Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1897-06-26
WASHINGTON LETTER.
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE.

NoToRIorsLY UNFIT-No more pre-
posterous story has been started here
for many Il day than the report that
Mr.. Ramon q. Williams was to be APP
pointed as American minister to Spain.
Mr.. Williams was conspicuously not the
man for that important post. During
II service of some twenty years
as consul general at Havana he
became thoroughly amenable to
the Establishments of Spanish in
huence and deploraby Indifferent to
American rights and interests. The
closing days of his official career in
Havana We're characterized by earnest
complaints of his treatment of Ameri-
can citizens whose duty hal called
them to the island, and the records of
the state department will show that in
some instances these grievances took
the form of definite charges and pro-
tests against his continuance in office
Mr.. Williams is under obligation
to Spanish hospitality for the high
social favor which he enjoyed
in Cuba, he has boundless sympathy
for Spain and none at all for the Gu
bans, and even granting thai his per-
sonal qualities are of the highest, it is
plain to every observer that his nomi-
nation as minister to Madrid would he
n monumental blunder. 1t is not be-
lieved that President Mckinley had
for moment thought of making such
an appointment 1t would embarass
the administration and anger the
whole country.
AN OLp-TME ScANDAL-The admin
istrntion seems to have real, old
time Louisiana scandal on it's hands.
Three of the states delegates to the
st. Louis convention who voted for
Mckinley and who handled the
"funds" for that state are after the
three best federal Offices to he had in
their locality, and their brother Me-
kinlcy delegates are engaged in
"showing them up One of the
three is A. Il. Wimberly, whom
Mr.. Hanna introduced by letter
to the Encouragement as the
man "whom have recommended for
the collectorship of the port of New
Orleans and whom / consult concern
ing the patronage of Louisiana"
Wimberly, it is asserted, is an utterly
unfit candidate any office, and SO
are the other two. This is what the
remaining eight of the eleven McKin-
ley delegates from Louisiana say.
They further charge that the three
men in question received money from
the Mckinley managers on the pretext
that it was needed to get the Mckin-
ley delegation up to st. Louis, and
then the three pocketed it and the
others had to pay their own way. This
will be interesting to Tom Reed
among others.
AN OFFICE WE'LL FrLLED--Th news
that President Mckinley has decided
to retain Commander John J. Brice,
late of the navy, rs United States fish
commissioner, will meet the approval
of all who have the best interests of
the department at heart. The com
manders long and honorable career
has admirably equipped him for the
scientific work of the fisheries de-
partment. His ideas have been prac-
tical, and his executive ability has
enabled him to carry them ont success
fully. He has achieved greater results
aud with less expense than any of his
predecessors were able to do. Those
who go atisling, whether for pleasure
or for gain, are to he congratulated
upon the retention of Commander
Brice in the office he SO successfully
fills.
The WORLD WOULD STILL WAG-If
Comptroller Bowler of the Treasury
wants to resign, as reports declare, he
should be permitted to do so without
delay. Bowler has done his level best
to save the country in his own peculiar
way and his efforts have never been
properly appreciated. His antics have
added more or less to the gayety of
nations and his services have been
valuable chiefly for purposes of popn-
lar amusement. 1t is impossible to
resist the conviction that Bowler could
be released from the services of his
native land without seriously impair
ing the vitality of the government.
A BLOCK IN THE PATH-Secretary
Gage appears to have about determined
to create what may be called an issue
department of the treasury, so that
the operations relating to the redemp-
ton of the government notes shall be
separated from the revenue operations
1f his department. Currency re-
.leemed in gold will, by this plan, be
held in the treasury and not paid out
except in exchange for gold again.
This would be wise measure. A
sufficient revenue, however, will be
needed to effect the change, and that
is soon to be forthcoming apparently.
Presumably the secretary does not
consider that the act of 1878, requiring
the reissue of redeemed greenbacks,
stands in the way of such step.
He SAID HE'D Do BErrER--Justice
Harlan spat in street car here
against the rules of the car and the
peace of the city, and the conductor
marched up to him and said "This
thing has got to he stopped; we have
got to make ~ example of some OF
you." The venerable judge pleaded
guilty and was let of on promise
not to do it again.
MusT BE USED WITH DISCRETION
The United States supreme court de-
cides that the term of federal
official appointed for four years may
he terminated earlier at the discretion
of the president. This may be good
law, hut broad and frequent applica-
ton of it would be contrary to good
policy.
HAS SET AN ExAMPLE-President
Mckinley has set an example to that
somewhat numerous class of people
who think it accords with the fitness
of things to snub newspaper reporters.
As rule the inclination to indulge in
this practice is in inverse ratio to the