The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-04-15

onel Berret was slight" said Mr. Emery
last night though officially 1 knew
him well. 1 always regarded him as a
thoroughly honorable and upright citi-
zen, and in all my dealings with him,
both while in office and out. / found him
TO be a thoroughly courteous gentle
man. His death is greatly to be re-
gretted."
James G. Berret was Of French extrac-
tion. The life of his father was tinged
with romance. The father and one of his
sisters were brought to the United States
from San Domingo, where their parents
and all their relatives had been killed in
4 revolution, and they had been saved
only after many difficulties. The old
nurse who accompanied the Berrets to
this country was able to bring with her
the family jewels. which were sold for
enough money to educate the boy. He
married a Miss O'Connell, of Baltimore,
and to them four sons and one daughter
were born. The sons were John, Julius.
Joseph. and James G. Berret. James G.
Ferret was born in Baltimore, February
l. 1915, and the other children were born
in the family mansion. eNerdie, in Free
dom district, Carroll County.
The land al Neverdie came into the Ber-
ret family through the O'Connelis. and
was called Freedom district because of
the habit Of the O'Connells to give land to
any who would settle upon it.
James G. Berret was given common
school education, but early showed abil-
ity and when he was twenty-one years
OF age he was nominated for the position
Of delegate from Carroll County, which
had then Just been formed of Frederick
County. Because of his youth. many peo-
lie declared they would not vote for Ber-
ret, bat he was. nevertheless elected. He
was reelected the following year. and
served two sessions in the State Legisla-
ture at Annapolis.
Toward the expiration of his second
term, in June, 1879, Mr.. Berret was ap-
pointed 10 a cIerkship in the Registers
Office of the Treasury Department, in
Washington. In this position he remain
Cd until 1888, resigning To accept the chief
clerkship in the Pension Bureau, tender
cd him by William L. Marcy, then Sec
retsry Of War. In August. 1919. he re-
signed. and engaged in private business.
MAYOR OF WASHINGTON.
Mr. Berret had become quite prominent
in local politics in Washington by this
time. and in 1858 he was appointed Post
master for the city of Washington. and
he was elected mayor of the city. In 1860
he was reelected mayor, but resigned
August q 1851
At the time Of Mr.. Berrets first can
dldacy for MAYOR of the city the Know
Nothing party developed considerable
strength ia opposing the recognition of
slavery. and endeavored to have Congress
enact a bin which, by failing to recognize
the fact that slavery existed in the Dis
trict. would abolish slavery here This
party was also active at the preceding
election in preventing naturalized citizens
from voting at the polls. A gang, known
By the sobriquet Of "Plug-Uglies was
imported from Baltimore. They interfered
with the voting and created a riot ia the
city. The marines were called out 10 queh
The disturbance.
MIR. Berret was nominated as an Anti
Know-Nothing. and had for his opponent
ex-Marshai Richard WalIach, the Repub-
lican candidate, whom he defeated by the
vote Of 3.6SS to 3.117. At the next cleo
ton IN 1868, Mayor BerreU was reelected
bv a vote of 3. s54. over Wdllach, VINO was
again his opponent, and who received Silo
votes.
city, who ran Independently received ia
By virtue Of his position as mayor, Col
ouel Berret was President Of the Board
of Police Commissioners, and II was in
connection with that office that one of
the interesting incidents Of his life was
enacted. In 1861 Congress enacted law
requiring that all officers Of the United
States either national, State. or munich
pal should take the oath Of allegiance TO
the Union. This Colonel BerTet refused
To DO. He stated that he was q State :
right man. and that he did not feel
obliged 10 take the oath when he had al
ready done so upon has accession TO the
mayoralty.
As a result Of this declaration he was
arrested on August q, 1851. at his resi-
dence. and taken 10y a provost guard to
Fort Lafayette, where he remained in
confinement under suspicion of being a
Southern GympathzeF. His house ia this
city was searched, but nothing was found
TO implicate him in disloyaI relations with
the CCnfederacy. Early in September Of
the same year Colonel Berret was released
from confinement. and on September Il
he resigned his position rs mayor.
Ia the meanwhile the TWO boards Of thc
city council had appointed Wallach. his
old opponent. mayor OF the city. ad in
terim. When Mr. Berret resigned it was
claimed that the city was without n mayor.
but Wallach served out the uueXpired
term.
Ia 1862 President Lincoln appointed Mr..
Berret to serve on the commission for
the emancipation Of slaves iH the District
OF Columbia. The Senate refused 20 con-
1rm the uouiliatiOn. General Grant as
President. twice nominated him = Police
Comm issioner for the District OF C0Ium-
bia. and he served in that capacity for
Eve years.
When h was first proposed 10 change
the form OF government Of the District
from that Of municipality, al the head
Ol which was mayor. 10 the present
form, Colonel Berret was one of the fore
most opponents OF the innovation In
this stand he was supported by the late
George ". Riggs and w. W. C0rcoran,
and at one time even went $50 far as to
attempt TO secure an injunction to pre-
vent the carrying cut by the Board of
Public Works OF the general scheme OF
Improvement, planned by Alexander X.
Shepard.
During the year 1883 he resumed mis-
residence in Maryland. and uron the cleo
tion of Grover Cleveland and Thomas A
Hendricks as President and Vice Presi-
dent. respectively. IN 1884. he was placed
iu charge of the Inauguration ceremonies
~ Chairman OF the Inaugural Committee
Before Nr. Berrct had resumed his resi-
Dence In Maryland. he had been appointed
by Gov. Philip h. Thomas. OF Maryland
on his STAFF as colonel. he was subse-
pIcnly appointed quartermastcr general
with the rank of brtgadicr general on the
stnm of Governor McLane IN 1857 he
was elected to the Maryland House on
delegates. and took his seat just nftv
years after having been first elected
During his term he reached his seventy
Second birthday, and the occasion was
made public celebration. lie was gtvcn
TO CURE 4 COLD IN ONE DAY
Take Laxative Bronze Qlinine Tablets PIC
!. !. !.