New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-04-02
for reappontment OF tho entire Michigan dele
cation and many trade and commercial bodies
WILLIAM r. HOWELL.


The nomination OF William b. Howell. OF
Hghtstown, ~ j., at present private secretary
to Assistant Secretary Hamln, to be Assistant
Secretary of the Treasury Department was fore
cast In this correspondence several weeks ago.
1t was on the same day on which the Secretary
OF the Treasury after consultation with various
officers of the Department. decided to recommend
the appointment to the President Mr.. HoweFs
nomination has been an unusually popular one
here. Among public men. newspaper corre-
spondents and Treasury officials he is regarded
as an exceptionally able and suitable man for
the place Having worked his way up from
cler<ship and having for long a time been
the principal assistant of Assistant Secretaries
Spaulding and Hamlin. he is regarded as the
best authority at hand on custom matters.
man who has long known him and who IS IA
miliar With the line OF duties Mr.. Howell has
discharged, remarked to-day to a Tribune CORE
spondent: Howell has more familiarity and IN
telgence in customs affairs than any Of the
Assistant Secretaries who have been over him.
He added THE appointment is distinctly in the
line of Civil Service reform
William Barblrie Howell was born In Free
hold Monmouth County y. j. July > lNO' and
was the son of William H. Howell. the cashier
Of the FIRST National Bank of Freehold. His
father moved to Hightstown Mercer County
and established the First National Bank there
Receiving a common school education young
Howell was graduated in the Spencerian Bust
ness College here in 1SS2 on the recommends
ton Of Representative J. Hart Brewer he was
appointed in June 1SS2. a messenger in the
Treasury Department. He stood the first COM
petitive examinat ation under the civil Service law
in October, 1883, and getting a high rating be-
n..1or
the Bureau Of Internal Revenue. Being
stenographer he soon made himself acquainted
with the details Of various offices in the Depart
ment Promoted through several grades ne
was appointed in 1881 special enploye Of the
customs service. and afterward served as pri-
vate secretary of Assistant secretaries, includ-
ing General Spaudng and Mr.. lIamlin. Grad
uated from the Columbian Law school he was
admitted to the District bar in lS9l.
BENJAMIN BUTTERWORTH
The new Commissioner of Patents. benjamin
Butterworth is well known throughout the coun-
try and has been familiar figure i'm official and
social circles in Washington for many years.
His first appearance here was as a Representa-
tive I'm The House from the LIST District Of Ohio
in the XIVIth Congress. He served during the
XLVIIth XIINth. Lth and List Congresses.
After his retirement from public life he settled
ir Washington. and soon built up large practice
as ar attorney-at-law. devoting MS attention
particularly TO patent law. Mr Butterworth is
a property holder In this city. and while his APP
pointment is credited To ONO. his native state.
he has been long regarded as citizen Of the
District OF Columbia.
Chandler Hale. the new Secretary or the
Italian Embassy, is a son or senator Eugene
Hale of Maine. He is about twenty-four years
old and has lived for several years IN this city.
The appointment is personal one
Samuel l.. Gracey, nominated To be Consul at
Foot Choo Is a Methodist clergyman well known
in relieious circles I'm Massachusetts,. lie was
tho Consul at the same place under the Harrison
Administration