Evening star., 1899-03-11
Pressure for the Army Appointments
Still Continues.
PRESIDENTS POSITION ON fHE SUBJECT
Many Will Not Be Controlled by
Political Influence.
SOME OF TODAY'S CALLERS

Army appointments again took the ma
jority of callers to the White House today
Senators Cullom, Lindsey, Teller. Wolcott
Chandler, Davis, McComas, Thurston, Elk
ins and Scott were among those who saw
the President. With the exception of Sena-
tors Teller and Lindsey, the others were
looking after army appointments. Secre-
tary Alger also talked to the President on
the same subject.
1t is understood that the list of appoint
ments, for which there has been such a
struggle. will probably be completed by
night. They may not be made public, how
ever, before Monday.
Politics Will Not Control.
In the selection of many of these lieuten-
ancies the President has taken an interest
ing stand. He has told some of his callers
in the most emphatic manner that politics
cannot dictate the appointments in many
of the cases, and that he proposes to re-
ward merit patriotism and valor. He said
that there were numerous instances of
young men freshly graduated from the best
colleges who enlisted as privdteS in the
volunteer army when the war with Spain
began, and continued as such until mus
tered out 1t was men of this stamp, he
said he wanted in the army.
Delay in Selecting Canal Commission.
1t is believed that the President will not
now appoint the canal commission author
lied by Congress- AS stated in The Star,
the new commission will consist of the
three members of the commission now
headed by Admiral Walker and two addi-
tional appointees, one an army engineer
and the other civil engineer
Secretary Long had a conference with the
President.
Bishops Satteree and Paret, DR.. Mackay-
Smith and DIR. Mckim saw the President,
calling in a body.
Gen. Wheeler to Leave the Service.
General Wheeler was with the President
today. He said that while the question of
his remaining in the army had not been
definitely decided. it was probable that he
would not remain in the service. He
thought the President would be unable to
find place for him, and he was not push
ing the matter.
But l would like to remain in the SER
vice" he said. with animation land be
sent to the Philippines, where there is some
fighting. / would not care so much to
stay in the army if l had to remain in this
country
Presidential Appointments.
President Mckinley today made the fol-
lowing appointments. to hold until the next
session of the Senate:
JOS X. fteeQ OF iowa, TO be chief Justice
of the Court of Private Land Claims.
Thomas c. Fuller of North Carolina, VIM.
W. Murray of Tennessee Henry c. Suss
of Kansas. Wilbur f. Stone of Colorado, to
be associate justices of the Court of Private
Land Claims.
Original appointments were made as fol-
lows:
Stuart w Griffith, to be a lieutenant in
the Naval Battalion in the District Of Co.
iumbia.
Edward II. Banks, to be collector of GUS
toms for the district of York, Ne
Erastus K. Harper of Akron, Ohio, a spe-
cial agent to allot lands in severalty to
Indians
A District Man Pardoned.
President Mckinley has granted a pardon
to w. Fred Burgess of this city, convicted
before Judge Kimball on December 10, 1895
Of assault in two cases and sentenced to
pay a fine of $50 or serve six months in
jail in each case, a total of one year in
jail.
Burgess was a workman for the Chesa-
peake and Potomac Telephone Company,
and had always been sober and Industrious
While under the excite ement of Il few drinks
OF whisky, some, ming unusual for him, he
assaulted two men.
Burgess wife addressed the petition for
pardon to the President saving that she
had four small chi dren without a fathers
support. ! hese are seven, four and three
years and a baby seven months. The peti-
tion was indorsed by the officials of the
Chesapeake and Potomac Company, who
stated that they would again employ Bur-
CESS if he was free
]. X. Richards. acting attorney general,
recommended the pardon. in view of the
previous good character of the prisoner, of
the dependent family and his opportunity
to again get work If released
The pardon was granted In time to re-
lease Burgess from Jail last night, that he
might be with his family.
1t is said among some of the officials at
the Department of Justice that the SEN
tences in the District court are frequently
severe and out of proportion. In this case
Burgess was fined 500. AS he could not pay
this small sum his Imprisonment was fixed
at whole year.