The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-01-27
PETERSON On DECK
NEW COLLECTOR OF CUSTOMS AR
RIVES FROM WASHINGTON
READY TO TAKE HOLD.
NO APPOINTMENT MADE YET.
THE ST. PETER MAN SAYS HE
HASN'T MADE UP HIS
MIND
AS TO A SINGLE PLACE YET.
VIII By and By Distribute the PIums
Among All the Congressional
Districts.

rived in the city yesterday from WASH
ington, where he was granted an audi
ence by President Mckinley last week.
Mr.. Peterson denied the rumor that
ne will allow himself to be Influenced
in his local appointments by any Of
the local politicians. He also diScred-
tied the statement that his appoint
mentS would be made upon the recon-
mendation of certain Minneapolis poll
ticians. would, he said, in appoint
ing his deputies and other attaches, Sc
lect the men best fiteed for the offices,
without particular regard to political
affiliations. He would endeavor to
please all in making his appointments,
by as equal a distribution as possible
among the several congressional dis
tricts of the state. Mr.. Peterson also
said that his mission to Washington
was purely a friendly one to pay his
respects to the president, and that his
trip had no significance whatever, as
he only held short conversation with
the president. A cabinet meeting was
then in progress, and the president was
in a hurry.
He admitted, however. that he had
a talk" with Tim" Byrnes during
his stay. but denied that there was
anything which passed between them
effecting the appointments of deputy
collectors for the several towns on the
northern boundary line where duties
are collected. He said Tim was the
only North Star State politician he saw
while in the nations capital, and Mr..
Byrnes was not talking politics.
Mr.. Peterson says it is his intention
to assume charge of the office with
which President Mckinley hOnored him
with last December. on the first Of
February, and he will move his family
to st. Paul in the spring. When asked
about his appointments he declined to
make public the names of any of the
lucky ones, in fact he said he had not
decided upon them definitely as yet.
He also declined to say who were the
candidates, saying that it would work
injustice to some, and it was his desire
to do what was right in the selection of
his assistants. There were, however
no dearth of candidates, in fact he was
beset on every hand, and a great deal
Of influence was being brought to bear
to bring about the appointment of GER
tain men. There were many good men
among the applicants for the few posi-
lions which he had to dispose of and
these came from all the congressional
districts, and in some cases as many as
a half dozen had filed papers with him.
Most of the aspirants were circulating
petitions among the Republicans Of
their district.
Mr.. Peterson said he would not con-
suit any one in making his appoint
ments, and as a matter of fact he did
not know just how many positions
were within his gift, except what he
had learned from a perusal Of the blue
book.
Mr.. Peterson was asked how the
civil service would effect those now
holding office in the collector of Gus
toms department. Mr. Peterson said
he understood that the civil service law
went into effect just before Mr.. Cleve-
land retired from the presidency, and
that all Mr. Cleveland's appointments
had been made and confirmed by the
senate at that time. Mr.. peterson de-
clined to state what action he would
take in case congress failed to repeal
the civil service law. He stated that it
would be his aim to appoint the best
men to office, and he would remove any
one who was not efficient in the dis
charge of his duties.
Mr.. Peterson declined to state what
his attitude would be towards the
Democrats now holding minor posi-
tons.
During his stay in, Washington, Mr.
Peterson met nearly all the Mime
sofa delegation. He thinks Minnesota
might we'll be proud of her representa-
tives in congress. Senator Davis had
acquired national reputation, and all
the delegation were workers, and were
doing much for the welfare of the state
John Bigham, of Spokane was in the
city yesterday. Mr.. Bigham registered
at the Merchants yesterday morning,
where he was recognized by a number
of old settlers who were in the CORR
dor Of the hotel. Mr.. Bigham was for
a long time a conspicuous figure in ST..
Paul, having lived here from 1856 until
1888, when he moved to Spokane Mr..
Bigham during his residence in st. Paul
was engaged in a number of enter
prises. He grew up with the city, and
received his education in the schools
of st. Paul. He has been In the stock
business in the West for some time,
but this Is his first visit to St Paul
in a number Of years. About the first
man to recognize Mr.. Bigham was Col.
Allen and the two veterans Of the DAYS
Of stage coach and log cabins spent
several hours in blissful "Reminiscences
Of the memoried past. Mr.. Bigham
will remain as guest at the Mer-
chants for several days, when he will
George H. White, Of Seattle, was at
the Ryan hotel yesterday. Mr. White
is brother Of w. A White, former
mayor Of Seattle. Mr. White says the
Pacific coast is wild with the Klondike
fever. They are going now in thou
sands from the coast cities, and the
people are leaving Seattle at the rate
of 5000 per week, but the population
&c, CT iYon CT
people are waiting for navigation, but
the bulk of the immigration will go
in over the pass before the snow melts
and makes it impossible to get over.
He says one large transportation COM
pany has contracted for 1.000, 900
worth Of boats to be completed as soon
as transportation opens in the spring.
There are dozen or more companies
who will operate boats the coming sea-
son, besides all the private boats which
are being fitted up to take special par
ties to the Klondike. Many prominent
men had gone. and Mayor w. D. Wood
had resigned his position as chief ex-
ecutive of the city to go to Alaska.
Editor Pease, of Anoka. blew in yesterday
and registered at the Windsor
H. Smith, OF Melrose is at the Merchants
H. H. Baker, Of Hope, N. D., is registered
at the Merchants.
E. H. Fuller. of Tacoma. is stopping at the
Merchants
Jay G. Robinson is guest at the Ryan.
James McHale. Of Shakopee, is at the Clar-
en6on.
A, J. Clapp. OF Chicago, is guest at the
WINDSOR.
Irving F. Walker is at the Windsor.
L. E. Wood. OF Minneapolis, registered at
the Metropolitan yesterday.
N. S. Farnham. of Beloit, Wis. is at the
Metropolitan
Messrs Masters and Overbey. Of Fcsston,
Mimi, have been spending a few days in the