Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-11-06

81 =. Is considered incon-
sistent with the pol
Y Icy of the Constitu-
n TT ton to make any
distinction regard
ing race or color in the blue book which
is the only official list of men and women
employed in all branches of the govern
ment service. Furthermore, by those who
mark civil service examination papers it is
never known whether an applicant be
white or black, yellow or brown.
About 1870 negroes have received appoint
ments in the national service and about
125 others have received promotions since
President McKinley's Inauguration. This
means that the new administration has
benefited over 800 Afro-Americans to the
extent of over $4,000 a year within eight
months. Seventeen of those newly made
have been presidential appointments, to be
confirmed by the Senate.
Minister to Hnitf
The most exalted federal office which has
been given to a negro by the new Presi-
dent is that of VIM. F. Powell of New
Jersey. AS minister to Haiti he will hold a
portfolio made sacred by the hands of
Frederick Douglass, who received it from
President Harrison in 1889. This berth
pays 5000 year. Haiti is negro re-
pubic. inhabited by a people of considerable
negroes of this country, they progressed
Under French influence In fact, they
! Fave been called black Frenchmen." The
national language is French and the ma
tional religion Roman Catholic. Mr.. Pow
ell is the sixth negro who will have rep
resented the stars and stripes among them.
His predecessors have always been well
coined and highly respected at Port-au-
Prince, the capital, where our legation is
situated. No more appropriate office of
high rank could be offered to an Ameri-
can negro. Haiti lately reciprocated by
sending to Washington as her official rep
resentative, negro minister, who arrived
here two weeks ago He is Monsieur
Jacques Nicolas 4feger a lawyer, educated
in Paris, and man of the highest quail
ties. He is mufatto. with rather straight
black hair and a Hellsieveloped -mustache
which he wakes out at the ends.
In tsosfsress.
From pecuniarry standpoint the position
of his name, is the only colored member
of the present Congress, is equal to that
of Minister Poweil Mr.. White represents
a large negro republican district in North
Carolina. He is a, bfether-in-law Of DR..
Henry P. 3GAeathsm rot, North I relina,
| whom President Mckinley made recorder
of deeds Of the District Of Columbia. Dr..
Cheatham is a Observation-Disclosures mu-
latto and is, one Of the best educated Afro
Americans in public life. He is an alum
nus of Shaw University, North Carolina,
which has conferred upon him the degrees
ABB. A. NJ. and LID. Subsequent to his
graduation he was principal of a normal
school, county register Of deeds and trustee
OF his alma mater. succeeding the late
Governor Fuller Of Vermont in the latter
| capacity. DR.. Cheatham was four times
| nominated by the republicans to represent
his district in the House of Representatives
and was elected once, to the Fifty-first
n tc !, 1,{lt
! clean-shaven face and an abundant
growth of iron-gray hair, rather loosely
curied. Dr. Cheathams present position is
worth $4,000 year. 1t was said to pay
President Harrison by ex-senator Blanche
K. Bruce. When given to c. II. J. Taylor,
DR.. Cheatham's colored predecessor, the
| remuneration from the Office cut down
to a salary.
At Foreign Ports.
President Mckinley has sent four colored
consuls to represent us in foreign ports. NJ
V. Gibbs of Arkansas, who goes to Tama-
! tave, Madagascar, will receive $3.50. The
same office was held under President Har-
rison by John L. Waller. negro who after
| retiring under President Cleveland was
| imprisoned for an alleged local offense and
subsequently returned to this country.
Madagascar is an island monarchy under a
French protectorate. the people being ne
groes who speak dialect called Malagasy.
which Colonel Gibbs will doubtless suffer
some dlfnculty in mastering. The religion
OF the HoVas who inhabit Madagascar is
Christianity ssir,sa Mahlen Van Horn, a negro
iately appointed consul at ST. Thomas
Island. will receive salary of $4,000.
John N. Ruff1n of Tennessee and Geo. II.
JACKSON Oh Connecticut, both colored men,
cion. the capital of Paraguay, and Cognac.
FTdHce Eacn will receive q salary nf
$1,000 year. but Mr.. jackson is perhans
tne luck1er of the two, inasmuch as his
statlon VIII be directly at the center of
the celebrated Cognac brandy trade.
The highest position held under the War
| D I by colored man is that of
Flrst Lieut.. Charles Young, 9th Cavalry.
he was appointed to West Point from Ohio
IN 1884, and was graduated in 1889 He Is
now professor of military science at Wilber-
fCrce University, Ohio, colored inst1tu-
sion, ana receives an annual salary of
Sl,9Ao from the government. Three other
Afro-Americans holding commissions in the
regular army are Chaplains Prio!eau, AL
lensWorth and Stewart of the 9th Cavalry.
2ith and 18th Infantry, colored regiments.
Iney receive $l,J0U year each. Two are
Methoo1sts and one-Rev. Allensworth-is a
Baptist In addition to these officers there
are over 100 negro soldiers in the army,
comprising four Iegimfnts in all.
an n.n1agh four eolorea youths have been
only one has succeeded in gaining admit
lance, and none has RECEIVED commission
| IN the higher arm Ct the nations defense.
When it was recently announced that Bun
dy. colored boY'from, Ohio. had been ap-
pointed naval ,nadete the cadets at An
napolis were greatiy's disturbed. Bundy,
however. failed pass his mental exam
nations 1t Is GstfmHted that there are
| about 700 colored, men Enlisted in the navy.
They are employees mostly in the fire rooms
as coal passers or rfiyepen, receiving wages
ranging from s2a to sb5 per month.
APPOINTMENT. mia Promotions.
The most remqrerat,xe Office held by a
| negro under the, Treasury Department is
that Of collector intatnal revenue for the
Georgia district. Henry A. Rucker. the new
incumbent. will enjoy an annual salary of
$500. Henry Demas. q negro lately made
naval officer of customs at New Orleans,
Will draw 5000 year from Uncle Sam,
$500 more than will be received by Jos. e.
Lee, another colored man lately made col
fector of customs at Jacksonville, Fla. NIL
ton NJ Holland, q remarkably capable col
ored man. was lately reinstated in the
Treasury Department, where he now has
L charge the divJQ{On 0f rnaila md Hloo