Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1895-09-05
FROM WASHINGTON.
Correspondents of the Alexandria Gaaette.l

WASHINGTON sept. D.
II has been remarked and somewhat
unfavorably commented on that Mr..
A. @. Wilson, son of Postmaster Gen
sral Wilson, and who has just been ap-
pointed travelling passenger agent OF
the B. & o. road, with headquarters in
this city, is q remarkably young man
for the position in question. He is
barely twenty-three years OF age. The
management Of the B. & 0. is in part
quite hostile to Senator German and to
the regularly organized democracy OF
Maryland. Hon. John K. Cowan, an
intimate friend of President Cleveland
and q mugwump member of Congress,
is influential in its councils. AS this
part of the management is anti-Gor
man it is perhaps that which makes it
easy for the sons of Cabinet officers to
be provided with lucrative places on
the road, especially in cases where in
fuential fathers of the ons so appoint.
cd are likewise hostile to the Maryland
Senator. Mr.. Cleveland and all his
Cabinet and all their appointees, from
the greatest of their ministers abroad
to the humblest of their messengers al
home, should feel weighty n OF
their obligation to Senator German.
Had he yielded to the opportunities OF
Mr.. Cleveland's enemies at Chicago
and pursued the course they implored
him to pursue there woLli have been
no Mr.. Cleveland, nor Cabinet, mol
anything which he has created or ap-
pointed. His nomination would eve
have occurred had Senator German
struck the ~blow-which it pa easily
in his power to have done. he is not
dead, neither is he sleeping.
There is not one, but two important
Presidential Offices charged to Virginia
that are now vacant and must soon be
filled. The more important one is that
of the Solicitor of the State Department.
Mr.. Dabney, of Virginia, the present
incumbent, was seen by the GAzETTE's
correspondent to-day. He is still in
the discharge of the duties of solicitor
but will leave here on or about the 18th
instant, preparatory to taking the law
chair at the University of Virginia.
The salary is only $500, but it requires
the highest order of legal learning and
ability to fill properly this most re-
sponsible post. Not only is a knowl
edge of common and statutory law
required hut it is almost essen
tiaI that the solicitor should be
versed in international law as we'll.
Questions certainly arise between for
eign governments and our own requir-
ing p~ainstaking examination and de-
cision. Mr.. Dabney states that he has
not heard 8 word as to who will be his
successor. he does not know of any
application having been fled or COZ
sidered. The President, of course, ap.
points, but would do 80 only on the r.
commendation OF approval of the Sec
rotary of State, whose assistant the
solicitor is. But two names of Virginians
have been spoken Of here and in neither
of their cases has any formal action
been taken looking to an appointment.
Hon. George D. Wise, of Richmond,
has been mentioned chiefly be-
cause it was understood the Presi-
dent was asked some time ago to ap-
point him the Comptroller of the Treas
ury. 1t is not positively known what
Mr. Wise's wishes in the matter are.
Col. Francis L. Smith, of Alexandria,
is the other name referred to. His ed
ucation, legal learning, service in the
State Senate, experience in the courts,
refinement and elegance of person and
would make him q desirable
acquisition, especially, to the State De-
partment. He would soon prove him
self an accomplished diplomat in the
conduct of such international contro-
veraies as came before him, and the De-
partment of State would have not only
q lawyer but a gentleman of
modest merit, of ornate speech
and high literary attainments to
represent it in this important place.
For the Office of Fish Commissioners the
name Of Mr.. S. Wexford Corbin has been
mentioned. His friends pressed his ap-
pointment, it will be remembered. for
Assistant Secretary of Agriculture. for
which, they said, he had special ouali6-
cation and claims.
Congressman Tucker of Virginia has
recently performed, unless his inter.
viewer be untruthful, a most remark
able fest of political ju~eglery-that of
determining the names of the next
Presidential candidates for both the
axSnr. .n2 ~rannhlicop partioc Voc