The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-02-02
Department of State.
The President of the Senate.

Washington, Jan. 2S, 1896
Sir: have the honor to request that
the unpaid salary account of Mr.. Matt
W. Ransom, United States Minister to
Mexico, from July 1st to August %,
1895, amounting to $2,805.70, be sub
mitted to Congress for inclusion in the
urgent deficiency bill, if possible, now
understood to be pending before the
Committee on Appropriations. In case
it is too late for inclusion in that bill
it should be provided for in the gen
eral deficiency bill to be passed by Con-
gress.
This sum of $2,S05.7O is understood
to have been withheld by your Depart
ment in consequence of the decision Of
the Comptroller that Mr.. Ransom's
commission as minister to Mexico,
dated February %, 1895, was invalid. L
may add that he was recommissioned
on August ~, 1895, and that he again
took the oath of Office August 20, 1895
/ am, sir, your obedient servant,
RICHARD OLNEY.
The Secretary of the Treasury
~
Mr.. Cummings, of New York, has in
troduced a bill for the construction of
a harbor of refuge for the United
States Navy and Merchant Marine at,
or near the mouth of Delaware Bay.
Col. Craighill (the father of Prof
Craighill at Raleigh), is named as the
head of commission to determine the
amount necessary to effect the pro-
visions of the bill.
K <
Some of Mr.. Lockhart's friends here,
without any words of criticism, ex-
pressed their surprise that the bill for
the Raleigh Post had been presented
through Mr.. Settle, notwithstanding
the fact that Mr.. Settle is from the
Fifth District, while Mr.. Lockhart is
one Of the Committee on Military At
fairs. There was surprise, too, that
n letter of thanks should have been
conveyed through Mr.. Settle to the
other members of the delegation, and
for the same reason. No one for a
moment criticised other than mere in
adyertance to the Raleigh gentleman.
But the subject came up in connection
with the seeming appointment of a
negro by Mr.. Settle for his private
secretary. If this be true, and the
negro Corbett so introduced himself
for the purpose of getting Mr.. Settles
mail, the young Congressman of the
Fifth need not expect to escape
marked criticism for the selection of a
negro to fill position which is con-
sidered to bear very confidential
relation with a Congressman. Corbett
was Yesterday deploring the fact that
he did not know stenography as well
as reading and writing. 1t is under
stood that this negro kicked at the
two jobs which many poor white
Tar Heel would have jumped at. Ii
this be true, and it certainly seems to
be, it is political outrage on the white
people of North Carolina, and one
which they will doubtless not be slow
to rebule. But it is Mr.. Settles privi-
le9e to make a denial or not as he
pleases. 1t is to be hoped that he may
be able to see his way clear to do so.
1t would seem a pity for him to have
to be beaten on such an issue. For he
is clever personally-but he must
know that this thing will never do
at least at this stage of the negro
problem of the South.
Col. John ID. Whitford, of Newbern,
is here; also Mr.. Cross, of Statesville.
Mr.. Cross is the originator of the
soubrique, The Big 'Un," for States
man Walter Henry, who, if in the
years to come he receives 16 hairs of
silver for every one of gold he has
now, can stop working his mind, and
live on his hair in Major Pcnds Blu
reau at 500 a night for 90 nights
There is much inquiry for Judge |
Clarl's letter on silver from Mexico.
The Senate to-day confirmed the fol- |
lowing nominations Of postmasters in |
North Carolina; II. II. Smith, Jr., at |
Scotland; George B. King, at Green |
Vile; JOS. S. Hunt, at Oxford; James |
NJ Brool<shire, at Biltmore; j. j. Bar
row, at Louisburg.
w Il CHRISTIAN