Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-05-18
AT THE WHITE HOUSE
The Old 2 Per Cent Bonds to Be
Called In.
GROWING SURPLUS IN THE TREASURY
Cabinet Discusses the Frauds in
Cuban Postal Service.
NEW YORK NOMINATIONS

1t was decided at the cabinet meeting to-
day, on the recommendation of Secretary
Gage, to call In and pay off what are known
as the old per cent bonds. The bonds
have been in existence long time, having
one time drawn Az per cent.
The Treasury Department will Immediate
ly send out notice calling in the bonds. This
notice will give ninety days in which to
send In the bonds. After that time inter-
est will cease on the securities. There are
So, 10000 Of the bonds. and they are quoted
in the market at less than par They have
seldom risen above par for the reason
that 1t was not known when they would
be called in. The new 2 per cents bring q
large premium. 1t is thought that nearly
all the old bonds are held by banks which
use them in deposits with the treasury.
Money In the Treasury.
Secretary Gage said to the cabinet that
there is sufficient money in the treasury to
pay these securities. The surplus promises
to grow right along to the end of the fiscal
year, and the Secretary thought there could
be no better way of disposing of it than by
retiring the per cents. thereby cutting off
considerable yearly interest payment.
The cabinet again discussed the Cuban,
postal frauds, but the discussion was not
based on any new feature of the last day
or so. In the cabinet session on Tuesday
the Sreltest confidence was expressed in
the integrity and honesty of Postmaster
Thompson at Havana. The revelations since
then were disagreeable surprises to the cab
met. While the cabinet was in session u
press dispatch was read from Havana say
ing that one of the thieves under arrest
had given up $4,000 OF his plunder.
The cabinet touched upon the visit of the
Boer ENJOYS to Washington but the con-
clusion was reached some time ago that the
rnath ha
pacity. They will be pleasantly treated by
officials while here. and Will have nothing
to complain of in that respect
New York Judicial Appointments.
The President has settled the contest
over the appointment of a Judge for the
new western judicial district of New York
by the nomination of John R. Hazel Of
Buffalo. 1t is known that the President,
in the exercise of the special care which
he always takes in the selection of judicial
officers, has been embarrassed in this in
stance by opposition urged against Mr..
Hazel on the part of some of the most re-
sponsible and influential citizens of Buff
falo. These men urged with "a good deal
of earnestness, that Mr.. Hazel was not
fitted by professional experience and jul
dicial attainments for such a responsible
position. While not attacking his char
acter. integrity or mental capacity. they
claimed that he had had practically no ex-
perience at the bar and had scarcely ever
appeared in the courts, was unfamiliar
with federal practice and procedure and
especially was unacquainted with admir-
atty and maritime law, n branch of juris-
prudence that the new judge will be called
upon to administer quite frequently in this
court.
His Earnest Supporters.
On the other hand not only was Mr..
Hazers appointment most Zealously urged
by both the United States senators from
New York by all the members of Congress
from the new judicial district. by seven
members of the legislature from Erie
county and by a vast number of other per-
sons of influence and responsibility, but
what is understood to more especially have
influenced the President was the fact that
nine judges Of the New York supreme
court including Judge Childs Of Buffalo. in
separate letters of unusual particularly
and strength of Endorsement, certified to
the good character and high professional
attainments and capacity of Mr Hazel:
Judge Henry A. Childs of Buffalo stated
that he had been well acquainted with Mr..
Hazel for the past twenty years. during
large portion of which time he had prac-
ticed In the court presided over by him;
that he had always found Mr. Hazel a
careful, accurate and intelligent practi-
tioner, having his cases well in hand both
as to law and facts. The letters of all the
judges are in similar tone. The President,
after reading these letters carefully, con-
c!uded that it was impossible to disregard
certificates of this high order.
The letters of commendation in behalf OF
Mr. Hazel were the most numerous and
represented as many persons OF influence
and responsibility in the community as any
ever before filed in the Department of JUS
tice in relation to district judgeship.
The other appointments made were
George Curtis, for district attorney, and
Theodore Poole, for marshal of the north
ern district of New York.
Lord PnuncefOte Calls.
Lord Pauncefote, the British ambassa-
dor. was at the White House this morning
with Sir Augustus Hemming, the new gov
ernor general of Jamaica, and Mrs. Hem
ming. The distinguished visitors were In
troduced to the President.
other visitors during the morning were
Senators Clarke of Wyoming, Fairbanks
and Depew.
Today's Nominations.
The following nominations were sent TO
the Senate today by the President:
John r. Hazel of New York, to be United
States district judge for the western dis
trict of New York; Charles H. Brown OF
New York, to be attorney of the United
States for the western district OF New
YORK: William R. Compton OF New YORK,
to he marshal of the United states for the
western district of New York: George B.
Curtiss of New York, to be attorney OF the
United States for the northern district Of
New York; Theodore L. Poole of New
York to be marshal of the United States
for tho northern dist trict of New York.