Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-10-07
COMMISSIONER TO CHINA
APPOINTMENT of TRADDEUs 1
sHARRErTs OF MARYLAND.
to Negotiate for the Com
version of AID Va10rm Into Specific
Duties ON Imports.

The President has appointed Thaddeus 8.
Sharretts of Maryland United States COM
missioner to China. Mr.. Sharretts had a
personal conference with President RoOse-
welt at the White House Friday evening
and received formal notice of his appoint
ment. His commission recites that he has
been invested with full and all authority
for and in the name of the United States of
America to meet and confer with any per-
son or persons duly authorized by the gov
eminent of China, by any government or
governments having treaties with China,
being invested with like power and author
ity, and with him or them to agree on a
plan for the conversion into specific duties,
as far as possible and as soon as may be. of
all ad valorem duties on imports into China,
in conformity with these provisions and
these requirements and contained in the
final protocol, signed by the diplomatic rep
resentatives of China and the powers at
Pekin on September 7, 1901, the same to be
submitted 10 the President of the United
States for approval"
MIR. Sharretts' Experience.
Mr.. Sharretts is thoroughly equipped by
education and experience for the important
work intrusted to him. He is native of
Maryland, and has had varied experience
as a wholesale grocer, lawyer and news
paper man. In 1887 he was appointed
United States appraiser at the port of Bal
tlmore, and after four years service in that
office he was transferred to New York as a
member of the United States board of gem
eral appraisers He still holds that position.
His appointment as United States commits
Sioner to China will not interfere with the
general appfaisership. The latter office
pays $1,000 year and is practically life
position. Mr.. Sharretts will receive no
additional compensation for his services in
China but will be allowed all his actual ex-
penses.
The new Chinese commissioner is in Bal
tlmore He expects to start from San Fran
cisco on the 23d instant on the steamer
American Maru and on his way to China
Will make short stops at Honolulu, Manila
and Yokohama. Mr. Sharretts, in a re-
said:
1T seems quite probable that the meet
ing will begin In about six weeks after my
arrival in Shanghai. AS I understand, the
commissioners of the other powers are to
leave for China about the same time that
L do, SO we will arrive there within a few
weeks of one another, and the meetings
Will begin soon afterward. Upon my ar
rival in Shanghai L will be furnished with
the clerical force that is to assist me In
the performance Of my mission. My en-
tire stay In China may consume year.
New Commercial Treaty.
Before leaving China for home 1 am
practically certain Of having another duty
to perform. The acting secretary Of state
informs me that 1 will probably be selected
by the President. in conjunction with the
American minister to China. Mr.. Conger, to
negotiate a new commercial treaty with
China. This duty may or may not keep
me abroad little longer than L at present
expect In regard to my appointment, L
have only to say that it came to me Who'll
ly unsolicited Indeed L may say that
am in a sense, regretful of nay selection,
but do not feel that | can refuse it, hav-
ing been selected for the position. During
Mr.. McKinley's administration 1 was Sc
iected by the Secretary of the Treasury
Mr.. Gage, upon the request Of the Presi-
dent that he should recommend some one,
and would have received the appointment
from him except for his tragic death
was to have left for China on September
II last"