Evening star., 1899-03-01
Presentation of the Minister From
Colombia.
CEREMONY In THE BLUE ROOM
Exchange of Addresses of Friend
ship.
THE PRESIDENTS CALLERS

sented to the Presidential the White House
today by the Secretary of State. The cere-
mony of presentation of credentials took
place in the blue room. There was the
usual exchange of friendly speeches Senior
Calderon said:
"Mr. President, have the honor to place
in your hands the autograph letter of the
president of Colombia accrediting me as
envoy extraordinary and minister plenipo-
tentiary near the government of the United
States. At the same time / discharge the
duty of also delivering to you the letters of
recall which bring to a close the mission of
my distinguished predecessor, Senor Hur-
tado.
1T has ever been the ardent desire of
the government of Colombia to maintain
and strengthen the cordial relations of
amity which have bound the two nations
since Colombia entered upon Independent
llfe which have been sealed by solemn in
tefnatlonal compacts concluded between
their respective governments, and which no
incident whatever has arisen to impair or
interrupt To contribute to these relations
being not only maintained, but strengthen
ed and made closer, if possible, is the prin-
cipal object of my mission and was the pur-
pose of the government of Colombia upon
intrustng me Herewith. Confiding in the
lofty ideas of equity which have always
characterized the foreign policy of the gov
ernment Of the United States and in your
Awell-known sentiments of tmpartiality and
Justice, 1 hope to satisfactorily discharge
he high trust reposed in me by the govern
ment Of Colombia.
''On entering today upon the fulfllment of
the mission with which / have been hon
ored, and greeting you as the chief magis-
trate of the United States, ! take special
pleasure in carrying out the charge of the
president of Colombia to make known to
you the sincere wishes he and the govern
ment of Colombia entertain for the contin-
ued prosperity of this powerful nation and
your personal well-being.'
The Presidents Response.
The President responded as follows:
''Mr. Minister: 1t affords me much salts
faction to welcome you as the envoy extra
ordinary and minister plenipotentiary of
the republic of Colombia, and to receive
fl ON your hands the formal letters where
by the president of Colombia announces the
retirement of the late repres .ntative, Senor
Don Marcelino Hurtado, and acoredits you
TO this government in his stead.
The community of free Institutions and
national sentiments which exists among
the seIf-constituted states Of the western
hemisphere and their obvious association
in the paths of commerce and internal de-
velopment makes 1t most appropriate that
relations of cordiality and harmony should
be main tanned betwesn them, and strengths
eEed still more when fitting occasion may
offer That your mission aims toward these
high ends is gratifying promise, and you
may IN turn rest assured of the sincere
operation of the officials of this government
in all that will promote good will and In
crease the intimacy Of Intercourse and the
development Of mutual exchanges between
the two countries.
Wishing for yourself Mr.. Minister sue
cess in the conduct of your mission and
personal welfare during your sojourn here
L ask you to convey to the president of the
republic of Columbia the cordially recipro-
cal wishes L feel, and express in behalf of
my countrymen for the prosperity and we'll
being of the Colombian nation"
Local Bills Approved.
President Mckinley today signed the act
10 provide for an appropriate national
celebration of the establishment of the seat
OF government in the District of Columbia" :"
likewise the following local measures;
JOINT resolution authorizing the Commits
sloners of the District to alter amend or
repeal certain health ordinances; joint reso-
luton to prevent the spread of conta eious
diseases In the District; act relative to the
payment of claims of material and labor
furnished for District buildings
A Great Many Callers.
There was such big attendance of sena-
tors and representatives at the White
House today as to call forth a number of
witty remarks from statesmen. Senator
Roach on his way up the White House
steps, met Senator Simon of Oregon
Dld you leave anything, Simon?" in
CURED the other senator and the new SEN
ator from Oregon had to admit that he was
not burdened with the offices turned over
10 MIN In the executive rooms
representative Steele, another visitor.
could not wait to see the President II left
my partner up there on the watch though ;,
said the Indianian
SO you are working in shifts now?, COM
mented fellow member of the House II
think the President ought to know how this
relief work is going on"
There were many more visitors than the
President could talk to, and the majority
had to go away to call some other time
Nearly every congressman has some place
to fill in his state and wants to have an
understanding before he goes away at the
end of the week Post office appointments
are considerably behind. Postmaster Cen
eral Smith brought up a number of these
at the cabinet meeting yesterday, and re-
turned again in the afternoon to adjust
disputed offices so that the President might
send the nominees to the Senate. Mr..
Smith was again at the White House to-
day on the same business.
Fight for Minor Offices
The President has filled most of the
choice places in the various states, and the
MINOR offices are the ones now being scram-
bled for. Probably the fight of greatest
interest at this time is over the appoint
ment of director of the census. Nearly
all public men who go to the White House
mention some man as a favorite The
President will not act for some time. 1t is
thought. The most heavily backed man is
said to be Henry Casson, ex-secretary of
state of Wisconsin. His case is In the
hands of Representative Babcock. Mr..
Casson has the Endorsement Of the repre-
sentatives in the House from ten republi-
can states, and in addition is said to have
the backing of the republican congress
sional committee and the census commit
tees of both houses of Congress.
1t is said by those who are backing ot1,er
candidates that the appointment of Mr.
Taylor as assistant secretary of the treas
ury will operate against the chances of
Mr. Casson, but the Wisconsin people are
working all the harder for their candidate
Mr.. Taylor and Mr.. Casson are from the
same city In Wisconsin.
Representative Evans Backing.
A man who is said to be a strong candi
date is Representative Evans of Kentucky
formerly commissioner of internal reve
nue. His name was mentioned few days
ago in connection with the vacant Judge
ship of Kentucky, but Mr. Evans is said
to be backed by influential men for the
census position.
1t is also said that President Mckinley