of remaining
in the Cabinet by rendering his resigna-
tion to President Cleveland. This action
was not taken hastily. AS far back as
the early autumn Alr. Blssell has felt
that his law practice at Buffalo required
his personal attention. and at that time
he notified the President that sooner or
later he would be compelled 10 retire TO
private life. Nothing further passed be-
tween the two gentlemen with reference
to the matter until ten days ago. when
Mr.. Blssell again assured the President
that he must soon resign his portfolio.
The Posmaster-GeneraIs resignation
was not known until late hour this
evening to his private secretary. nor VIII
IL be known. In all probability. TO any
Of his subordinates at the department
untii its publication In the morning
papers The letter OF resignation Is said
to have been brief and 10 have been
couched In the usual formal terms IL
'recites the fact that ne deems II advisable
TO retire from the Cabinet. and tnat ne
Will do so upon the appointment ana
qualification OF mis- successor. The letter
was written by the Postmaster-Generai
at the close OF offce-hours to-day ana
was by him personally handed TO his chic.
a little after 8 O'Clock.
MIR. BISSELL TALKS.
Mr.. BisselI said tonight: II have placed
my resignation in the hands OF the Presi-
dent. The reason Is tnat my personal
work at home demands my attention, ana
| feel that I cannot longer remain away
from il. The business OF the department.
is In good condition. and its transfer 10
my successor can be made without affect
ing the public service.
II have found my work agreeable. al
though at times quite onerous. ] confess
/ leave II with regret, because ] have be-
come deeply interested In II. and had
dsire to accomplish something more in
the development Of the postal service
than | have found possible in these two
years OF effort.
Il deeply regret also that ] am thus
compelled TO sever official relations with
the President and his Cabinet. which
have been most satisfactory and cordial
throughout. Perhaps. without improperly.
/ may say now that all rumors OF disa-
greement between the President and any
OF his Cabinet have been without founds-
tion. | doubt II there was ever more
harmonious Cabinet than the present one.
and its members are unit in support
of every question"
WILSON TO SUCCEED.
There is no reason TO doubt that Mr..
Bisselfs successor Will b. Congressman
William J.. Wilson, OF West Virginia the
author of the tariff law. II IL also un-
dcrstood that Mr.. Wilson's name will be
sent 10 the Senate tomorrow. But for the
fact that the President intended making
Mr. Wilson n member OF his official fam
lily tender OF the Mexican mission would.
IT is said. have been made to him. The
President has been sincerely desirous OF
appointing Mr. Wilson 20 some Office OF a
dignity commensurate with the West Vir-
ginian's abilities and his loyalty 10 the
Democratic party. When the President
learned. ten days ago. that Mr.. Bisseli
purposed soon TO retire, he decided then
that he should be succeeded by Mr. Will
son. This. at least. Is the story given
out by Mr.. Wilson'S friends tonight. and
there are substantial reasons for believ-
ing that IL is well founded.
THE PRESIDENTS SENTIMENTS.
Speaking OF Mr. Bissells resignation,
President Cleveland said tonight:
1T surely is not necessary for me TO
say that ! shall release Mr. Blssell with
the utmost regret All ms associates IN
the administration will feel that they
have lost a colleague. who, in all re-
spects. was a valuable factor In their
executive labor. .as well ds a companion
to whom they have become greatly at
tached. ! am not taken by surprise.
for | have known for some time that IL
was inevitable, because Mr.. Bisselrs rea-
sons for his actions were OF Il personal
nature, and were inexorable. Still, this
first break in cabinet which has been.
in the midst of many perplexing situa-
tions, entirely harmonious, always ac-
tUated by a loyal devotion to the pub
lie interest. and pervaded in 4 marked
degree by the personal attachment.
which such connections cannot fail to
create, causes us all real sorrow. Much
qualification awaits Mr.. Bissel in the ap-
probation of his countrymen OF his
splendid and valuable public service