Evening star., 1898-12-26
Col. Roosevelt Eschews Politics and
,Amuses the Children.
THREE APPOINTMENTS ANNOUNCED
It is Said They Are Satisfactory to
the Machine.
NEW SCHEMES OF TAMMANY


NEW SORk, December %, 1898.
From Saturday to Tuesday politics have
been tabooed In 'Governor-elect Roosevelt's
household at Oyster Bay, where he has
retired to play Santa Claus to his little
ones Yesterday the colonel of the Rough
Riders followed his pleasant custom of the
past eleven years, and In the little Cove
district school house distributed Christmas
gifts to forty bright-eyed and rosy-cheelled
boy and girl pupils. But before the gov
ernor-elect distributed the presents, given
by himself and Mrs Roosevelt he waS
placed in nomination for the presidency by
one OF the lads, who, in verses telling of
the galiantry of the colonel, said And
We'll send you to the White House for the
gallant deeds yos've done"
The last act of Colonel Roosevelt before
surrendering himself to the festivity and
customs of the season was to announce
three more appointments They were:
James A Blanchard, to be judge of the
court of general sessions. in place of Judge
Fitzgerald, elected to the supreme bench.
DR.. Truman j. Backus, to be president of
the Long Island State Hospital, In Fiat
bush. as bis own successor.
George Dawson to be district attorney
of Queens county, in place of William j.
Youngs resigned, to become private secre-
tary to the governor
The announcement of these intended ap-
pointments came somewhat as a surprise,
as Col. Roosevelt had given the expectant
ones to understand that he would make
public more selections until after the
holidays, and probably not until after ne
reached Albany. 1t has been understood for
a week, however, that Mr.. blanchard would
be given the general sessions vacancy,
which Judge OIeott might have had, and
that Mr.. Dawson would be the new district
attorney for Colonel Roosevets home
ra4 n.af
had not been forecast, it is not surprise.
Acceptable to the Organization.
All of these selections are acceptable, 1t
is understood, to the republican organiza-
ton, though ex-Judge Thomas Allison had
the Endorsement of President Quigg Of the
committee for the judgeshlp, and David
Mitchell was strongly urged tor il by other
machine men.
The man to fill the position of superin-
tendent Of public works has not yet been
decided upon Col. Roosevelt expects to
meet Gen. Francis v. Greene on next Tues-
day, ana viii then, it Is said, urge him to
accept the position. 1t as Also said that II
Gen. Greene decunes no other appointments
will be announced until after the governor
elect goes to Albany. which will be Oh next
Friday Or Saturday. The republican or
ganization, il is asserted, is now pressing
H. II. Lyman, state commissioner OF ex-
else, for the position. Mr.. Lyman's name
ference between Senator Piatt, Col. Roose-
veIt and Chairman Ooell of the republican
safe committee. when the names OF con-
troiler Roberts and Francis Hendricks of
Syracuse were dropped from consideration
in connection with the public works de-
partment Mr.. Lyman's term as commits
sioner of excise ends in 1901, three months
after his term as superintendent OF pupnc
works would end should he take that place.
The salaries of the two offices are equal
Mr.. Lyman is the first commissioner of eX-
else and organized the department.. No
criticism has been maze of his adminlStra-
ton, and it is SAID that the republican or
ganzation would not he sorry to see more
politics in the office than he has permitted,
Should he resign to take MI. AldridgeS
place, the machine leaders would like to
have him do, his successor would be APP
pointed by Colonel Roosevelt subject to
confirmation by the senate.
1t is said with considerable confidence that
Colonel Roosevelt proposes to recommend
legislation which will give the veterans of
the civil war some real assistance in the
public service. A visiting delegation of vet
erans recently informed him that the pres
ent civil service law in its administration
actually Disseminated against veterans.
One of the things which the delegation
wished TO have remedied was the practical
disfranchisement of veterans resident at
the Soldiers Home at Bath. They said 1t
was an outrage that men who had risked
life and limb for their country and who
were disabled because of their self sacrifice
should De Kept from participating IN the al
fairs of their country, while newly arrived
immigrants with little sympathy for our
Institutions should hold the franchise.
The committee told Col Roosevelt that
there ought to be some way to maxi pro-
vision for such veterans voting, on state
and national issues especially.
Complaint of Civil Service Laws.
Another source of complaint was the
Black civil service laws. which make
''Terit and fitness" the only grounds of ap-
pointment. By the Interpretation of the
present civil service commissioners, the law
was used to keep out veterans entirely. In
the recently published report of the zcom-
mission, ii is stated that the operation of
the law is satisfactory except in so far as
IL gave some preference to veterans who
were not entitled by merit and fitness to
receive 1t. The committee pointed out that
the law was passed IN grateful recognition
of suffering and sacrifices" The colonel is
said to have stated to the delegation that
his sympathies were entirely with the vet
e,ans, and that he would do everything
within the bounds of reason. He recognized
especially the arguments presented as emil
nently fair The goyernor-elect has per
fected his membership in the association
under the recent amendment of the Constt-
tuition, which allows soldiers of the Span-
ish war to come in.
1t is pretty well understood that Senator
Platt and the machine can control the
alarnlsts are weaving all sorts of wieri
stories about clashes between Roosevelt
and Platt, and in this event a failure of
the senate to col firm the new governors
appointments. So far as your correspon-
dent has been able to learn, the words of
CHAIRMAN Odell were as straight as A
string. mo matter what Col Roosevelt
does; whether the organza tion likes il or
not whether II protests or not we will in
dorse his acts and Loyalty support him in
his administration"
The new legislatur has been organized.
and, as predicted in this correspondence a
ponth ago, lothian Z. Aids of Chenango
has been chosen republican floor leader of
the assembly, and Otto Kelsey the man
most generally designated for that pest
ton, will have to be satisfied with the
chairmanship of the judiciary committee.
1t is announced that Hobart Krum will ne
chairman of the senate committee on iudi-
ciary This means the turning down of Ed
ward G. Bracket Of Saratoga Unless he
Is placated it is said. he and Senator Malhv
threaten to hold up the election of Timothy
z. Ellsworth as president pro tenn of the
senate.
Tammany After More SpofIs,
What appears to be another quarrel for
spoils of the streets of New York among
the Tammany Hall crowd is at present
agitating the city. 1t was recently an