The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-08-01
ArrEn CART. GAssor,s PLACE
Deputy Collector Of Customs =. n
Rfce Goes 20 Charleston and Des
manded 10, Hut Capt. Gann0n d
fused TO Give Up-Hc Wasn't Armed
With n Commission

manded ID. hut Capt. Gannon Hex
fused 60 Give Up-He wasnst Armed
with n Commission
The Charleston News and Courier, Of
yesterday, says:
LAS has been expected for some time,
F. 3. Rice, of Wilmington, n. c., ar
lived in the city yesterday morning
and requested Captain w. II. Cannon
to step down and out Of the job of in
| spector Of hulls and steam vessels and
turf the same good position e to
him. This trip and demand OF Mr.. Rice
is the result OF the great breaking up
Of the civil service by President Nc
Kinley and Marcus Aurelius Hanna a
short time ago. OF course, the break
was for purely patriotic purposes and
was not on account Of the fact that
some faithful republicans did not have
their noses in the national feed bin,
as some people have been bold enough
to charge. Everybody knows that pol
tiles had nothing to do with the let
ting down Of the bars by the president
and Mark Hanna. This fact is too thor
. oughly demonstrated to admit of con-
troversy by the fact that only good
democrats are fired from office and
staunch republicans get the vacancies.
! There is no politics in such methods.
! 1t is pure, intensely pure, patriotism
that actuates the president in opening
! up soft jobs for the faithful and turn
ing down democrats.
In further evidence of the patriotic
motives OF the administration it might
be cited that in some cases the posi-
lions are not given to local republicans,
but ofTiceholders are imported from
other localities because there were not
jobs enough to go around in the local
tiles from which these men were
, brought. But patriotism demands that
even North Carolina fences must be
strengthened at the sacrifice of South
Carolina republicans.
But that is neither here nor there;
the fact is that Mr.. Rice arrived in the
city yesterday morning and presented
Captain Cannon with a letter from
James A. Dumont, supervising inspec-
tor general, directing that the office be
turned over to Mr.. Rice on the presen-
tation of said letter and commission.
Mr.. Rice did not have his commission,
and, therefore, Captain Cannon decided
the job was about his own size until
the commission was forthcoming. Mr..
Rice claimed to have left his commits
sion in Wilmington, but Captain Gan
non insisted that it should be in
Charleston if Mr.. Rice wanted the job
right away, and refused to turn over
anything connected with the office.
There are to be inspected
today at New Bern and Wilmington, so
Captain Cannon telegraphed Mr.. j. w.
CAST, of Norfolk, supervising .inspec-
tor, stating all the facts in the case
and asking for Instructions. Late yes
terday afternoon Captain Cannon re-
! ceived a reply as follows:
Wv. H. Cannon, Charleston, S. c.:
Perform all duties until regularly
relieved. J. w. CAST,
Supervising Inspector of Third Dis
trict.'"
LAS a result of his telegram Captain
Cannon will leave here this morning
Spect the vessels waiting inspection at
these points.
1.-The usual rule in appointing inspec-
tors is for the board Of designatOrs to
say which of the applicants is best
suited in their judgment for the place,
and then on this recommendation the
commission is issued by the secretary
Of the treasury. The board of designa-
tors for this district is composed OF
Judge Brawley, Surprising Inspector
J. w. CAST n Collector of Port Toll
bert. These gentlemen have had no
| Iu0ct111S whatever III lulS SUBJECT. Inc
board was created by an act of con
gress and is supposed to be in force
until relieved by an act Of congress.
Captain Cannon has held the posi-
ton of inspector for several years., and
is one of the most competent as we'll
as popular officers in the service. His
!, removal will be greatly regretted by
all. Mr.. Rice has been prominent Of
late years in North Carolina politics
in the republican party; Captain Can
non is a stanch democrat. The patriot
ism of the move can be seen with the
naked eye.
lone year ago Captain Cannon WAS
examined by a special officer sent from
Washington and passed an examination
which secured the percentage of 94.15.
Letters of congratulation followed this
examination and Captain Cannon has
them in his possession now"
Captain Cannon, with Captain E. E.
Groom, inspector Of boilers, arrived
mere yesterday from Charleston. On the
same train with him was Mr.. Rice,
who was returning to the city. Cap
l tain Cannon was On his way to New
Bern and left for that city yesterday
at 2:25 p. m. Mr.. Rice also went over,
and we learn will present his claims to
the position of inspector Of hulls and
steam vessels.
The attempt to %supplant Captain
| Cannon again illustrates the debauch-
cry of the civil service by the republic
can party. He is a most capable, effi-
Gent and experienced man in the posi-
ton, having served in that capacity
for twelve years. He was appointed I'M
der President Cleveland's first admin
istration and was out two years under
Harrison's administration. Besides
being the right man in the right place.
he is a clever and courteous gentle
man and numbers his friends in Will
mington by the hundreds. Our people
we'll remember that a couple Of sum-
mers ago he risked his life in the surf
at Wrightsville beach to go to the res
cue of bathers who were in peril. He
has also shown his loyalty to Whining
ton on other occasions n a Utmost
be classed as a Wilmingtonian. His
friends hope to see him retained in the
service, more especially because he
fills the position t o the completest sat